‘No, she shouldn’t!’ Ruffy answered bluntly. ‘I just told her she’d be doing the baby no good squashing into that thing. That’s why she’s in a mood. She’s got to forget about having an eighteen-inch waist till the little one is here! And even then, it’ll take her some time to get back into shape.’
Barnaby stood there not quite knowing how to answer. Mrs Ruffin could get away with speaking her mind far more than he could and he didn’t want Louisa’s bad mood to turn into a full-blown screaming fit!
‘Perhaps you could ask Dr Flynn’s opinion on that,’ he said quietly and Louisa turned on him, her eyes blazing.
‘Huh! This whole thing is past a joke now,’ she spat furiously. ‘I feel like I’ve been carrying a child forever since I married you. All you seem to care about is having a baby but what aboutme?’ She burst into noisy sobs as Barnaby backed towards the door spreading his hands helplessly.
‘You’d best go, sir,’ Mrs Ruffin suggested as she crossed to her mistress, and only too happy to oblige Barnaby hastily escaped out of the door.
On the landing he took a crisp white handkerchief from his pocket and quickly mopped his brow, as unbidden he again thought of Amber and the heartless way he had paid her to get rid of the child she had been carrying. It had occurred to him that had she continued with the pregnancy, she and Louisa would have been due to give birth at about the same time. But he had no time to dwell on the fact because at that moment Dr Flynn, a portly old gentleman, came huffing up the stairs toting his black leather bag.
‘Good morning, Barnaby. I’ve just come to check how that pretty little wife of yours is doing,’ he told him jovially.
Barnaby sighed and shook his head. ‘Well, I can’t say how she’s doing physically,’ he answered glumly. ‘But she certainly doesn’t seem to be enjoying the experience.’
The doctor chuckled. ‘Never mind, in another two or three months it should all be over and happen you’ll be back in favour again. Now, if you’ll excuse me.’ And with that he tapped on Louisa’s bedroom door and left Barnaby standing there.
Barnaby was crossing the hall to his study when the doctor came downstairs shortly after and when he saw the frown on the old doctor’s face his heart began to race. Surely things couldn’t be going wrong again? he asked himself.
‘Is everything all right, Doctor?’
‘Hm, well as far as I can see, but to be honest I’d be happier if the child were moving about a bit more.’ He could have added that he would have liked its heartbeat to be a little stronger too but he didn’t want to overly concern the expectant father. He knew how much he was looking forward to the birth of the child.
‘Oh no!’ Barnaby’s face fell and the doctor quickly forced a smile.
‘Now let’s not get thinking the worst! We’ll cross each bridge as we come to it, eh?’ he suggested soothingly. ‘It’s probably just me being over-cautious because of what’s happened in the past. I’ve suggested she stay in bed for a few days and have a good rest, which didn’t go down too well, I have to admit. Apparently she had planned to go visiting this afternoon, but it can’t be helped. I’ve told her to do away with those damned stays as well. Young women nowadays are far too vain, if you ask me.’ He tapped Barnaby’s arm and left.
Staring after him, Barnaby felt the first seeds of fear begin to grow in his stomach. Through the open door he could see one of the gardener’s dead-heading the roses in the rose garden and hurrying out to him he ordered, ‘Cut a large bunch of roses for the mistress and have one of the maids take them up to her room immediately.’
‘Yes, sir. Reet away.’ The gardener touched his cap as Barnaby strode towards the stables. He’d take his horse for a good gallop, he decided. It was time he visited the shipyard to see how close to completion the latest trawler his men were building was anyway.
Less than an hour later he tethered his horse and as he approached the almost-finished vessel he saw young William, Amber’s brother, busily varnishing the hull.
When he stopped to speak to him, Will looked mildly surprised. It wasn’t often the gaffer spoke directly to any of the workers.
‘Almost finished?’
‘Aye it is, sir,’ Will answered respectfully. ‘Another couple o’ days or so should see ’er ready fer launchin’.’
‘Good, good.’ Barnaby tapped the side of his jodhpurs with his riding crop. ‘And how is your uncle now? The one that lives in Scarborough. I saw your mother some weeks ago and she told me that your sister had gone to take care of him.’
Will shrugged as he swiped a strand of thick hair, exactly the same fiery colour as Amber’s, from his brow. ‘I wouldn’t know, sir. Me mam keeps in touch be letter but I ain’t seen hide nor hair of her since her went.’
‘Oh well, I hope he recovers soon.’ Barnaby inclined his head and moved on towards the office as a thought began to form in his mind. Amber had left very abruptly and had already been away for some months. What if she hadn’t got rid of the child as he had ordered her to? His stomach started to churn and as he entered the office there was a thoughtful expression on his face. Perhaps it was time he paid Mrs Ainsley a visit, but first he would have to come up with an excuse to warrant it.
*
The visit occurred the very next day, shortly after he had been to see Louisa in her room. She was fractious and difficult because she had been confined to bed so he had made a hasty exit and soon found himself standing at the Ainsleys’ door, aware of the curious glances he was getting from everyone who passed. He had no doubt that in this poor area, in his fine clothes, he must look like a rose on a dung heap.
Mrs Ainsley admitted him with an anxious frown on her face. ‘Is owt wrong, sir?’ As she stood before him wringing her hands he flashed her a charming smile.
‘Not at all, Mrs Ainsley,’ he assured her. ‘It’s just that whilst I was doing my accounts yesterday, I realised that I still owed your daughter some wages so I thought I would drop them in to you.’
‘That’s reet kind o’ you, sir.’ She eyed the coins he placed on the table suspiciously. ‘I’ll see as she gets it.’ She expected him to leave now that he’d done what he’d come to do but instead he looked about the humble abode and smiled.
‘You keep a very good home, Mrs Ainsley. Very comfortable.’
‘Thank you, sir.’ Again, he made no move to leave so she felt forced to ask, ‘Would you like a cup o’ tea. I was just about to have one meself.’
