‘So what will tha do now?’ she asked her.

‘I’m to be married. James Hindle has asked me.’

So, everything was working out for Hannah again, thought Mary. She had a charmed life. Unlike hers, where everything seemed to go wrong.

‘I wanted to tell thee myself,’ said Hannah. ‘I wanted to ask thee to come to the wedding.’

‘When will it be?’

‘In a few weeks. We need to get the banns read first, but James doesn’t want to wait long and neither do I!’

She looked excited. Her cheeks were glowing pink and Mary knew that she should congratulate her, but she couldn’t.

‘Will tha come?’ asked Hannah. She seemed anxious at Mary’s lack of enthusiasm.

‘Aye, I suppose so, unless I’ve moved on.’

‘Moved on? Where to?’

‘I heard as Mr Fowden is opening up Woodfold Hall again. I were planning to go up and ask after a maid’s job. I thought maybe our John could come with me. He’s home now.’

‘Aye. I’ve seen him at the stables on Thunder Alley.’

‘He’s good with horses. I thought they might take him on as a groom. It would get him away from Paradise Lane.’

‘It’s not definite then?’

Mary shook her head. ‘It’s a long walk,’ she said. ‘I need to wait until I feel strong enough.’

‘But tha’s feelin’ better now?’

‘Aye. I’m all right.’ She wondered whether to tell Hannah about William Hart and his proposal of marriage. She didn’t want Hannah to think that she was the only one who could get a chap with a bit of money. But she said nothing. There was no point, because she couldn’t marry him anyway, and although he insisted that he would wait for her it would be over a year before she turned twenty-one and a lot could happen in that time.

‘Well, if tha’s still here tha must come to the wedding. Bring John as well. There’s to be a bit of tea after. Tha’d both be welcome.’

‘Aye. Thanks.’

They looked at one another in silence and Mary could see how awkward it was for Hannah. Mary knew it was her own fault, but she couldn’t help how she felt. She was jealous. She’d done her duty and thanked Hannah for her help, but she was finding it hard to remember how close they’d once been. Before, they would have hugged one another but now Hannah simply turned towards the door.

‘I’d best be off then,’ she said.

‘Aye.’ Mary unlocked the door.

‘But tha will come?’ asked Hannah again and Mary felt herself softening.

‘Aye. Of course I will.’

Hannah leaned towards her and brushed her lips against her cheek. ‘Take care of thyself,’ she said. ‘I’ll let thee know what day when it’s settled.’ And then she was gone, off to meet up with the schoolteacher probably, thought Mary as she watched her hurry away up Shorrock Fold.

She was just about to shut the door again when she saw William Hart on his way down. She wished that he would stay away. The way he kept on coming round was only taunting her now that it was impossible for them to be married and she hated to know that he was still paying Mrs Hall for her room. She knew that sooner or later he would want something in return.