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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

‘Of course not.’ Amber stifled a grin as she winked at Biddy over Mrs Carter’s shoulder, and then she set off for her evening stroll along the front.

She had gone no more than a few yards when she glimpsed a young couple strolling arm in arm ahead of her and when she looked more closely, she saw that it was Daisy and young Archie who worked in her uncle’s shop. They were staring into each other’s eyes, clearly absorbed in each other, and although she was pleased for them, Amber felt a little pang of envy and smiled sadly at the thought that because of the illegitimate child she was carrying, no one would ever look at her as Archie was gazing at Daisy. Once they knew that she had had a child out of wedlock she would be classed as soiled goods and shunned.

Suddenly all the pleasure had gone from the evening and turning about abruptly she made her way back to her uncle’s with a heavy heart.

Chapter Eight

Chapter Eight

August 1845

Barnaby leant down to kiss his wife’s cheek and tried to present her with the roses that the gardener had just picked for her, but she turned her face away and pouted.

‘I don’t want them,’ she said peevishly, pushing the flowers away. ‘The scent gives me a headache.’

‘Oh, I’m sorry, my dear, I didn’t know.’

Mrs Ruffin frowned at her young mistress. In fairness to the master, he was doing everything he could for her, but nothing was ever good enough for her. In fact, she scowled at him the second he entered the room and once again Ruffy felt quite sorry for him.

‘Now there’s no need to sound so ungrateful, lass,’ she gently scolded. And then to the master, ‘Why don’t you get one of the maids to put them in the hallway, sir? They’ll look a treat in there.’

‘Er . . . right, Mrs Ruffin, I will. But is there anything you need, Louisa?’

She turned her head to glare at him her hand resting on the mound of her stomach and he hastily backed away.

‘Very well. I’m just going to the shipyard; I have a few things I need to see to so if you need me, I’ll be there.’

‘Why would I need you?’ she said cuttingly.

Realising he wasn’t welcome, Barnaby hurriedly left the room.

‘You were a bit harsh on him weren’t yer?’ Mrs Ruffin remarked as she plumped up the cushions on the chair Louisa was sitting on at the open window.

‘Serves him right!’ Louisa answered curtly. ‘Just look at the state of me. I’ve forgotten what it’s like to feel pretty. I’m just a fat blob now and still some weeks to go!’