Almost two hours later they heard footsteps on the nursery stairs and when the door opened Barnaby stepped into the room.

‘Ah, so you arrived,’ he said rather unnecessarily and Amber nodded, avoiding his eyes. She was wearing the plain dress her uncle had bought her for working in the shop in Scarborough and with her hair neatly pinned up and in her best boots, he noted that she looked very neat and tidy – pretty in fact.

Barnaby instantly crossed to Charlotte and the second she saw him the little girl gurgled with delight and he lifted her into his arms.

‘And how is my special girl today, eh?’ Barnaby crooned and seeing how gentle he was with her, Amber was shocked. He clearly loved his children so perhaps he wasn’t all bad after all. Next he went to lift David into his other arm and nudging Amber, Nancy suggested, ‘Shall we take these pots down to the kitchen?’

Amber was only too happy to oblige and after loading them onto a tray they set off, giving Barnaby some time alone with the infants.

They had just reached the first-floor landing when Mrs Ruffin appeared from the mistress’s bedroom looking flustered and seeing them, she smiled weakly. ‘She’s having a bad day,’ she confided, cocking her head back towards the room. And nodding down at her apron, which was stained with tea, she added, ‘She didn’t want her tea so she threw it at me.’ She shook her head. ‘But how am I supposed to get her to build her strength up if she won’t even try to eat and drink? It’s almost as if she’s given up.’

Both Amber and Nancy felt sorry for her. It was no secret that the mistress was gravely ill and they could only imagine how upsetting it must be for Mrs Ruffin, who loved her like a daughter. They continued down the next flight of stairs together and had almost reached the bottom when Mrs Ruffin told them, ‘I’ve sent for the doctor to call in and have a look at her again. He should be here anytime now. Do you want me to ask him to pop up to the nursery and have a look at David while he’s here?’

‘I don’t suppose it would hurt,’ Nancy answered. ‘Though he’s no worse. Sayin’ that he’s no better either an’ we still can’t get him to eat or drink much.’

Mrs Boswell appeared and eyed Amber’s dress curiously. She had only ever seen her in the old clothes she used to wear in the laundry and she was surprised to see how different she looked dressed in smarter clothes.

‘Are you settling in?’

Amber noted a tone of disapproval in her voice but she answered calmly, ‘Yes, thank you, Mrs Boswell.’