Nurse has brought down a rush basket, which she puts on the table.
‘Just right,’ Mrs Baird says. ‘Not that the poor mite has much to put in it.’
They exchange a smile.
‘Let’s see. There’s her shifts; stays; drawers; stockings; indoor boots; a shawl.’ But now Nurse is smiling at me. ‘It gets very quiet in the nursery sometimes, and it’s nice to have something for my hands to do. Here: I know you’re growing like a young plant, but I’ve made sure there’s a good deep hem on these so you can let them down.’ She holds up two of the prettiest print dresses I’ve ever seen.
‘And you’ll need some ribbons to go with them.’ Mrs Baird produces a tissue-wrapped packet. ‘I saw how you loved those blue ones and these are the nearest I could get.’
There are blue ribbons on the bonnet she holds up; they match the blue of the cloak she carries over her arm. ‘Come on: put them on. We don’t want to keep Carter Joe waiting, do we?’ She ties the ribbons under my chin.
‘But the most important thing is this,’ Nurse says, holding out another package. ‘No, open it when you get there, not a minute before. And no tears, Missy – you’re going on an adventure, that’s what.’ She hugs me to her, as tight as she can. I cling to her. She is safe and I love her. I feel her sobs match mine.
Mrs Baird eases us apart. Her embrace is shorter, but just as kind. She kisses my forehead. ‘Off you go. Do us credit.’
Nurse says, ‘And do yourself justice, my love.’
All of us are in tears, but Carter Joe is lifting up my basket and now he’s lifting me.