four walls when you ain’t feelin’ up to scratch, though I thank yer kindly fer the offer. An’ will yer please stop callin’ me Mrs Ernshaw? Me name is Molly.’
Amy and Josephine exchanged an amused smile as they helped the old woman towards the cottage and at the door, Josephine told them, ‘Right well, I must be off now. Are you quite sure that there is nothing you need?’
‘Nothing at all, thank you,’ Amy assured her. ‘I’ll be up to The Folly this afternoon, so long as Gran is all right.’
‘Then I shall get Cook to make you one of your favourite Victoria sponge cakes for tea, and another for you to bring home for Molly,’ Josephine told her as she turned towards the carriage. ‘Goodbye for now.’
‘Bye,’ Molly answered. She was getting to quite like the woman and found herself looking forward to her popping in, which she seemed to be doing more and more of late.
Amy helped Molly hobble into the kitchen just as Bessie bustled towards them, wildly flapping an envelope.
‘It’s for you, Amy,’ she told her breathlessly. ‘Another letter from Paris, by the looks of it. I bet it’s from that François. It came just after you’d set off fer yer stroll.’
Amy’s heart missed a beat just as it always did when she heard from him. She slipped the letter into her coat pocket as Bessie looked at Molly leaning heavily on Amy’s arm.
Nothing her pale face, she asked, ‘Has she been coughin’ again?’
Before Amy could answer, Molly snapped, ‘I ain’t invisible, yer know, Bessie Bradley, an’ I am capable of answerin’ fer meself. I ain’t quite in me dotage just yet. I can’t understand why you pair keep fussin’. It’s only a bloody cough when all’s said an’ done.’
Bessie nodded as Amy pursed her lips to stop herself from grinning.
‘Aye, well, that’s as maybe, yer stubborn old sod, but let’s get yer sat down, eh?’ With that, Bessie grabbed Molly’s other elbow and she and Amy propelled her towards her rocking chair. Bessie went to fill the kettle at the sink as Amy sank down at the table to read her letter. As her eyes scanned the page her face lit up, and Bessie asked curiously. ‘Had some good news, have yer?’
‘I can hardly believe it,’ Amy gasped. ‘François is coming to England this summer to visit.’ She read the letter again to convince herself that it was true as Bessie looked on with mixed feelings. She loved Amy almost as much as Molly did and wanted nothing more than to see her happy. But oh, what a shame that she couldn’t have found happiness with her Toby!
‘Gran, you’ll be able to meet François at last,’ Amy bubbled as she waggled the letter in the air. It was full of love and endearments, and the young woman’s heart was singing as she launched into yet another description of his many virtues.
Molly and Bessie exchanged a glance, and, could Bessie have known it, Molly was feeling much as she did. But then, if this Frenchman was the one that Amy wanted, she was glad he was coming at last. Hopefully, his visit would set a seal on Amy’s future, and although he wasn’t the one Molly would have chosen for her girl, still she might live long enough to see her settled. After how she had been feeling of late she had sometimes doubted it. But then, she had the consolation of knowing that Amy would always be well cared for, no matter what the outcome with the Frenchman. It was already more than obvious that her newfound grandparents doted on her, and the knowledge gave Molly comfort.
Amy’s excitement was still as great when she reached The Folly that afternoon, and her grandparents looked on with amusement as she waved François’ letter at them, although they did not seem to be as surprised at the news as she had expected them to be. The reason why became clear when Josephine patted the seat at the side of her and told Amy, ‘Come and sit beside me, dear. We have another piece of news that you might like to hear.’
Immediately curious, Amy crossed the room to sit at her grandmother’s side and Josephine squeezed her hand affectionatley.
‘It just so happens that your grandfather and I also received a letter from Monsieur Laroque this morning,’ she explained. ‘He informed us of his son’s visit and I must admit it got us to thinking, so your grandfather has already