Chapters (57)
- Cover
- Dedication
- Chapter One
- Chapter Two
- Chapter Three
- Chapter Four
- Chapter Five
- Chapter Six
- Chapter Seven
- Chapter Eight
- Chapter Nine
- Chapter Ten
- Chapter Eleven
- Chapter Twelve
- Chapter Thirteen
- Chapter Fourteen
- Chapter Fifteen
- Chapter Sixteen
- Chapter Seventeen
- Chapter Eighteen
- Chapter Nineteen
- Chapter Twenty
- Chapter Twenty-One
- Chapter Twenty-Two
- Chapter Twenty-Three
- Chapter Twenty-Four
- Chapter Twenty-Five
- Chapter Twenty-Six
- Chapter Twenty-Seven
- Chapter Twenty-Eight
- Chapter Twenty-Nine
- Chapter Thirty
- Chapter Thirty-One
- Chapter Thirty-Two
- Chapter Thirty-Three
- Chapter Thirty-Four
- Chapter Thirty-Five
- Chapter Thirty-Six
- Chapter Thirty-Seven
- Chapter Thirty-Eight
- Chapter Thirty-Nine
- Chapter Forty
- Chapter Forty-One
- Chapter Forty-Two
- Chapter Forty-Three
- Chapter Forty-Four
- Acknowledgements
- About the Authors
- Also by Rosie Goodwin
- Welcome to the world of Rosie Goodwin!
- Letter from Author
- Meat and Potato Pie
- The Precious Stones series
- The Days of the Week Collection
- Mothering Sunday
- Victorian Tales from Memory Lane
- Memory Lane Club
‘I’m quite happy up here,’ Amber answered a little too quickly. She rarely ventured below stairs apart from when she had to and Nancy now delivered all her meals and the babies’ meals to the nursery. It was easier that way as at least then she didn’t have to face the awful silences that settled on the room when she entered. Even Jimmy, the young groom who had once had a soft spot for her, was reluctant to meet her eyes and she knew she was the subject of much gossip.
Becky shrugged. ‘All right, if you’re sure you can manage. I might be able to cadge another slice o’ that lovely cake they brought up fer us at teatime.’
Amber smiled. Becky seemed to be constantly hungry, which probably accounted for how small she was, and the girl tripped away.
She returned almost an hour later and looking up from the newspaper she was reading, Amber greeted her with a smile.
‘Nancy said to tell you she’d pop in to see you afore she goes to bed,’ Becky informed her, stifling a yawn.
‘Reet, well seeing as the little ones are settled per’aps you’d like to turn in an’ get an early night? I can manage if they wake up.’
‘Are you sure?’ Becky didn’t want to look as if she was shirking, especially on her first day, although she was longing to snuggle down on the feather mattress in the room that was to be all hers. At home she had shared a bed with three of her little sisters so having a bed all to herself was going to be a luxury indeed.
When Amber nodded she left hurriedly before she changed her mind and it was only then that Amber realised it was almost Sunday and she would be entitled to a whole afternoon off. But where could she go? she wondered. There was no family left there for her to go and see anymore and it was still far too cold to just go walking about.
Nancy solved that problem when she dropped in to see her just before bedtime and told her, ‘Me mam says you’re to come home for tea wi’ me on Sunday. Now that Becky’s here to mind the bairns we can have the same afternoon off together – if you think she’ll cope, that is?’
‘I’m sure she will and I’d like that.’ And so it was agreed.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Chapter Twenty-Seven
In the early hours of Monday morning there was a tap on Barnaby’s bedroom door and he opened his eyes blearily to see Mrs Ruffin standing there in her night attire.