‘I’ve no idea.’ Amber shrugged. She certainly wouldn’t miss him but she had no doubt that Charlotte would. She was blossoming again since they had come home.

*

Four days later, Mrs Boswell received a letter saying that Louisa’s funeral would be taking place the following morning and to expect the master back by nightfall.

‘So I wonder what’ll ’appen ’ere now?’ Becky mused worriedly.

‘I should imagine that things will go on much as they did before,’ Amber said.

‘Hm, well let’s just ’ope you’re reet! I can’t afford to lose this job, not when they’re so ’ard to come by.’

‘I shouldn’t think there’s much chance o’ that happening,’ Amber comforted her. If only she could have known how wrong she could be.

Chapter Thirty-Five

Chapter Thirty-Five

‘The master’s back,’ Nancy told them the following evening when she brought their supper up to them.

‘He’ll be out of luck if he’s hopin’ to see Charlotte,’ Amber commented as she finished putting the infant’s clean clothes away. ‘She’s been fast asleep for the past hour now.’

‘I doubt that’ll stop ’im comin’,’ Nancy answered.

She was proved right when shortly after the nursery door opened and Barnaby appeared. Becky had retired to bed by that time and as always, Amber felt uncomfortable being alone with him.

‘So, er . . . did the funeral go all right?’ She felt as if she should say something as he crept over to the crib to peep at his daughter.

‘As well as these affairs can go,’ he answered shortly. ‘Has she been all right?’

‘Charlotte? Yes o’ course she has.’ She didn’t bother to tell him that the child’s eyes had strayed hopefully towards the door every time it had been opened, only for her to be disappointed when she saw that it wasn’t him.

‘Very well. I’ll wish you goodnight and I’ll be back to see her first thing in the morning before Louisa’s solicitor arrives.’

Amber continued with what she was doing and breathed a sigh of relief when the door closed behind him.

*

Charlotte gurgled with delight when she laid eyes on him the next day and again Amber felt envious of their closeness. The child was crawling everywhere now and even trying to pull herself up on the furniture and Amber had an idea that it wouldn’t be long before she took her first steps.

‘So why don’t you like the master?’ Becky asked when Barnaby had gone to keep his appointment. ‘You’re always as jumpy as a kitten when ’e’s about an’ you never say a word to ’im unless you ’ave to.’

Amber shrugged. ‘I’m not paid to talk to him, I’m paid to look after Charlotte,’ she retorted shortly.

Realising she’d clearly said something to upset her Becky wisely let the subject drop.