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Back A Season for Hope Save as PDF
Chapters (57)
  1. Cover
  2. Dedication
  3. Chapter One
  4. Chapter Two
  5. Chapter Three
  6. Chapter Four
  7. Chapter Five
  8. Chapter Six
  9. Chapter Seven
  10. Chapter Eight
  11. Chapter Nine
  12. Chapter Ten
  13. Chapter Eleven
  14. Chapter Twelve
  15. Chapter Thirteen
  16. Chapter Fourteen
  17. Chapter Fifteen
  18. Chapter Sixteen
  19. Chapter Seventeen
  20. Chapter Eighteen
  21. Chapter Nineteen
  22. Chapter Twenty
  23. Chapter Twenty-One
  24. Chapter Twenty-Two
  25. Chapter Twenty-Three
  26. Chapter Twenty-Four
  27. Chapter Twenty-Five
  28. Chapter Twenty-Six
  29. Chapter Twenty-Seven
  30. Chapter Twenty-Eight
  31. Chapter Twenty-Nine
  32. Chapter Thirty
  33. Chapter Thirty-One
  34. Chapter Thirty-Two
  35. Chapter Thirty-Three
  36. Chapter Thirty-Four
  37. Chapter Thirty-Five
  38. Chapter Thirty-Six
  39. Chapter Thirty-Seven
  40. Chapter Thirty-Eight
  41. Chapter Thirty-Nine
  42. Chapter Forty
  43. Chapter Forty-One
  44. Chapter Forty-Two
  45. Chapter Forty-Three
  46. Chapter Forty-Four
  47. Acknowledgements
  48. About the Authors
  49. Also by Rosie Goodwin
  50. Welcome to the world of Rosie Goodwin!
  51. Letter from Author
  52. Meat and Potato Pie
  53. The Precious Stones series
  54. The Days of the Week Collection
  55. Mothering Sunday
  56. Victorian Tales from Memory Lane
  57. Memory Lane Club

It was very late in the afternoon by the time the last mourner left and within minutes of them leaving Barnaby was back again. He had been the same ever since David had died. It was almost as if he was afraid that something was going to happen to Charlotte too. But the second he entered the room he stopped and stared at the space where David’s crib had stood before asking, ‘Where is it?’

It was Becky who answered nervously, ‘We, er . . . moved it into the next room, sir. We thought it might be too upsettin’ for yer to have to see it every time yer came in. An’ we’ve sorted all his clothes out as well. What would yer like us to do wi’ ’em?’

A muscle twitched in his cheek and his eyes grew bright as he answered, ‘You’ll do nothing with them for now. I don’t want a single thing of his to go out of the house, do you understand me?’

Looking suitably chastened, Becky nodded.

Feeling she had to defend the girl, Amber piped up, ‘We were only tryin’ to help. It can’t have been easy for you seeing his empty cradle every time you came in!’

Hands clenched, he stared at her for a moment before turning and slamming from the room.

‘Oh dear, here we were thinkin’ we were helpin’ an’ it looks like we’ve only made things worse!’ Becky chewed on her lip for a moment before asking tentatively, ‘What is it between you an’ the master anyway? I’ve noticed you only speak to each other when yer have to.’

Felling embarrassed, Amber shrugged. ‘I suppose I just don’t care for him,’ she mumbled and Becky frowned.

‘But why not? He’s a good enough boss, ain’t he? An’ they said downstairs yer worked in the laundry afore you came up here. That’s a big step up, surely. I’d ’ave thought yer’d be pleased about it.’

‘A job is a job.’ Keen to change the subject, Amber nodded towards the water jug. ‘But now get some water on to warm an’ make yourself useful. It’ll be time for this little ’un’s bath soon.’

Sensing that enough had been said on the subject, although she had no idea why, Becky went to do as she was told. Deep down she was already worrying that as there was only one baby left to care for now it might be decided that she was no longer needed, but she prayed that this wouldn’t be the case. It was the best job she had ever had. She had a warm bed all to herself, as much good food as she could eat and spare money to give to her mam to help feed her siblings back at home. But then what would be would be.

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Chapter Twenty-Nine

April, 1846