You could ’ave knocked me down with a feather today when I opened the door to find yer old gaffer, Mr Greenwood, standing there on the doorstep an’ you can just imagine how the curtains were twitchin’ in the yard. Old Mrs Preston almost fell out of the winder tryin’ to see who it was. Of course I asked him in and he then asked me why you hadn’t returned to your job. I told him what we’d agreed – that your uncle had been taken ill and you’d gone to look after him for a while till he were on the mend. He looked perplexed and asked when you would be home but I just said it all depended on how quickly your uncle recovered. I hope this means he is keeping your job open for you. Everyone here has been told the same story so I hope you’re sticking to it there too. It will make it so much easier for you when you come home.

I do miss you so, my lass, an so does yer dad an yer brothers and we hope that you are keeping well. I wish I could be there with you to see you through this difficult time but I know that Jeremiah will keep you safe. Do give him my love and take good care of yerself. I will do my very best to come and see yer when the time for the birth draws a little nearer.

Until then I send you all my love,

Mam xxx

Amber took a deep breath and chewed on her lip as she tried to digest what her mother had told her. Why would Barnaby Greenwood care if she went back to work or not after the way he had treated her? she wondered. As far as she knew, he didn’t usually bother to check on any of the other staff who had left his employ. But then, they weren’t carrying his baby and she was. Her hand dropped to her stomach. It was still flat as a pancake and it was hard to believe that there really was a tiny little being in there. As yet the only change in herself she had noticed was a tenderness in her breasts and a feeling of nausea first thing in the morning.

Unbidden, a picture of Barnaby flashed before her eyes and the tears came again as she thought of how he had so heartlessly used her. Now for the first time she was glad she had come here. At least here there was little chance of bumping into him. With a deep sigh she laid the letter aside and lifted the gown she was working on, soon becoming absorbed in the stitches and temporarily forgetting about anything else.