‘Did you now?’ If Rosalie was surprised at her housekeeper sending the coachman on errands on behalf of a maid, she didn’t say so. ‘Let’s hope she gets here in time. Bring those towels and let’s have a look at her.’

‘Oh, madame, it’s not appropriate for you to—’ Agathe began.

‘And it’s not for you to tell me what’s appropriate!’ interrupted Rosalie. ‘Come along.’ And with that she turned on her heel and set off along the landing, followed by Agathe, still clutching the pile of clean towels.

When they reached the bedroom they found Annette sitting up in her bed, with Adèle sitting beside her, admiring the small clothes Annette had made in readiness for her baby.

‘Now then, Annette,’ Rosalie said when the girl stared at her in horror at having been found in her bed by her mistress and tried to get up. ‘No, no, stay where you are.’ Rosalie waved a staying hand. ‘I hear your baby is on the way. Pierre has gone to fetch Madame Leclerc, and as soon as she arrives she’ll be up here to help you. I’m sure she won’t be long.’

Even as she spoke Annette was gripped by another contraction, making her cry out in pain. Agathe was immediately at her side.

Rosalie turned to Adèle Paquet. ‘How long since the last one?’ she asked.

‘Not long, madame,’ replied the cook. ‘Maybe fifteen minutes.’

‘Then you’d better go downstairs and as soon as the midwife arrives bring her straight up. Make sure there is plenty of boiled water ready when needed.’

As the cook scurried out, Rosalie said, ‘We’d better spread the towels, I fear the birth is very close.’ But there were no more contractions before the door opened and Madame Leclerc stepped into the room.

Rosalie greeted her with relief and said, ‘I’ll leave you to it, madame, I have matters to attend to downstairs.’ As she reached the door she said, ‘Madame Sauze, I will expect to hear from you as soon as the child is born.’

Madame Leclerc moved quickly to the bedside. ‘How long has she been like this?’ she asked.

‘For over an hour,’ replied Agathe. ‘At first her contractions were coming regularly, but they aren’t any more.’

‘This is serious,’ said the midwife as she began her examination. The waters staining the bed ran dark, which she knew was a bad sign. When she had finished her examination she turned to Agathe and said, ‘The baby is lying crosswise. The only chance of saving it – and the mother – is for me to try to turn it so that its head is able to engage.’ She looked at Agathe and went on, ‘It is all I can do.’

At that moment Annette gave another cry as a further contraction gripped her, her face now the colour of putty and covered in sweat.

‘Do what you can,’ Agathe said, and standing aside she watched as the midwife struggled to turn the baby.