It was Nancy who brought her breakfast tray up the next morning and staring into Amber’s face she said anxiously, ‘You know then?’
Amber nodded. ‘Yes – but why didn’t you tell me?’
Nancy shrugged. ‘I didn’t feel it were my place to, but I told Mrs Ruffin you’d guess in no time. It were her that told me. She’ll never breathe a word to anybody else an’ neither will I so you need have no fear that it’ll ever come out.’
‘I’m surprised Mrs Ruffin will even speak to me,’ Amber said in a small voice.
‘Oh, you needn’t have no worries on that score neither,’ Nancy reassured her. ‘She knows the master took advantage of you an’ why you didn’t say anythin’. At least he were honest an’ told her the truth an’ she’ll say nowt cos of upsettin’ the mistress. But what will you do now?’
‘I’m not sure.’ Amber sighed. ‘All I do know is that if I do go, I’ll shame the devil an’ take Charlotte and blow the consequences.’
‘But how would you explain her?’ Nancy looked worried. ‘Me mam told me there’s enough talk down in the town already about you bein’ offered this job wi’out you clearin’ off wi’ the baby. It wouldn’t take long for everyone to put two an’ two together an’ then you’d be classed as a fallen woman. What bloke would want you then?’
Amber snorted, her nostrils flaring. ‘As if that would worry me! I’ll never get married now after the way he let me down. It’s put me off men for life!’
‘Hm, then you’d best tell Bertie Preston that. He’s still goin’ round spoutin’ off that he’s gonna wed you. In fact, me mam said he had a fight wi’ Ronnie Orwell t’other day cos Ronnie made some sarky comment about you landin’ this cushy job!’
‘Huh! I wouldn’t marry Bertie Preston if he were the last man on earth,’ Amber told her. ‘And I’ve told him so, so why he won’t accept it, I don’t know.’
‘Just thought I’d warn you,’ Nancy said, holding her hands up as if she were warding off a blow. ‘But I’d best get back now. Mrs Boswell is on the warpath an’ she’ll be on me tail if I’m much longer. Ta-ra fer now.’
With a sigh, Amber turned back to her daughter and gave her a big cuddle.
*
Two days later Barnaby came to the nursery mid-morning with a young girl in tow. She was very small and Amber reckoned she couldn’t be more than eleven or twelve years old but she had a ready smile.
‘Miss Ainsley, this is Becky,’ he told her. ‘She’s going to do a trial with you as a nursery-maid, if that meets with your approval.’
Amber eyed the girl, wondering if she would be strong enough to cart the babies about each day. She was so slight that she looked as if one good puff of wind would blow her away but she was an attractive little soul with fair curling hair tied in the nape of her neck and big blue eyes that almost looked too big for her small face.
As if the girl could read her mind, she said quickly, ‘I’m good wi’ babies, miss. I’ve got eight younger brothers an’ sisters at home an’ I’ve always helped me mam to look after ’em.’ She chewed on her lip then with her small hands clasped in front of her, and realising how much the job must mean to her, Amber nodded.
‘Very well, I don’t see why we shouldn’t give it a try.’
The girl positively sighed with relief and Barnaby told her, ‘In that case, you may go and fetch your clothes and things, Becky. I see no reason why you can’t start straightaway.’
The girl dipped her knee and backed towards the door and once she had gone, Barnaby lifted David from his crib. ‘I know she doesn’t look that strong but she assures me she’s used to children and I, er?.?.?.’ He coughed to clear his throat. ‘Her father and uncle died onThe Neptuneand I believe her mother is struggling to bring the family up alone without their wages coming in. Becky is the only one anywhere near old enough to get a job yet and I thought?.?.?.’
At the mention of the fateful ship that had cost her own father and two brothers their lives, Amber’s eyes watered and she angrily swiped the tears away with the back of her hand. Their deaths were still very raw for her too and she could understand how Becky and her family must feel.
‘I’m sure she’ll be fine,’ she said coldly and he nodded as he placed a gentle kiss on David’s head and laid him back in the crib. They had come to an unspoken kind of truce where they rarely spoke to each other when he visited the nursery, apart from him asking after the children, and Amber found that she could cope with that.
Once he’d left the room and both infants were sleeping peacefully, Amber crossed to the window and gazed down at the town far below. Not so long ago the little cottage in Argument’s Yard had been the only home she had ever known but now it hit her that she didn’t really have anywhere to call home anymore, and all the people she loved, or those that were left, were scattered far and wide. Her brothers were off somewhere working on the railways and her mother was hopefully still settling happily into her new life in Scarborough. But then her eyes settled on Charlotte and a soft smile played about her lips. Not quite everyone she loved was gone from her life, she thought, because now she had a beautiful daughter.
Half an hour later Becky returned, escorted by Mrs Boswell and clutching a small bundle of clothes in an old pillow case, and Amber was pleased to see her – it would be nice to have someone to talk to apart from the babies.
‘I’ve told Becky that she may prepare the room next to yours to sleep in, if you’d be so kind as to show her where the clean bedding is kept, Amber. And I’ve also sent a message to the mistress’s dressmaker to call and measure you both up for new uniforms.’
Becky’s eyes lit up. ‘What? A brand-new one?’ she asked excitedly. She’d never owned a single new garment in the whole of her life and the ill-fitting gown she was wearing was so darned and faded that it was impossible to imagine what colour it might once have been. ‘What colour will it be?’
‘It will be a soft grey, much like the one Amber is wearing now,’ the housekeeper informed her and Becky clapped her hands with glee, causing David to start in his crib and Amber to glare at her.
‘Sorry,’ the girl muttered repentantly.
‘Hm, well I suggest you go and get your room ready then report back here to help the nanny,’ Mrs Boswell told her, and only too keen to please, Becky dipped her knee and hurried away to do as she was told.
‘Just inform me if the girl doesn’t prove to be suitable,’ Mrs Boswell told Amber primly before leaving the room.
