I hope this letter finds yer well and settled in with Mrs Grimshaw. Do give her my best wishes. Have yer managed to find a new job yet? I am settling very happily at your uncle’s and at present Martha (Mrs Carter) and me are busily planning the wedding. It’s only going to be a quiet affair at the end of June but both she and your uncle would love you to be there to share the happy day with them. I do ’ope you’ll be able to make it. They seem so suited and I’m sure they’ll be very happy together. I just wish they’d realised they were right for each other years ago. So much wasted time! Still, better late than never, eh?

I’ve started taking little Fancy for a walk each evening to give them some time alone together and have to say I’ve really bonded with the little dog; she has such a sweet nature and so does Biddy. I’m going to start work in the shop next week, just part-time to give your uncle and Martha a bit more space, and your uncle has bought me some lovely new clothes to wear there. I must say I feel very posh in them. I’m going to have a new outfit for the wedding too! So all in all things are working out for me far better than I had hoped, although of course I miss you all something terrible.

Anyway, my lass, I’ll go now as it’s almost dinner time and whatever Martha is cooking smells very nice!

Take care,

Love yer,

Mam xxxx

‘All right, is she, lass?’

‘Yes, thank you, she sounds fine,’ Amber replied as she carefully folded the letter and placed it back in the envelope. ‘She’s settling well.’

‘Hm, but you’re missin’ her, ain’t you?’

The kindly voice brought tears to Amber’s eyes as she nodded but then the door suddenly burst open, bringing in a gust of icy air, and Nancy hurried in.

‘Brrr, it’s enough to freeze the ’air’s off a brass monkey out there,’ she declared as she hastily slammed the door shut.

‘An’ what brings you ’ere at this time o’ day, lass? You ain’t got the sack have yer?’ her mother asked with a worried frown.

‘No, I ain’t, Mam, don’t worry.’ Nancy chuckled as she hurried towards the fire nudging the children out of the way as she went. ‘I’ve been sent wi’ a message for Amber as it happens, so I can’t stay long. Mrs Boswell is watchin’ the babies. I’ve got time fer a cuppa, though, if there’s one goin’.’

‘A message for me?’ Amber raised her eyebrow. ‘Who from?’