In this Christmas short story, Kate Kerrigan revisits the glamorous 1920s New York first portrayed in her latest novel, Ellis Island. Mae is a young Irish servant. She's left her family back home and is earning money as a ladies' maid to a wealthy socialite, Isobel. Mae looks up to the beautiful Isobel – she has the most amazing wardrobe, an enchanting life full of engagements and parties, more money than sense. But Mae's boss, Mrs Flannery, warns Mae against getting too swept up by Isobel. She mustn't get 'above herself'. But Mae dreams of a life beyond that of a servant . . . If you love Susan Howatch, you'll love Kate Kerrigan