The Foundling by Stacey Halls

 First Published: 2020

In November 1747 Bess Bright leaves the baby girl she has just given birth to in the Foundling hospital in London. 

She is a poor girl who lives with her father and brother, and sells pilchards in the streets of London. We discover that she met Daniel Callard, a tradesman, in an inn, and he swept her off her feet. They were together only once, and days later she discover that he had died, and then she found out she was pregnant.

Six years after she left the baby, Bess has enough money to demand her baby back, but when she goes to the hospital, she is told that the baby was collected the next day, and the name that the woman gave was Bess herself. Bess doesn't know what to do, but in the hospital she talks to Dr Mead, who tells her that maybe she can talk to some of the governors on Sunday during chapel. Bess goes there, and Dr Mead accompanies her, and there is a woman with a little girl, and when they approach Dr Mead, Bess discovers that the woman is Alexandra Callard, Daniel's wife, and when she sees the girl, she is convinced that the girl, Charlotte, is her daughter.

Alexandra is a very peculiar woman. She never leaves her home and doesn't allow her daughter to go outside. The only time they leave the house is to go to church on Sunday. With the intercession of Dr Mead, Alexandra agrees to hire a nursemaid for Charlotte. The nursemaid is Bess, but she introduces herself as Eliza. Charlotte grows very fond of Eliza, and Alexandra feels hurt by her attitude. We discover that the reason why Alexandra is afraid to go outside is because when she was a child, the carriage where her parents were travelling with her was attacked. Her parents were killed, and she was there to witness everything. That is why she is so peculiar and feels unable to express her feelings to Charlotte. Dr Mead is a good friend, and it is obvious that he feels something for her, but it is difficult. 

Eliza and Dr Mead manage to persuade Alexandra to let Charlotte to go to the park with them. Alexandra finally agrees, but she is left worried. At some poing she falls aslepp, and when she wakes up, she finds three strange faces looking at her, and she thinks that they are bandits, so she tries to defend herself, using the fireplace poker. Dr Mead manages to restrain her, and Alexandra discovers that it is Dr Mead, Charlotte and Eliza wearing masks that they bought in the park. After that, Alexandra feels sick and stays in bed for days.

Bess, who realises that her daughter is not safe in the company of this woman, steals her in the middle of the night. Lyle, a linkboy, helps them escape. Bess wants to use the money she has saved, but she discovers that her brother has stolen it. Then she also realises that there is a thief catcher that Alexandra has hired to find them. For several days she stays with her friend Kaziah and her children, and Lyle comes to tell her that he has talked to his sister who lives on a farm, and the owner has agreed to hire her and little Charlotte.

Bess and Charlotte are to meet Lyle the next day, but what Bess doesn't know is that her brother, Ned, has betrayed her and has gone to tell Alexandra that he will give her daughter back for a price. So Charlotte and Bess are found out, and Charlotte returns home. It is not a happy encounter because Charlotte keeps crying and saying that she wants to be with her real mother. I found her attitude very cruel because Alexandra has given everything, and I would have thought that after experiencing what misery is next to Bes, Charlotte would be glad to be back to her luxuries. Lyle comes to see Alexandra and tells her that Bess wants to see her in the Foundling chapel. Alexandra agrees to go there, and the two women talk, and Alexandra explains that her sister Ambrosia discovered that Daniel had cheated on Alexandra with Bess, and months later she was in the foundling hospital and saw Bess. Then she followed her and discovered her name. Alexandra agreed to take the child in and used Bess's name. After they talk, Alexandra admits that Charlotte wants to be with her.

On her way back Alexandra stops at Dr Mead's and without a word she kisses and hugs him. At the end of the book in April 1754, Bess marries Lyle and they plan to live in the countryside, and then she picks up Charlotte from Alexandra's place. Alexandra and Dr Mead are now married.

I liked the book, but I found the ending quite unrealistic.