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Chapters (56)
  1. Cover
  2. Dedication
  3. Prologue
  4. Chapter One
  5. Chapter Two
  6. Chapter Three
  7. Chapter Four
  8. Chapter Five
  9. Chapter Six
  10. Chapter Seven
  11. Chapter Eight
  12. Chapter Nine
  13. Chapter Ten
  14. Chapter Eleven
  15. Chapter Twelve
  16. Chapter Thirteen
  17. Chapter Fourteen
  18. Chapter Fifteen
  19. Chapter Sixteen
  20. Chapter Seventeen
  21. Chapter Eighteen
  22. Chapter Nineteen
  23. Chapter Twenty
  24. Chapter Twenty-One
  25. Chapter Twenty-Two
  26. Chapter Twenty-Three
  27. Chapter Twenty-Four
  28. Chapter Twenty-Five
  29. Chapter Twenty-Six
  30. Chapter Twenty-Seven
  31. Chapter Twenty-Eight
  32. Chapter Twenty-Nine
  33. Chapter Thirty
  34. Chapter Thirty-One
  35. Chapter Thirty-Two
  36. Chapter Thirty-Three
  37. Chapter Thirty-Four
  38. Chapter Thirty-Five
  39. Chapter Thirty-Six
  40. Chapter Thirty-Seven
  41. Chapter Thirty-Eight
  42. Chapter Thirty-Nine
  43. Chapter Forty
  44. Chapter Forty-One
  45. Chapter Forty-Two
  46. Epilogue
  47. Acknowledgements
  48. Also by Rosie Goodwin
  49. About the Author
  50. Welcome to the world of Rosie Goodwin!
  51. Letter from Author
  52. Apple Charlotte
  53. The Precious Stones series
  54. The Days of the Week Collection
  55. Victorian Tales from Memory Lane
  56. Memory Lane Club

Cook patted his shoulder. They were all fond of Ruby and she could well understand how he felt. ‘I’ve no doubt she would have, lad,’ she told him regretfully. ‘But unfortunately, that ain’t how the toffs work, more’s the pity. Still, at least the mister is sayin’ he’ll send her away.’ Neither she, nor Miss Wood had told him about the baby as yet. They had decided to face each problem as it arose and the first thing they needed was for Ruby to wake up.

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Seventeen

It was nine o’clock in the evening and Miss Wood was sitting in a chair close to Ruby’s bed reading The Moonstone by Wilkie Collins, when a slight groan from the bed made her drop the book and quickly spring up. Outside, the March wind was hammering on the window as if it was trying to gain entry, but inside the fire was glowing brightly in the grate and the oil lamp on the bedside table made the room look warm and cosy.

‘Ruby, Ruby, dear . . . can you hear me?’

Ruby’s head was moving from side to side and beads of sweat stood out on her forehead and Miss Wood hoped that at last she was coming around. Taking a cool cloth from a bowl on the bedside table, she gently wiped Ruby’s face. ‘Ruby, try to open your eyes, dear,’ she urged. ‘You are quite safe.’

Ruby blinked and then very slowly her right eye blearily opened. The other was black and swollen from the fall down the stairs. Disorientated, she tried to sit up, crying out with pain. She ached everywhere but the pain in her leg was excruciating and she began to whimper.

‘Wh-what happened?’ Her lips felt dry and sore and there was a sharp pain throbbing behind her eyes.

‘You had a fall,’ Miss Wood said gently. ‘But you’re going to be all right, I promise.’ Her heart ached for the girl; she looked so small and frail, and in that moment, she could willingly have strangled Miranda for what she’d done.

Picking up a glass of water, she gently lifted Ruby’s head and held it to her lips. When Ruby tried to gulp at it she shook her head. ‘Just little sips now,’ she told her and Ruby did as she was told before flopping back onto the pillows like a broken rag doll.

‘M-me leg hurts,’ she said miserably, and then as everything suddenly came rushing back to her she gasped. ‘It was Miranda . . . she pushed me!’