‘Dost tha mind finishing off by thyself?’ Jane asked Hannah the following weekend, after the family had eaten their Sunday dinner and the pots had been cleared away to the kitchen.

‘Is tha meeting Eddie?’

‘Aye. We’re going to the Reform meeting. Mrs Kitchen will be there. She’s such an inspiration.’

‘Mrs Kitchen? I’d like to see her!’ said Hannah as she scraped the plates before stacking them to the side of the sink for washing.

‘Come with me then,’ said Jane.

‘But …’ She stared at the washing-up.

‘We’ll do it when we come back. Tha doesn’t mind, does tha?’ she asked Cook. ‘Just this once. As a favour?’

‘Go on. Get thee gone,’ sighed Cook. ‘But tha doesn’t need to think tha can go off every week,’ she warned Hannah. ‘Not when there’s work to be done.’

Hannah ran to change into her best dress and get her bonnet before going with Jane out of the side entrance and down the path on to King Street. It was busy already with both men and women making their way to the meeting.

‘Look!’ exclaimed Jane. ‘There’s Dr Bowring’s carriage. He must be going to speak too.’

Hannah watched the brougham, pulled by two handsome bays, pass them, throwing up dust as it went. A young man was peering out at the crowds, his face intense behind round spectacles. She’d heard talk about John Bowring. He had put up as a potential MP for the town and was popular with the working people because of his support for Reform and the rights of the working man. Titus said that he was the only one amongst the candidates who knew what he was talking about and that the town would do well to return him as a member as he was sure to speak up on their behalf.

‘There’s Eddie,’ said Jane, waving to a man who was standing on the corner, smoking a pipe. ‘Eddie!’ He looked up and smiled when he caught sight of her and she grasped Hannah firmly by the arm so as not to lose her in the crowd as they pushed forward.

‘Aye up!’ He puffed smoke from his mouth before removing the stem of the pipe and leaning to kiss Jane. ‘Who’s this tha’s got in tow?’

‘This is Hannah, who’s takin’ over from me at the Feildens’ house. This is Eddie,’ she said to Hannah as she brushed a speck of dirt from his jacket.

‘Hannah Chadwick.’

He reached out and shook her hand. ‘I’m pleased to make thy acquaintance, Hannah Chadwick.’

‘Come on,’ said Jane. ‘I want to get a spot at the front where we can see the speakers.’

Eddie tucked Jane’s arm through his and Hannah followed them as the throngs of people filled the narrow streets until they were spilled out on to Lower Tacketts Field where a rickety stage had been set up using crates and boxes covered with planks of wood.

Hannah was surprised to see how many women had come out with their menfolk. She wondered if Jennet was there, but it was impossible to look at everyone who had gathered. Besides, it was taking her all her time to stay on her feet as she was pushed this way and that as people fought for a better spot.