Page 29 of The Winter Bride

Charlie was still living in London and Annie missed him. She was amused when she looked back now to remember the romantic feelings she’d had for him when she was younger – until she’d found out that he had a boyfriend, that was. Sadly, his boyfriend had died during the war and, broken-hearted, Charlie had moved away to make a new life for himself away from the memories. And from the letters they received, he seemed to be doing just that.

As for Harry, the youngest of Levi and Maggie’s boys had always had an eye for the girls and had been devastated to learn that the butcher’s daughter he had been walking out with was carrying his child. He’d reluctantly married her, but their union hadn’t been a happy one and after the war, he’d stayed in France with a woman he’d met there. Every now and again Levi would get a postcard from him, so at least they knew he was all right.

Still, Annie was pleased to have so many people present for Adam, although she couldn’t help but think of the parents she’d never met who had missed their grandson’s first birthday. The longing to find them was like a dull ache that never went away, but despite trying to find the origins of her shawl and asking countless questions of anyone she thought might have known her mother around her birth, she was no closer to finding them. As she got older, she was beginning to accept that she might never know where she’d come from.

Soon after the cake had been eaten, the guests began to leave and Monty took Adam off for a bath. He had endless time and patience with their son and Annie knew how lucky she was. Even so, she’d begun to get very restless and missed working in her shop. The trouble was, there was no one to leave Adam with because he was into everything – Monty often joked that you needed eyes in the back of your head. Peggy and Susan were at work in the shops each day and there was no one else she trusted enough to leave him with.

Later, as she was lying in bed, an idea formed in her mind and she put it to Monty the next morning at breakfast.

‘I was thinking . . .’ she began tentatively as she placed a bowl of porridge in front of him. ‘It might be a good idea to employ someone to live in and help about the house. Someone I could trust to leave Adam with so that I could go back to work.’

‘Oh yes, and who did you have in mind?’ Monty had suggested more than once that she should get someone in to help with the housework and she’d always flatly refused, saying she could manage everything herself.

‘Well . . . I got to thinking of when Maggie fetched me from the workhouse. Once the girls there are old enough, they find them a position and they’re sent out to work, so perhaps we could have a girl I could train. But I wouldn’t want her purely as a maid, of course. Whenever I was at home she could come and go as she pleased and we could treat her like a member of the family. What do you think?’

‘Hmm.’ Monty tapped his chin with his forefinger. ‘I dare say it could work,’ he said eventually. He’d hoped that Annie would choose not to go back to work. Financially there was no reason for her to, but she liked to be busy and was ambitious, so he didn’t want to hold her back.

‘So you’d be happy for me to go and see if anyone suitable might be available?’

He saw the excitement in her eyes and smiled. He could never refuse her anything. ‘Of course.’

Annie kissed his cheek and went off to pour the tea. There was no time like the present so as soon as Monty had gone to work, she would get Adam ready and set off.

It was mid-morning by the time she turned into the Bull Ring and the workhouse came into sight, and for a moment she paused and shuddered as memories of the years she’d spent there flooded back. She’d heard that the housemistress and the housemaster who’d run it while she was there had retired some years ago and she hoped for the sake of the poor souls that resided there that their replacements were of a kindlier disposition.

She took a deep breath and knocked on the door. It was opened by a tall, middle-aged woman, who was as slim as a reed, but not unattractive.

‘Good morning, may I help you. I’m Mrs Latimer, the housemistress.’

‘Yes, actually I . . .’ Annie stumblingly told her why she’d come and the woman held the door open so that she could push the pram into the hall.

‘So, Mrs Taylor-Lloyd, I assume you would be looking at one of our older residents?’

‘Yes.’ Annie glanced around. It looked much as she remembered it.

‘Then do come into the office and I’ll have a look to see who might be suitable, although from what you’ve told me, one young woman instantly springs to mind.’

Annie lifted Adam from his pram and followed her into the office where the woman opened a large ledger and began to run her finger down a list of names.

‘Actually, we have three girls who are deemed old enough to leave once they have positions. but as I said, I think I might have just the one for you. Her name is Nancy Dewis and she’s fifteen years old. She finished school some months ago and has been working in our nursery with the babies, so I’m sure she’d be perfect with your little one. The nursery staff speak very highly of her and she’s a bright girl. Nancy was born here after her mother signed herself in, but sadly she died before Nancy was a year old, so she has been here ever since and is quite popular. She’s quiet but she has a very sunny disposition. Would you like to meet her? If so, I’ll take you to the day room where you can have a chat and see how you get on.’

‘Yes please. She sounds perfect.’

Mrs Latimer led Annie into what had once been one of the school rooms. Now chairs and tables were dotted about where the residents could sit and chat to their visitors, were they lucky enough to have any. There was a bookcase with some books on it, and some old magazines scattered on the tables. Annie took a seat with Adam napping on her lap and anxiously watched the door. Finally it opened and Mrs Latimer appeared with a young girl beside her. The girl looked very young for her age, with mousy hair scraped back into a ponytail, and Annie noticed that she had quite a bad limp. She was painfully thin and as their eyes met, she eyed Annie suspiciously.

‘Nancy, this is Mrs Taylor-Lloyd,’ the housemistress introduced them, and Annie smiled at her, although Nancy didn’t respond. Her eyes were already fixed on Adam. ‘I’ve explained to Nancy what her position would be,’ the woman went on. ‘And Nancy would be happy to come with you if you think she might be suitable. As you know, even when the young people leave here, we are responsible for them until they are eighteen years old so should the position not work out, we would expect Nancy to return here until another position could be found for her. Now, why don’t I leave you two to get acquainted while I go and make us all a nice cup of tea.’ With that she left the room, closing the door quietly behind her.

Annie patted the seat at the side of her. ‘It’s nice to meet you, Nancy. Why don’t you come and sit here by me? And don’t worry, I understand how nervous you must be feeling. I lived here once too.’

Nancy looked astounded as she took in the lovely clothes Annie was wearing. She looked like one of the toffs that she saw in the church each Sunday, but she seemed nice.

Cautiously she limped across and sat down.

‘This is Adam,’ Annie went on. ‘He’s a year old now and one of your duties would be caring for him when I’m at work. I own a shop in the town. Your other duties would involve helping about the house, but I promise it wouldn’t be all work. You would live with me, Adam and my husband as part of the family and when I was at home you would be welcome to go out and about just so long as we know where you are going so that we are sure you are safe. You would have your own room and of course we’d give you a small wage each week and supply your clothes. How does that sound?’

It sounded like heaven to Nancy – almost too good to be true – so she nodded as her eyes fastened once again on Adam. He stirred and when he opened his eyes he gave her a beaming smile, which brought forth the first smile from her. It quite transformed her face and Annie thought she could be quite pretty if she had the right clothes and paid some attention to her hair. And Nancy seemed to cope very well with the limp.

Tentatively, Nancy reached out to Adam and when his fingers closed around hers, she seemed to come to life.