‘Like bliss!’ Amber’s hands were so chapped and sore that it took her some time to undo the buttons on her blouse and undress, but at last her clothes lay in a heap at the side of the tub and as she slid into the water she sighed with contentment.
‘The word’s goin’ round that the mistress up at Greenacres has had twins,’ her mother told her a few minutes later as she passed her a steaming mug.
Amber nodded. ‘I know. I saw Nancy and she told me. I saw Mr Greenwood an’ all this mornin’.’
‘Oh yes, an’ what didhehave to say for himself?’ Alice’s voice was scathing.
‘He offered me my old job back an’ it took me all me time not to tell him he could stuff it up his arse!’ There was a wicked twinkle in Amber’s eyes and within seconds both she and her mother were giggling.
‘Eeh, it’s good to have a laugh,’ Alice said as she mopped at her eyes with the bottom of her pinafore. ‘But on a more serious note, what are you goin’ to do when this job is done? You ain’t the sort to sit about the house, an’ as you know jobs are scarce round here.’
Sombre again, Amber nodded. ‘I know, but somethin’ will turn up,’ she said optimistically, and for then the subject was dropped.
*
The girls were due to move on the next day and as Amber worked alongside them she suddenly realised how much she would miss them. They had formed a friendship and although the job had been back-breaking it had taken her mind off recent events.
‘Yer could allus change yer mind an’ come wi’ us, lass,’ Isla encouraged, but Amber smiled and shook her head.
‘Thank you, but I reckon it’s time I decided what I want to do wi’ me life now.’ She sighed as she looked out over the sea of masts bobbing eerily in the fog that had settled over the harbour. In a few days it would be October and she knew the job would be even more unpleasant when the really bad weather set in.
It was dark by the time she wearily set off for home and she had just walked along Bridge Street and turned into Church Street when she saw a tall, well-dressed figure striding purposefully towards her and her heart sank. It was Barnaby Greenwood and it was too late to avoid him now because she knew he had seen her, so with her chin held high she walked on until they drew level with each other.
‘Ah, Miss Ainsley, I was just coming to see you,’ he said courteously and she scowled at him.
‘And why would that be? I don’t reckon we have anythin’ to say to each other anymore,’ she replied boldly. Just the sight of him turned her stomach now after what he had put her through.
He lowered his head for a moment but then looking up again he said quickly, ‘Actually, I wished to speak to you about something that may be to your advantage.’ He was dressed in a top hat and a thick woollen overcoat and as she stared at his fine clothes, she became aware of how poorly dressed and smelly she was and flushed. ‘The thing is,’ he hurried on, afraid that she might set off again without hearing him out, ‘I heard of a job yesterday that I thought might suit you – not at Greenacres,’ he said hastily as he saw her scowl. ‘A good friend of mine is taking his wife to visit her family in London until after Christmas and unfortunately their nanny has been taken ill so they are looking for someone to accompany them to care for their two children. It would only be a temporary post until they returned, but would it be of interest to you?’ He had hated seeing her bent over gibbing the herrings and was looking for a way to assuage his sense of guilt.
Amber narrowed her eyes. ‘I ain’t never been a nanny,’ she pointed out shortly and he shook his head.
‘That wouldn’t matter in the least, I assure you. The Temples merely want someone trustworthy; they will be happy to tell you what’s expected of you and the pay is more than generous. The only thing is, they leave in three days’ time. This Saturday, in fact, so they would need an answer.’
Amber opened her mouth to tell him to clear off but then paused. Would she be cutting her nose off to spite her face? She actually liked the idea of visiting London; she’d never gone farther than Scarborough and this sounded like a job that would be much more pleasant than standing out in the freezing cold gutting herrings. After all, she reasoned,how hard could it be to look after two little children?
‘I should have to discuss it wi’ me mam,’ she told him cautiously. ‘So could I give you an answer tomorrer? I ain’t promisin’ anythin’, mind.’
‘Of course not, I quite understand.’ He smiled, but she was indifferent to his charms now and it didn’t make her like him any more.
‘May I come for your answer tomorrow then?’
‘Yes, in the evenin’ at the cottage,’ she answered. ‘I’m doin’ me last day wi’ the herrin’ girls tomorrer.’
‘Very well, thank you, Miss Ainsley.’ He removed his hat and gave a little bow before turning and striding away.
As Amber climbed the steps to Argument’s Yard, her mind was reeling. This was a turn up for the books and no mistake, although she had no idea why he should want to help her now after the way he had treated her.
When she entered the cottage, the warmth wrapped itself around her like a blanket and her chapped cheeks and hands began to glow as she hurried towards the fire. The smell of a beef stew simmering in the big black pot on the fire made her stomach rumble and as Alice rushed off to pour her a cup of tea, Amber told her of Mr Greenwood’s offer.
‘London!’ Alice was horrified. ‘Oh, I ain’t too sure as I’d want you goin’ there, lass,’ she said worriedly. ‘I’ve heard tell it’s a den o’ thieves an’ they’d slit your throat for sixpence! There’s pickpockets, prostitutes an’ all manner o’ lowlives there.’
Amber giggled. ‘I doubt it would be like that in the area Mr Greenwood’s friends would be visitin’,’ she pointed out. ‘They’re gentry so I dare say Mrs Temple’s parents live in a big swanky pad somewhere. An’ it is only till after Christmas. So what do you think I should do? He reckons they’ll pay well an’ that would give me some time to decide what I want to do next.’
‘Hm.’ As Alice handed her her tea she stared thoughtfully off into space for a minute, before saying, ‘But what about your clothes, lass? Will they be fancy enough fer the likes o’ them? Even your best skirt an’ blouse is darned now.’
‘I dare say they’d supply a uniform for the time I’m with ’em. An’ I do have the clothes Uncle Jeremiah bought for me.’
‘Ah, I hadn’t thought o’ that. Well?.?.?. all I can say is, if you like the sound of it, I won’t stand in your way but it’ll be sad that you ain’t here fer Christmas. Me an’ your dad an’ the lads will miss you. I don’t think there’s ever been a Christmas when we ain’t all been together before. At least?.?.?. not since?.?.?.’ Amber knew that her mother was thinking of Brian, the child she had lost to pneumonia some years before. Her mother still visited his tiny grave at least once a week. Alice pulled her thoughts back to the present and shaking her head she went on, ‘Still, I dare say I’m gonna have to get used to that. Our Amos an’ young Lilly Price ’ave been walkin’ out together for some time now an’ he slipped it out t’other day that he’s savin’ up to buy her a ring. Happen a change o’ scenery will do you good an’ all, after what you’ve just gone through so if you want to do it you can go wi’ me blessin’.’
