‘Thank you.’ Amber sipped at her tea, not quite knowing what to say but thankfully Nancy appeared and grinned from ear to ear when she saw Amber.
‘Oh, it’s so good to see you,’ she said as she hurried forward to give her a hug. ‘An’ ain’t it strange that you’re still doin’ the laundry for Greenacres one way or another. The new laundry maid what took your place came down wi’ the flu last week an’ from what we’ve heard she’s reet poorly. Won’t you consider comin’ back?’
Amber had no time to answer for Mrs Boswell had swept into the room and she too offered Amber her condolences on the loss of her family.
‘I’ve brought the clean laundry back, Mrs Boswell,’ Amber told her, rising from her seat. ‘I’ll just go an’ bring it in for you to look at.’
‘There’ll be no need for that,’ Mrs Boswell assured her kindly. ‘I know it will be quite acceptable if you and your mother have done it. Just leave it over there and I’ll go and get your payment.’
When Amber went back outside it was snowing harder than ever and as she was manhandling the large pile of laundry from the cart, Barnaby appeared around the side of the building and stared at her in amazement.
‘Amber?.?.?. Miss Ainsley,’ he said eventually. ‘What brings you back here?’
She stared at him with loathing. ‘I only came to bring the clean washin’ me mam has done,’ she told him shortly.
‘I see.’ Rushing forward he lifted the heavy load before she could object and headed for the kitchen with it, but just before he entered, he paused to tell her, ‘You do know your job is still open here if you want it, don’t you? With two babies in the house now, we could do with more than just one laundry maid.’
Ignoring him, she opened the door and when he passed through it, she re-entered the kitchen where Mrs Boswell was waiting with her payment. As she accepted the money Amber saw Barnaby flush with embarrassment, and keen to be gone she told them, ‘Thank you, I’d best get on now. I have other deliveries to make.’
‘Ah, can’t you stay for just a while longer?’ Nancy pleaded. She had missed her and was reluctant to see her go so soon, but now that the master was there she could tell Amber couldn’t get away quickly enough.
‘We’ll have a get together very soon,’ she promised as she left, closing the door firmly behind her.
She had barely reached the end of the drive when she heard footsteps pounding behind her and glancing over her shoulder, she saw Barnaby racing towards her.
‘I’m glad I’ve caught you,’ he said breathlessly. ‘I just realised that Mrs Boswell didn’t give you enough for the work you and your mother have done.’ He opened his palm and as she saw the coins gleaming there, she shook her head, her eyes flashing with hatred.
‘We’ve been paid the goin’ rate an’ we don’t need your charity!’ she snapped, before moving on again, dragging the heavy cart behind her.
Barnaby stood and watched helplessly until her slight form had been swallowed up by the snow.
It was late afternoon and fast growing dark by the time all the laundry was delivered and as Amber pulled the cart down the hill leading into Whitby town she was sure she had never been so cold and weary in her life.
Once she reached the cottage, she left the cart at the little woodstore at the back. As she opened the back door, however, she got a lovely surprise when she saw her uncle sitting at the table drinking a mug of tea.
‘Uncle Jeremiah!’ Her face lit up at the sight of him. ‘Whatever are you doing here?’
He beamed at her. ‘I’ve come to offer my condolences for the loss of the boys and Eli. I just received your mother’s letter. And I’ve also come with what I hope you will think is good news,’ he told her. ‘And also with a proposition that I hope you and your mother will like!’
When Amber and her mother stared at him curiously, he blushed like a schoolboy. ‘The thing is,’ he began. ‘Martha – that’s Mrs Carter – and I?.?.?. well, I know this will sound ridiculous at my age, but we have decided to get married.’
‘Why, that’swonderfulnews, Uncle Jeremiah.’ Amber rushed to plant a gentle kiss on his cheek. ‘And I’m not completely surprised.’ She smiled. ‘While I was living with you I could see how fond of each other you were, even though you hadn’t admitted it to yourselves. I’m sure you’ll be very happy together.’
He smiled self-consciously. ‘Thank you. But now for my proposition.’ Knowing how independent his younger sister was he looked slightly uncomfortable about what he was to suggest but he went on, ‘Martha and I have talked about your sad situation and realise that it will be hard for you to manage now, and so we were wondering?.?.?. Would you consider coming to live with us? As Amber will tell you, that house is far too big for just the two of us and—’
Before he could go any farther Alice held her hand up. ‘That’s a reet kind offer and mightily appreciated,’ she said primly. ‘But me an’ Amber ain’t quite charity cases just yet!’
‘Please, lass, let me finish,’ Jeremiah said hastily. ‘For a start off, I never for one minute meant to suggest that you were charity cases. The thing is, you’d be doing us a big favour, you see? Because once we’re wed we want to travel, which means we’ll need someone to look after the house an’ keep an eye on the shop while we’re not there, and on Fancy and Biddy. And there would be a wage of course.’
Amber smiled as she thought of the little dog who had stolen all their hearts while she was living with them.
‘So will you at least sleep on it afore you make your decision? I shall be staying here tonight, if that’s all right with you, and you can tell me what you’ve decided before I catch the coach home tomorrow.’
‘Aye, I’ll sleep on it,’ Alice said quietly as she turned the idea over in her head. It would be a solution to all their problems, she had to admit, and it would mean that the two sons she had left wouldn’t have to help her and Amber out financially. ‘But now sit yourself down while I warm some soup up for you an’ get you a hot drink.’
And after the journey he’d had, Jeremiah was only too happy to oblige.
Chapter Twenty-One
