They both worked each weekday from eight till five in the afternoon and on Saturday they worked from nine till four, so Sunday was the only day off they had. Her uncle had already told her that he would expect her to attend the chapel with him on Sunday morning and now Amber was in a tizzy. She didn’t want to hurt Archie’s feelings but the last thing she needed was to get romantically involved with anyone and she knew that if he was thinking along those lines and she accepted the invitation, it might give him false hope. And so with a cheery smile she told him, ‘Thanks, Archie, that’s really kind of you but, well . . . it’s not so long since I lost my husband and . . .’

When her voice trailed away poor Archie blushed to the colour of a beetroot. ‘Oh . . . I’m sorry . . . I weren’t thinkin’.’

Amber grinned. ‘But if you’re after a bit of company why don’t you ask that young Daisy, the little maid from the big house up the road that comes into the shop every chance she gets? I’m sure she’s taken with you. I couldn’t help but notice how her eyes follow you everywhere whenever you’re about.’

‘Daisy Saunders!’ Archie looked shocked. He had known Daisy for years; they’d practically grown up together but he’d never looked at her in that way before and he’d certainly had no idea that she liked him. She was a very pretty girl though, now he came to think about it, and he looked thoughtful as he got on with what he’d been doing.

It was mid-afternoon when Amber’s uncle drew her to one side and pressed some money into her hand saying brusquely, ‘Slip out and get yourself some lengths of material from the ladies’ dress shop up the road. And while you’re at it go into the bootmaker’s and order yourself some new shoes. Those boots you’re wearing will be far too big and cumbersome with the spring upon us.’

‘Oh, but Uncle you really don’t need to do this,’ Amber protested, even though she knew that although they were spotlessly clean, the clothes she was wearing were very shabby indeed.

‘I want you looking smart in the shop,’ he said as he busied himself tidying the counter. ‘Spend it on whatever you need.’