Page 30 of The Winter Bride

‘I like babies,’ she said solemnly. ‘Now that I’m older, I help out up in the nursery. That’s my favourite job. I can’t cook though.’

‘I’m sure I could teach you.’ Annie smiled. ‘I couldn’t cook either when I left here, although I was very good at peeling vegetables and preparing food.’

The housemother reappeared carrying a loaded tray and after pouring out the tea she handed a cup to Annie.

‘Why don’t you hold the baby for Mrs Taylor-Lloyd while she has her drink?’ she suggested and Nancy willingly held her arms out.

As Annie and Mrs Latimer chatted, Annie was pleased to see that Adam was quite at ease with the girl and she was very clearly taken with him, which she took as a good sign.

‘Right, well, why don’t I go away and leave you to decide whether you’d like the position?’ Annie said to Nancy. ‘And if Mrs Latimer allows it, perhaps you could come to my home to see it and meet my husband?’

When Nancy nodded, Mrs Latimer smiled. ‘I think that would be perfectly acceptable.’

‘In that case I could come and fetch you tomorrow?’ Annie knew exactly how Nancy was feeling. She could remember how she had felt when Maggie turned up and took her away. She’d had no choice in the matter back then and she didn’t want Nancy to feel that way. This place had been Nancy’s home for her whole life and although she was probably longing to make a new start outside it, it was still a daunting prospect.

‘Shall we say I come at three o’clock? My husband can come too and take you home in our car – just to see it, of course. And then the decision will be entirely up to you.’

Annie left with a spring in her step. She’d liked what she’d seen of Nancy and had high hopes of a happy outcome that would suit them both.

Chapter Fifteen

Monty and Annie arrived punctually at the workhouse at three o’clock the following afternoon to find Nancy and Mrs Latimer waiting for them.

‘She’s feeling a little nervous as she’s never been in a car before,’ the housemistress explained as Nancy stood beside her shuffling from foot to foot.

‘Oh, I’m sure she’ll like it,’ Annie said reassuringly. ‘Nancy, this is my husband, Monty.’

‘I’m pleased to meet you.’ Extending his hand Monty smiled, and Nancy blushed as she shook it. ‘Now how about we go and have a look at where you might be living? Annie’s made a cake.’ He looked towards Mrs Latimer. ‘Will it be all right if we bring her back in a couple of hours?’

The woman nodded. ‘Yes, I have the address. I’ll see you later, Nancy.’

As they led Nancy outside, Annie chuckled and whispered to her, ‘She’s certainly a lot nicer than the housemistress who was in charge when I lived here.’

‘Yes, she’s all right is Mrs Latimer,’ Nancy agreed.

When they reached the car, she stared at it uncertainly, but she climbed in the back when Monty opened the door for her all the same. They set off and Annie was pleased to see Nancy starting to relax as she began to enjoy the ride a little.

‘Here we are then, home sweet home,’ Annie said when they pulled up outside the house in Attleborough Road. Nancy stared up at it in awe while Monty helped Annie and Adam out of the front seat, then led her through the front door.

Since moving in, Annie and Monty had worked tirelessly on the house and now every room was freshly decorated and comfortably furnished, and Nancy felt as if she had entered another world.

‘Monty, put Adam down,’ Annie told him. ‘Nancy might like to entertain him for us while you come and help me make the tea and get the cake. I’m sure she will find room for a slice.’

Monty did as he was asked and as they prepared a tray in the kitchen, they could hear Nancy chattering away to the baby and Alfred through the open door. ‘Well, Adam and Alfred certainly seem to have taken a shine to her,’ he commented.

‘Yes, they have, and I think she quite likes them too.’ Annie placed a large Victoria sponge cake, oozing with jam and cream, onto the tray and they went to join them.

Nancy was on her second slice when the door opened and Peggy breezed in. ‘Hello all,’ she greeted them as she crossed to Adam, who was sitting in his highchair, and affectionately ruffled his hair. ‘I thought I’d leave Eve in charge o’ the shops an’ drop round to see you all.’ Annie had told her of Nancy’s visit and curiosity had got the better of her. ‘An’ how are you, pet?’ She smiled at Nancy. ‘Our Annie makes a nice cake, don’t she?’ Peggy had stopped working at the workhouse some time ago, but she remembered Nancy, although she had been younger then.

Nancy nodded. They rarely got served cake at the workhouse and even when they did it never tasted as good as this.

‘So, how’s yer visit goin’? Has Annie showed yer where yer might be sleepin’ yet?’

‘No, I haven’t.’ Annie answered for her. ‘But when she’s finished that cake, you can pour yourself a cup of tea and keep Monty company while I take her up to see what she thinks of it.’

Minutes later she led Nancy upstairs and once on the first floor she nodded towards another staircase that led up to two rooms in the attic. She’d decorated and furnished one of them and hoped that Nancy would like it.

‘This would be your room,’ she told Nancy, throwing open the door. ‘I thought you’d feel more private up here and Adam won’t disturb you if he wakes in the night.’