‘Aye. I am.’ She could tell that he was still trying to place her by the way that he was looking at her so intently.

‘I used to bring my niece to the girls’ school.’

‘Of course. I knew I’d seen you before. Did you enjoy the meeting?’ he asked as they joined the queue to thread their way on to Tacketts Street. ‘I thought Mrs Kitchen’s speech was particularly evocative.’

‘Yes. I enjoyed it. And it was pleasing to see so many women here.’

‘It was. Reform is for everyone, not just men,’ he agreed. ‘Are you headed home now?’

‘Aye. I have work to do.’

‘On a Sunday?’ he asked.

‘I work as a maid,’ she told him.

She was hoping that he might say something about himself. But he only nodded and said that it was nice to see her again as he was swept away from her by the movement of the crowd.

Back on King Street, the washing up was still stacked beside the sink waiting for her. She ran upstairs to get changed and put on her coarse apron, then filled the sink with hot water from the copper and began with the glasses and delicate items before moving on to the heavy pots and pans that had been left to soak. As she worked she told Cook about the meeting and Mrs Kitchen’s speech.

‘That woman would be better off stoppin’ at home and lookin’ to her childer instead o’ gallivantin’ around and interferin’. Politics is nowt to do with womenfolk. Best leave it to men.’

‘But her speech was so heartfelt,’ Hannah told her. ‘It was about how hard it is for women to see their children hungry. And Dr Bowring said it was up to women as well as men to force changes.’ She didn’t mention that James Hindle had said the same thing. Her conversation with him had been a precious thing that she didn’t want to share.

‘Aye, well, best not say too much about that here,’ Cook warned her. ‘Mr Feilden’s a good man and he has the best interests of folk at heart, but he doesn’t talk daft like that Bowring does. No good’ll come of lettin’ all and sundry make the laws. Mark my words.’

Hannah scrubbed at some stubborn marks on the roasting pan without replying. She didn’t agree, but knew that Cook was right when she said that it was best to keep her thoughts to herself whilst she was here. She’d hardly had this job a week and she didn’t want to lose it. She wasn’t sure that Titus would take her in again and she didn’t want to be left like Mary with no job and nowhere to go.

Chapter Eight

Jennet watched as Molly Chambers from next door leaned over the wall, lowered her kettle into the Blakewater and then hauled it up again on a string.

‘I hope tha’s not thinkin’ of drinkin’ that,’ she said.

‘What’s it to thee?’ asked Molly as she grasped the kettle by the handle and came towards her own front door.