A Mother's Shame by Rosie Goodwin

pray that her suspicions were wrong.
    Maria hurried away to fetch some logs in from the log store and after banking the fire up she filled the kettle from the bucket of well water on the wooden draining board and pushed it into the heart of the flames. Henry was sitting at the table yawning and not looking forward to his shift down the pit one little bit.
    ‘I’ll try my hand at catching another couple o’ rabbits in Montgomery’s woods after work tonight, Mam,’ he promised. ‘The last two were right tasty, weren’t they?’
    ‘Yes, they were, but just make sure you don’t get caught, lad. You know how strict Montgomery is about anyone trespassing on his land.’
    Henry waved his hand airily. ‘Huh! As if he’d miss a couple o’ rabbits,’ he scoffed. ‘He owns practically ’alf o’ Nuneaton and he still isn’t satisfied.’
    Glancing nervously towards the stairs door for a sight of her husband, Martha lowered her voice. ‘That’s as maybe, but I still want you to be careful. They reckon that new gamekeeper of his is red hot and not one to show any mercy to anyone he catches.’
    ‘I’ll be fine, Mam.’ Henry kissed her affectionately on the cheek as she ladled some porridge into his dish, but all conversation halted when they heard Edward’s footsteps on the stairs.
    He strode into the room and took his seat at the table without a word as his wife hurried to serve him. ‘Have you a busy day ahead, dear?’ she asked nervously.
    His brows drew together in a dark frown. ‘All my days are busy. You should know that by now! Idle hands make work for the devil. I shall spend my morning visiting the sick. There seems to be no sign of the epidemic slowing as yet. And then this afternoon it will be lessons as usual.’ Each Monday afternoon Edward used their small front parlour to tutor those of the children from the village whose parents could afford the penny fee for the privilege – not that Martha ever saw any of it.
    ‘Of course, dear.’ She held her tongue. Personally, she considered that Edward had an easy time of it compared to the other men in the village. There were no long shifts down the pit or hours spent bending over a loom for him, which accounted for his lily-white hands. She glanced at her own, reddened and sore from the many hours she spent doing her own and other people’s washing, but she made no comment.
    After hastily swallowing his breakfast, Henry rose and taking his snap box from the end of the table he headed for the door.
    ‘Make sure you wrap up warmly,’ his mother urged as she glanced towards the window. ‘’Tis enough to cut you in two out there.’
    Henry grinned as he yanked on his great coat, worn now and ill-fitting, then without a word for his father he went out into the snow which was fast turning into a blizzard.
    Maria was nearly ready to leave for work too. She forced her feet into the sturdy leather boots her mother had bought for her from the pawnshop in town the year before. They were at least a size too small for her now and regularly gave her blisters, but at least they would keep her feet reasonably dry. She then drew her woollen shawl across her head and crossed it over her chest before tying it at the back as Martha looked on.
    ‘Eeh, I’m afraid that’s going to give you little protection in this weather,’ her mother fretted. ‘As soon as I can I’ll visit the rag stall in town and see if they don’t have a warm coat for you.’
    Maria smiled at her warmly. ‘I’ve not that far to go, Mam, so don’t get fretting.’ She pecked her on the cheek then hurriedly followed her brother through the back door. Despite her brave words, the bitter cold took her breath away, and head bent she trod through the thick white carpet. Within minutes the snow had found its way over the top of her boots, and her feet and the bottom of her skirt were sodden, but Maria’s steps never faltered. The sooner she got to the post office the sooner she would be in the