When she entered the cottage, the warmth wrapped itself around her like a blanket and her chapped cheeks and hands began to glow as she hurried towards the fire. The smell of a beef stew simmering in the big black pot on the fire made her stomach rumble and as Alice rushed off to pour her a cup of tea, Amber told her of Mr Greenwood’s offer.

‘London!’ Alice was horrified. ‘Oh, I ain’t too sure as I’d want you goin’ there, lass,’ she said worriedly. ‘I’ve heard tell it’s a den o’ thieves an’ they’d slit your throat for sixpence! There’s pickpockets, prostitutes an’ all manner o’ lowlives there.’

Amber giggled. ‘I doubt it would be like that in the area Mr Greenwood’s friends would be visitin’,’ she pointed out. ‘They’re gentry so I dare say Mrs Temple’s parents live in a big swanky pad somewhere. An’ it is only till after Christmas. So what do you think I should do? He reckons they’ll pay well an’ that would give me some time to decide what I want to do next.’

‘Hm.’ As Alice handed her her tea she stared thoughtfully off into space for a minute, before saying, ‘But what about your clothes, lass? Will they be fancy enough fer the likes o’ them? Even your best skirt an’ blouse is darned now.’

‘I dare say they’d supply a uniform for the time I’m with ’em. An’ I do have the clothes Uncle Jeremiah bought for me.’

‘Ah, I hadn’t thought o’ that. Well . . . all I can say is, if you like the sound of it, I won’t stand in your way but it’ll be sad that you ain’t here fer Christmas. Me an’ your dad an’ the lads will miss you. I don’t think there’s ever been a Christmas when we ain’t all been together before. At least . . . not since . . .’ Amber knew that her mother was thinking of Brian, the child she had lost to pneumonia some years before. Her mother still visited his tiny grave at least once a week. Alice pulled her thoughts back to the present and shaking her head she went on, ‘Still, I dare say I’m gonna have to get used to that. Our Amos an’ young Lilly Price ’ave been walkin’ out together for some time now an’ he slipped it out t’other day that he’s savin’ up to buy her a ring. Happen a change o’ scenery will do you good an’ all, after what you’ve just gone through so if you want to do it you can go wi’ me blessin’.’

‘An’ what about me dad?’