‘The doctor I contacted will be coming to see Louisa tomorrow,’ Barnaby’s father-in-law informed him at dinner that evening.
‘Well, as I have already told you, I have had one doctor from Harley Street come out to examine her,’ Barnaby replied, trying hard to keep his temper. His in-laws had done nothing but interfere and criticise since they had got there and he could hardly wait for them to leave, although they showed no signs of going as yet. Like his wife, they had shown little interest in their grandchildren, even though they would be the only ones they were ever likely to get, and he was fast losing patience with them. Robert had also pored over the books – it was as if he didn’t trust Barnaby to run the businesses properly, so it was no wonder that he was feeling annoyed. Still, he consoled himself, hopefully once the doctor had been and gone, they would leave too and then the house could return to some sort of normality.
He dabbed at his lips and pushing his chair back, rose from the table saying, ‘If you’ll excuse me, I usually go up to see the children after dinner. Would either of you care to accompany me?’
They both immediately shook their heads as though he had suggested they walk barefoot in the snow, and so with a sigh he left the room.
Upstairs in the nursery the atmosphere wasn’t much better. The nanny had come down with a cold and she looked flushed and ill.
‘I’m sorry, sir, but I think you’re going to have to get someone in to take over until I’m over this; I’m afraid of passing it on to the babies,’ she croaked when he entered.
Barnaby sucked in his breath, wondering if things could get much worse. They had recently dispensed with the services of the wet nurse as the babies were being weaned and could take milk from a bottle, which meant that the nanny was in sole charge of them.
His mind worked overtime as he wondered who he could get to temporarily take the woman’s place but then she dropped yet another bombshell when she admitted quietly, ‘To be honest, I’ve been finding two babies a little taxing so I’ve been thinking of going to retire and live with my sister in Gloucester. She is widowed like me and I think we would rub along very well together. Of course, I was going to give you time to find a replacement once I gave you notice, but now I’ve come down with this?.?.?. Well, I may as well give you notice now.’
‘I understand.’ He scratched his head as he wondered who he could trust to replace her, but at that moment Charlotte woke and as soon as her eyes lit on him, she gave him a big grin and held her arms towards him to be picked up. Only too happy to oblige he scooped her out of her crib and tickled her under the chin and instantly she rewarded him with a gummy smile. Charlotte was always delighted to see him and she always made his day with her happy little personality. He only wished her brother was the same. A look of concern flitted across his face as he glanced towards David’s crib where he slept on, pale-faced and so much tinier than Charlotte that it was hard to believe they were related.
‘How has he been, Nanny?’
The older woman gave a shrug. ‘Not good, if I were to be honest, sir. As you know, the doctor calls weekly to check him and the last time he came he thought he detected an irregular heartbeat. That would account for the blue tinge about his lips.’
Barnaby had feared something like this and he frowned, feeling helpless. The poor little chap, it was just as well he was so undemanding because he and his nanny were the only ones who ever paid him any attention. Even his grandparents didn’t have any time for him, or Charlotte if it came to that. But then his thoughts returned to who could care for them until he could employ another nanny, and the only one he could think of who might be able to do it was young Nancy, the maid.
‘I accept your resignation,’ he told the woman solemnly. ‘But I would appreciate you trying to hold the fort just until I can get someone to take over. Hopefully it will be in the next day or two. I have someone in mind and if she’s agreeable perhaps you would be kind enough to show her the ropes?’
‘Of course I would, sir, and I’m sorry to inconvenience you.’
He could hear the relief in her voice and after handing Charlotte to her he quietly left the room and went in search of Nancy.
He found her polishing the long mahogany sideboard in the dining room and the second he entered the room she stood up and glanced at him nervously as if he had caught her doing something she shouldn’t.
‘Sorry, sir. I didn’t know you were usin’ this room. I’ll come back when you’ve done.’ The staff had been taught to only clean the rooms that weren’t being used by the family but as she collected the beeswax polish and duster and headed for the door, he held his hand up to stay her.
‘No, Nancy, it’s quite all right. I was looking for you as it happens and wondered if I might have a word?’
She narrowed her eyes. ‘Yes, sir.’
Barnaby quickly told her about the nanny resigning and as he went on her eyes stretched wide again.
‘So you wantmeto stand in as nanny?’
When he nodded, she chewed on her lip for a moment. Nancy was one of nine children so in fairness she was quite used to being around little ones and she supposed she could do it if it was only going to be a temporary thing. In actual fact, she decided, it might be quite a nice change from cleaning so after another moment or two she nodded.
‘Very well, sir. But only till you find a replacement, eh? An’ you’ll ’ave to clear it wi’ Mrs Boswell.’
‘You leave the housekeeper to me.’
She could hear the relief in his voice and suddenly she felt a little sorry for him. It was common knowledge amongst the staff that Mrs Greenwood was giving him a hard time and the way she treated those babies?.?.?. Well, everyone was disgusted with her. It was obvious she had no interest in the poor little mites.
‘Thank you.’ To her surprise he leant over and took the duster and the polish from her, saying, ‘Why don’t you go on up to the nursery now so that Nanny can start to show you their routine?’
Nancy bobbed her knee and shot from the room like a bullet from a gun before he had the chance to change his mind.
*
Late in the afternoon the following day, the doctor from London arrived to see Mrs Greenwood. He was a personal friend of the family and very well respected in his profession, so before he went to see Louisa, Margaret fussed over him, serving him afternoon tea and cake and instructing a maid to prepare a bedroom for him, for all the world as if she were the mistress of the house. Barnaby, meanwhile, prowled about feeling like a spare part.
‘Thank you, Margaret, my dear, that was most enjoyable,’ Dr Darwin said when he’d eaten his fill. ‘I’ve quite thawed out now so if you would kindly show me the way I shall go and have a look at your daughter now.’
