‘No, as it happens, I shall be staying here in Scarborough. If you could get word to this address.’ He quickly took out a piece of paper on which he had written the address of the cottage, and after handing it to her he slowly rose. It seemed that there was no more to be said. ‘I shall wait to hear from you then,’ he said uncomfortably. ‘And may I say that I hope that all goes well for you, Amber. Good day to you.’ And with a stiff little bow he turned on his heel and let himself out.

An hour later he set off back to Whitby feeling wretched. Now he had to find someone who would care for his illegitimate child who could be trusted to keep their mouth shut, for he knew that if word ever got out about it Louisa would petition to leave him. But would that be such a bad thing? a little voice inside him asked. If Louisa had been more of a wife to me, I would never have felt driven to take advantage of a maid. But even so, he knew that this was no excuse and he urged Major into a gallop to try and escape his guilty conscience.

*

Three days later when everything they might need had been sent on ahead by coach, the Greenwoods and Mrs Ruffin set off for Seaview Cottage in Scarborough. Mrs Ruffin and Louisa rode in the coach, with Jimmy, Barnaby’s faithful groom, driving while Barnaby rode alongside on Major. They had agreed that Jimmy would remain with them in the room above the single stable at the cottage until they returned to Greenacres – whenever that might be. Mrs Ruffin, meanwhile, as well as looking after Louisa, would do the cooking and cleaning, whilst Mrs Reed would see to their laundry. Louisa seemed happy with this arrangement, although Barnaby wished that she would have agreed to stay at home where the doctor he knew and trusted was at hand. Still, as always, her wish was his command.

As they set off, the skies were grey with a threat of rain in the air, and they had not gone very far when Louisa started to complain every time the carriage went over a bump or a rut in the road.

‘I shall be black and blue by the time we get there,’ she wailed as Mrs Ruffin looked on unsympathetically.

‘Well, it was you as wanted to come,’ she pointed out unfeelingly and Louisa pouted.

‘I didn’t know the roads were going to be so rough, did I?’ She crossed her arms across her swollen stomach, wrapped her cloak more closely about her and stared sulkily from the window, which suited Mrs Ruffin just fine as it meant she could close her eyes, settle back against the soft leather squabs and take a nap.