into sight, Amy’s footsteps had slowed again and she was deep in thought. The first flush of elation had receded and all she could think of now was the fact that she would be leaving her gran all alone. Never for a single day in her whole life had the two been apart, and the thought of leaving her and being so far away was daunting. Her gran was no longer a young woman, although if asked, Amy could not have stated her actual age. Once or twice over the years she had ventured cheekily, ‘So, exactly how old are you, Gran?’ and Molly had playfully cuffed her ear and replied, ‘I’m as old as me tongue, an’ a little bit older than me teeth, an’ that’s all you need to know, me gel!’
Amy grinned at the memories but then became solemn again. What would I do if anything happened to her while I was gone? Who would take care of her? Her thoughts ran on as she weighed up the wonderful opportunity that had been offered to her against the prospect of abandoning her gran, and by the time she entered the cottage she was in a sombre mood, as Molly was quick to note.
She was sitting at the old scrubbed table with Bessie, with a great brown teapot between them, and they were both furiously knitting what looked like a tiny shawl and a bonnet that Amy rightly assumed would be for Mary’s baby.
‘Why, you’re nice an’ early fer a change,’ Molly commented as she looked up. ‘That were right good timin’. The tea’s just brewed so fetch a cup an’ join us, love.’
As she was pouring the tea, Molly asked her impatiently, ‘So come on, then – don’t keep us in suspense. How did the visit go?’
Amy shrugged. ‘It went well. My wages have been raised to a guinea a week.’
Both Molly and Bessie’s eyes stretched wide with amazement and Molly’s chest swelled with pride. Yet knowing Amy as she did, Molly also guessed that there was more to come.
‘And?’ she persisted. ‘I know there’s sommat else, so don’t just sit there as if the cat’s got your tongue. Out with it.’
Amy sighed. She had never been able to keep anything from Molly; the woman could read her like a book.
‘Well … actually, the master did put a proposition to me.’ She squirmed in her seat as both sets of knitting needles suddenly became still and the two women eyed her expectantly.
‘The old mistress and Mr and Mrs Forrester have offered to take me to London for a month,’ Amy gulped. ‘They both feel it would stand me in good stead in my new position.’
There, it was said and now she sat back to wait for Molly’s response. It was Bessie who reacted first when she beamed and said, ‘Why, Amy, yer must be thrilled to bits. There’s not many girls round ’ere as will ever be offered an opportunity like that, I’ll be bound.’
As yet, Molly had said not a word and before she could, Amy announced, ‘It’s all right, Gran. I’m not going. I only told you because you’d asked.’
Molly’s mind was working overtime and a feeling of dread had overcome her. London. Samuel Forrester had offered to take Amy to London. It sounded like the other side of the world to Molly, and what about the cholera outbreak they had suffered there the year before? But then she had read in the newspapers that it struck mainly in the slum areas, and she couldn’t imagine Samuel Forrester having a residence anywhere like that. Even so, it had been a terrible epidemic, if what she had read was true. The poor souls had been dropping like flies. But then again, it had been over a year ago now, and Amy’s eyes were so full of hope …
Pulling herself together with an enormous effort, Molly almost sputtered, ‘What do you mean, you’re not going? Why, it’s the chance of a lifetime. Of course you’re bloody well going! You’d have to be soft in the head to turn down an opportunity like this.’
Amy’s chin jutted stubbornly as she crossed her arms and stared back at her.
‘Come on then. Give me one good reason why you shouldn’t go,’ Molly demanded, and Amy’s shoulders sagged.
‘I’d worry about you being here all on your own,’ she admitted miserably and at that, Molly roared with laughter.
‘You soft young madam you. Is that all it is? Well, I won’t be on me