She peered past him into the gloomy room, which looked no cleaner than the outside, and soon a door close to the sink opened and a small woman appeared. She was almost as far around as she was high, which caused her to waddle rather than walk, and like the young man, she looked none too clean. A shabby shawl was tied across her chest and her thinning grey hair was pulled into an untidy bun on the back of her head. As she came closer, Amber saw that there were hairs growing on her chin and many of her teeth were missing. Those that were left were brown and rotting and Amber stifled a shudder as she thought of the witches she had seen in story books when she was a little girl.
‘So what was it yer were wantin’?’ the old woman asked suspiciously. ‘If yer’ve come fer donations fer the church or sommat we ain’t got no money to spare.’
‘Oh no, it’s nothing like that,’ Amber quickly assured her. ‘I’ve come because I heard there were a job goin’?’
‘Oh arr!’ The woman narrowed her eyes and folding her plump arms she hitched her enormous breasts up. ‘An’ ’ave you done farm work afore?’
‘Well, no I haven’t,’ Amber admitted. ‘But I’m a very quick learner an’ I ain’t afraid o’ hard work.’
‘Hm.’ The woman stared at her doubtfully. ‘An’ if I were to take yer on trial, an’ I do sayif,when could yer start.’
‘As soon as you like,’ Amber gushed. ‘And I wouldn’t mind what I had to do. But there is just one thing?.?.?.’ She twisted the thin gold band that her mother had bought her to wear in Scarborough around on her finger, glad that she’d remembered to put it on. ‘I’m a widow, you see? And I have a baby daughter .?.?. But that wouldn’t stop me doing any job you wanted me to,’ she rushed on when she saw Mrs Barstow frown.
‘Mm, well now that puts a different slant on things,’ the woman observed. ‘How are yer supposed to work wi’ a baby hangin’ round yer neck an’ that means I’d ’ave to be feedin’ an’ housin’ the two o’ yer so there wouldn’t be a lot left in wages.’
‘I wouldn’t need much,’ Amber assured her as she held her breath. ‘And Charlotte would be no trouble at all, she’s very good and I’d just strap her to me.’
‘So what do yer think, son?’ Mrs Barstow asked the young man Amber had met on arrival.
He shrugged indifferently. ‘Do wharrever you want, Mam. But if she’s a widow, then I’m the bloody Prince o’ Wales.’
The woman frowned at him. Her poor lad had been born a cripple and none o’ the lasses thereabouts would give him the time o’ day, so he shouldn’t be so sniffy. Cos a little maid like this with a bastard to care for might be the best he could do.
She stared at Amber for another few moments – she was sure she’d seen her somewhere before, but then she said, ‘All right, I’ll give yer a trial. But that’s all it’ll be, mind. If yer don’t come up to muster after a month, yer out, right?’
Amber nodded.
‘Come on Sunday an’ I’ll show yer where you an’ the little ’un will be sleepin’.’ And with that the woman turned and shuffled back to wherever she had come from, telling Amber that the interview was at an end.
Turning about, Amber lifted her skirts again and made her way back across the farmyard with the young man closely following. When they reached the gate, he opened it for her.
‘See yer Sunday then!’ He was openly leering at her and Amber felt awkward.
‘Yes.’ Amber nodded and hurried on her way, wondering if she would live to regret what she had just arranged.
*
Becky was surprised when Amber arrived home early. ‘I weren’t expectin’ you just yet,’ she remarked cheerfully. ‘I thought you’d gone to see Mrs Grimshaw.’
‘I just fancied a walk.’ Amber hated lying to her and as she went to check on Charlotte, who was fast asleep in her crib, she wondered again if she was doing the right thing. Barnaby Greenwood would obviously be very distressed when he knew that she’d taken their daughter. But given that his reputation and marriage was at stake, would he dare to search for her? It remained to be seen.
The following morning Amber saw Mrs Ruffin coming out of the mistress’s room and after glancing about to make sure they couldn’t be overheard she drew her to one side and whispered, ‘Mrs Ruffin, I have to speak to you.’
The woman frowned as Amber went on, ‘I’m so sorry but I can’t stay here anymore. Every time I see Mr Greenwood I .?.?.’
As her voice trailed away Mrs Ruffin patted her arm sympathetically.
‘But the thing is?.?.?. I’m taking Charlotte with me.’
The woman sucked in her breath and shook her head, feeling torn. After the way Barnaby had treated Amber she could easily understand how she must feel every time he visited the nursery, and yet she also knew that after losing David, he doted on the little girl more than ever. He rarely visited Louisa now because every time he set foot through the door she became distraught and blamed him for the position she was in. Having his interfering in-laws there didn’t help either, so he now spent most of his time out at the shipyard or supervising the cargo that came in on one or another of his ships.
‘Do you think he’ll try to find us? An’ how do you think this might affect the mistress? I know she’s really poorly an’ I wouldn’t want to make things worse for her,’ Amber said in a hushed voice.
Again the woman shook her head. ‘I’m not so sure that he will come looking but it will be bad news for you if he does because if word gets out that she’s your daughter too, your name will be mud, lass. As for Louisa, well in truth, she’s never shown a scrap of interest in either of the babies since they were born. All I can advise is that you must do what you feel is right for you and the child now.’
‘Thanks for understandin’,’ Amber said in a choked voice. ‘I’ll be goin’ on Sunday. I’ve found a position that’ll allow me to take Charlotte wi’ me.’
‘In that case, good luck and may God go with you.’ The woman gently squeezed Amber’s arm and went on her way with tears in her eyes. This house had seen so much heartbreak over the last few months and now it looked like it was going to see some more.
