Happy Pollyooly: The Rich Little Poor Girl

Pollyooly is a bright‑eyed girl of barely thirteen, already trusted to run the household of the Honourable John Ruffin, a barrister of the Inner Temple. Her days are filled with the clatter of breakfast pans and the careful sorting of letters, yet she never loses the keen curiosity that makes her a silent observer of the adult world around her. When a letter arrives from Esmeralda, a celebrated dancer and Ruffin’s long‑standing patroness, it brings a ripple of unease to the orderly home.

Ruffin, usually composed, is suddenly brooding over the news of a handsome foreign nobleman who has taken an interest in Esmeralda. Determined to protect his friend’s reputation, he decides to travel to Budapest, insisting that Pollyooly accompany him as his indispensable aide. Their journey promises a lively clash of English propriety with continental flamboyance, setting the stage for a charming adventure that tests Pollyooly’s quick wit and loyalty.