‘Huh! I wouldn’t marry Bertie Preston if he were the last man on earth,’ Amber told her. ‘And I’ve told him so, so why he won’t accept it, I don’t know.’

‘Just thought I’d warn you,’ Nancy said, holding her hands up as if she were warding off a blow. ‘But I’d best get back now. Mrs Boswell is on the warpath an’ she’ll be on me tail if I’m much longer. Ta-ra fer now.’

With a sigh, Amber turned back to her daughter and gave her a big cuddle.

*

Two days later Barnaby came to the nursery mid-morning with a young girl in tow. She was very small and Amber reckoned she couldn’t be more than eleven or twelve years old but she had a ready smile.

‘Miss Ainsley, this is Becky,’ he told her. ‘She’s going to do a trial with you as a nursery-maid, if that meets with your approval.’

Amber eyed the girl, wondering if she would be strong enough to cart the babies about each day. She was so slight that she looked as if one good puff of wind would blow her away but she was an attractive little soul with fair curling hair tied in the nape of her neck and big blue eyes that almost looked too big for her small face.

As if the girl could read her mind, she said quickly, ‘I’m good wi’ babies, miss. I’ve got eight younger brothers an’ sisters at home an’ I’ve always helped me mam to look after ’em.’ She chewed on her lip then with her small hands clasped in front of her, and realising how much the job must mean to her, Amber nodded.

‘Very well, I don’t see why we shouldn’t give it a try.’

The girl positively sighed with relief and Barnaby told her, ‘In that case, you may go and fetch your clothes and things, Becky. I see no reason why you can’t start straightaway.’

The girl dipped her knee and backed towards the door and once she had gone, Barnaby lifted David from his crib. ‘I know she doesn’t look that strong but she assures me she’s used to children and I, er . . .’ He coughed to clear his throat. ‘Her father and uncle died on The Neptune and I believe her mother is struggling to bring the family up alone without their wages coming in. Becky is the only one anywhere near old enough to get a job yet and I thought . . .’

At the mention of the fateful ship that had cost her own father and two brothers their lives, Amber’s eyes watered and she angrily swiped the tears away with the back of her hand. Their deaths were still very raw for her too and she could understand how Becky and her family must feel.