Amber did as she was told but found she couldn’t eat a thing. Soon she was prowling up and down, and Mrs Carter began to feel a little nervous. Never having had any children of her own she wasn’t sure what signs to look for when a baby was about to make an appearance but she had a feeling that this might be the beginning of Amber’s labour. She was just relieved it was a Saturday. Jeremiah would be home just after lunchtime so at least she would have moral support, if nothing else.

‘Would you like me to send Biddy to fetch the midwife to have a look at you?’ she offered.

Amber shook her head. ‘No, I’m not having pains. It’s just this damn backache. It’ll probably go off in a minute.’

But it didn’t go off and by mid-morning she felt worse.

Mrs Carter was hovering by the door when Jeremiah returned and the minute he stepped in, she told him, ‘I think Amber is close to having the baby but she doesn’t want me to send for the midwife yet.’

‘I see.’ Jeremiah looked almost as panicked as she did and heartily wished that Amber’s mother was there; she’d know what to do whereas he and Mrs Carter didn’t have a clue.

At that moment, as Mrs Carter was hanging his hat and coat on the hallstand, they heard a low moan issue from the parlour, and hurrying into the room they found Amber hanging on the back of a chair with a pool of water on the floor between her feet.

‘I . . . I’m so sorry,’ she panted. ‘I reckon me waters have just broke all over your clean rug.’ She herself had heard many babies come into the world in Argument’s Yard. The people lived in such close proximity to each other that it would have been hard not to, so she had a good idea what to expect and she knew the worst was yet to come.

‘Shall I send Biddy for the midwife?’ her uncle asked as he tried not to panic, but still Amber shook her head.

‘No, not yet. First-time mothers can be hours havin’ the baby an’ I ain’t had no real pains yet.’ The words had barely left her lips when she suddenly gasped and doubled over. She felt as if someone was tightening a steel band about her stomach and the severity of the first pain took her breath away.

As Jeremiah guided Amber to a chair and gently pressed her down into it, Mrs Carter bustled back in all of a fluster with a mop and bucket.

‘So what do we do now?’ Jeremiah asked, trying to conceal his panic.