An hour later her mother returned and after fumbling in her pocket, she handed Amber a paper-thin gold band, saying, ‘Best I could get for the money but it’ll do the job, lass. Now slip it on. And the good thing is there’s a coach bound for Scarborough leavin’ from the town hall tomorrow mornin’ at ten. When Ted an’ Will come home tonight we’ll just tell ’em you’re here because you’ve been unwell.’

‘But what will you tell ’em when I don’t come home of a Sunday?’

Her mother scowled and shook her head. ‘One thing at a time, eh, lass? I ain’t thought that far ahead yet but I’ll think o’ somethin’, never you fear.’

Like their mother, her brothers were surprised to see her when they got home from the shipyard that night and they greeted her warmly as they washed in the hot water their mother had ready before drying themselves on a piece of huckaback.

‘Sorry to hear you ain’t been too well, sis,’ Will said once they all sat down to dinner and their mother explained why Amber was there.

William, was twenty and the brother next to Amber in age. He was the spitting image of their mother, whilst at twenty-two, Edward, or Ted, took after their father with blue eyes and dark hair. Her two older brothers, Reuben and Amos, were twenty-three and twenty-four and were fishermen like their father.

‘The gaffer called to the shipyard in a reet good mood this afternoon,’ Will said through a mouthful of fish pie and Amber’s ears pricked up.

‘Oh, an’ why would that be?’ Alice asked.

‘Happen he found out today that the mistress is expectin’ another bairn.’

‘Then let’s hope it goes reet fer her this time,’ she answered. ‘How many has she lost now? Three durin’ her term an’ two born sleepin’, ain’t it?’

‘Aye, five in all,’ Will agreed as he loaded his fork. ‘An’ I don’t reckon the master’ll let her rest till she’s produced a live bairn, poor woman. Everyone knows it’s the grandaddy, his missus’s father, who wants the gaffer to have an heir.’

Amber lowered her head, feeling as if someone had punched her in the stomach. So that was why Barnaby had turned his back on her – that must have been what he had been about to tell her when she had given him her news. Because of the legitimate heir that his wife was carrying he had decided that their baby was worthless and told her to get rid of it. Her heart broke afresh as she choked back tears and she knew in that moment that she would never trust another man for as long as she lived.

Chapter Three

Chapter Three