‘I think I might just let you do that,’ Amber said with a worried frown. ‘At least until I know what sort of reception I’m goin’ to get. But now tell me about the babies’ routines. I can put this stuff away later.’ And after throwing her bundle onto the bed she returned to the nursery with Nancy.

Over the next hour Nancy showed her the small stove where she could warm the milk for the little ones’ bottles, and also where the water closet was out on the landing. Amber was quite taken with that; it would certainly beat having to go outside to use the toilet in the freezing cold.

‘All the dirty washin’, yours included, will be collected each mornin’,’ Nancy went on. ‘An’ when it’s been washed an’ ironed it will be brought back to you.’ Next she showed Amber where the babies’ clothes and toiletries were kept and when the twins started to stir she showed her friend how to make their bottles.

‘I should have a go at feedin’ David first,’ Nancy suggested. ‘He’s the hardest to care for. Charlotte will eat till the cows come home, bless ’er, an’ she’s as good as gold, but he’s a whinger cos he ain’t well most o’ the time.’

Amber gently lifted the little boy from his crib and when he opened his eyes he stopped crying momentarily to stare up at her curiously.

‘Oh dear, he’s as light as a feather,’ Amber said in dismay and Nancy nodded in agreement.

‘I know, but it ain’t for the wants o’ me not tryin’ to fatten him up.’ She shook her head. ‘Between you an’ me I don’t reckon the doctor thinks much of his chances. There’s been talk of there bein’ somethin’ wrong wi’ his little heart. I don’t reckon he’ll be for this world for much longer.’

Once the milk had been warmed to the right temperature, Amber lifted David from his cot, shocked again to feel how light he was. There wasn’t an ounce of fat on him and his little face was gaunt.

‘Poor little thing,’ she muttered as she tried to gently push the teat of the bottle between his lips. ‘He’s so painfully thin! All skin and bone.’

‘Unlike this one.’ Nancy chuckled as Charlotte slurped greedily at her milk. Within no time at all her bottle was empty but David hadn’t even managed an ounce. Eventually Amber gave up trying to tempt him to take any more and she awkwardly changed his binding, realising that it was going to take a bit of practice before she got it right – it wasn’t as easy as it looked – while Nancy changed Charlotte’s

The little girl gurgled and cooed with her chubby little legs kicking whilst David just lay there.