up for that. They were a lovely deep blue, almost sapphire, and when he smiled they lit up his whole face. Amy suddenly realised that he had grown into a very handsome young man and wondered why he wasn’t courting or married. She knew that there was more than one girl who had set her cap at him, yet Toby had never seemed interested. Still, she supposed it was none of her business at the end of the day and they spent the next hour admiring the designs in her new book.
Later in the evening, however, her mood became more sombre and she decided to confide in him.
‘Toby, I have to get a job now.’ Her voice was heavy with anxiety. ‘I know Gran doesn’t want me to, but the savings are almost gone. It will be months before she’s strong enough to start weaving again, and we can’t live on fresh air, can we?’
Understanding her dilemma, Toby nodded his head, waiting for her to continue.
‘As soon as she’s well enough to be left on her own I’m going job-hunting,’ Amy declared with a defiant toss of her head. ‘Beatrice has been working up at The Folly for ages now and here’s me still stuck at home.’ Amy missed her friend dreadfully.
‘Then if that’s your intention I’d say nothin’ about what you’re proposin’ to do until after Christmas,’ Toby advised. He could have said much more on the subject but wisely held his tongue. He knew Amy well enough to be aware that, once she had made up her mind to do something, nothing would change it. He also knew that once Molly learned of her decision, fireworks would go up and no mistake.
‘I’d like to be a fly on the wall when you tell her,’ he chuckled, and before they knew it they were both laughing naughtily at the thought.
Christmas came and went and Amy and Molly enjoyed it. Amy had decorated the cottage with holly branches and mistletoe, and they had a nice fat chicken for dinner. Wisely, Amy had followed Toby’s advice not to mention her intentions of getting a job until the festivities were over, and the fact that she had almost lost her gran made them treasure their time together all the more.
December gave way to January 1846 and Amy became increasingly concerned about the dwindling money in the savings jar. But Molly still wasn’t strong enough to be left alone yet, so she patiently bided her time.
Today was Mary and Beatrice’s day to visit, and since she was still unable to get out and about, Molly looked forward to this treat immensely. Both girls always called in and had a cup of tea with them, and Molly never tired of hearing about the happenings at Forrester’s Folly. Every few minutes Molly would glance at the mantel clock impatiently until at last Bessie entered with Mary and Beatrice close on her heels.
It was a dull overcast day with heavy rain-laden clouds dotting the sky, but Bessie’s smile was brilliant as she entered.
‘You’ll never guess in a month o’ Sundays what’s happened,’ she beamed, barely able to contain her excitement.
Amy and Molly stared at her expectantly.
‘Our Mary is engaged,’ she announced, and Mary flushed.
Amy hugged her delightedly. ‘Congratulations,’ she said, as Molly struggled stiffly from her chair to hug her too. ‘I don’t suppose the lucky chap would be Joe the stable lad you’re allus on about, would it?’ she teased.
Mary blushed and nodded.
‘Well, that didn’t take much working out, did it? Why, a blind man on a galloping donkey could see that you two were made fer each other. I just wonder why it took yer both so long to get round to it. I was startin’ to fear you’d become an old maid.’
Mary laughed, before telling her excitedly, ‘We had a word with the master yesterday and he’s going to let us live in one of the cottages within the grounds.’
‘That’s grand then, lass.’ Molly was genuinely pleased for her. ‘I just hope Joe appreciates what a lucky chap he is.’
‘Oh no, Molly, it’s me that’s lucky. I think I’ve loved Joe ever since the first day I set eyes on him, but I never thought he’d look at me.’
Amy sighed dreamily, her young heart alight at the romance of it all.
‘Will you be having a white dress and a veil?’ she asked.
Before Mary could answer, Bessie spoke for her. ‘Yes, she will,’ she said firmly and they all laughed. There was nothing quite