‘Huh!’ Alice snorted in disgust. ‘Oh aye, o’ course there are, an’ the streets are paved wi’ gold, ain’ they? That’s why many o’ the young lasses that head there end up sleepin’ rough in shop doorways or goin’ on the game. No, you can forget that idea, me girl.’ And then seeing her daughter’s downcast expression she reached out to squeeze her hand. ‘But don’t fret, lass. Somethin’ll turn up, you’ll see. You know the old sayin, “When one door shuts, another door opens.” Let’s just concentrate on gettin’ this baby here safe an’ sound an’ then we’ll decide what’s to be done.’ It hurt her to see her daughter so low, so she went on with a grin, ‘An’ what’s brought about the change in Martha Carter, eh? I barely recognised her wi’ her hair done softer like that an’ a bit o’ lace on her collar. She’s always been as plain as a pikestaff but she looks quite attractive now. Would this be down to your uncle or is there another gentleman friend somewhere in the picture by any chance?’

‘Actually, I think—’ But Amber got no further for at that moment the person they were discussing appeared bearing a tray of tea and a jam and cream sponge cake still slightly warm from the oven.

‘Here you are, Mrs Ainsley,’ she said affably as she set the tray down. ‘This should keep you going until dinner time. Jeremiah will be so surprised to see you. You will be staying for dinner, won’t you?’

‘Well, as it happens, I were hopin’ you might be able to find me a bed for the night,’ Alice told her. ‘I could catch the mail coach back to Whitby first thing in the mornin’ then an’ be back in time for when the menfolk get back from sea.’

‘That will be no trouble at all,’ Mrs Carter assured her. ‘I’ll go and get the spare room ready for you right away and give you two some time to have a good catch up.’

‘Ooh, Jeremiah now, is it?’ Alice chuckled when she’d left the room. ‘Am I missin’ somethin’ here?’

Amber nodded. ‘Yes, as I told you in me letter, it started when I suggested to Uncle Jeremiah that I thought Mrs Carter would like a pet,’ she giggled. ‘I guessed right from the day I got here that she had feelin’s for him – it was as plain as the nose on your face. Anyway, he turns up wi’ little Fancy, the dog, an’ next thing they’re takin’ him for walks together. Then recently Uncle suggests that Mrs Carter should join us for dinner an’ they seem to be gettin’ on like a house on fire.’