‘I’ll . . . go and get changed then.’ Amber felt as if she had a lump the size of a house brick in her throat and she had the sensation of choking as she fled into her old room, holding back a sob. It was the first time Charlotte had smiled – really smiled – since they’d left and Amber’s heart felt as if it was breaking. The child had never smiled at her like that.

Half an hour later she presented herself back in the nursery. She had washed and changed and fixed her hair into a neat bun but there was nothing she could do about the state of her work-worn hands. Only time would heal them.

The door opened and Barnaby’s mother-in-law appeared to stare disdainfully at Amber. ‘Ah, the servants said you were back.’ She turned her attention to Barnaby and told him, ‘Don’t you think you should go and spend some time with your wife? She isn’t long for this life, as you well know.’

Amber was aware that she barely glanced at Charlotte, and she wondered if Margaret Hamilton-Tate knew the child wasn’t even her blood relation. Or perhaps she sensed it and that was why she showed no interest in her?

Barnaby was well aware that Louisa really didn’t care if he was there or not. She was in so much pain now that she was only semi-conscious for much of the time. Over the last few days, she had seen everyone she wished to see, the reverend and her solicitor and now it felt as if they were all just waiting for the inevitable end. Even so he nodded and reluctantly passed Charlotte back to Amber, saying, ‘I’ll send Becky back up.’

Amber nodded and once he’d left the room, she set about bathing and changing Charlotte. The child seemed happy to be back in familiar surroundings and as the day wore on, she became more alert and much more her cheerful little self.

In the afternoon, Amber and Becky took her out into the garden and after laying a blanket on the grass they let her roll about in the sunshine.

‘It’s good to ’ave you back; I missed you both,’ Becky said with sincerity and Amber smiled. Her plans to have Charlotte all to herself and live independently had gone seriously awry but at least she could still care for her, which meant the world.

*

Throughout the day Louisa deteriorated and as evening drew in, her mother retired leaving strict instructions with Mrs Ruffin to fetch her should her daughter get any worse.