As soon as the next lot of washing was on the line she went to meet Peggy. Not many mothers were standing outside the school door but she was familiar with the ones who were there and they exchanged greetings.

‘Hast tha heard about the fever?’ asked one. Talk of illness seemed to have replaced the speculations about Henry Sudell as the main topic of conversation in the town.

‘Dost tha think it might be cholera?’ asked another.

‘I heard it were typhus.’

‘That’s bad enough. Whatever it is, it’s spreading.’

‘Aye. My husband said there’s folk off sick at his mill on Water Street,’ Jennet told them. The frowns and worried glances abounded as the mothers grasped their children’s hands and hurried home. An air of fear was beginning to pervade the town as people waited to see who would fall sick next.

‘They’re startin’ to say it’s cholera,’ said Titus when he came in.

‘Aye. That’s what I’ve been hearin’ too. Though it could be that folk are a bit hysterical.’

‘Aye, happen so,’ he said. ‘But they say as Billy Ratcliffe’s proper poorly and t’doctor from the Dispensary has been out to him and he’s recommended that the house is limewashed.’

‘Probably just a precaution,’ said Jennet as she poured the tea. ‘It does no harm to be careful.’

‘Dost tha think we should keep Peggy home from school?’ he asked.

‘I’m not staying here doing washing!’ piped up their daughter.

‘Tha’ll do as thy father says,’ Jennet reminded her, knowing that the child could twist Titus around her little finger and always got her own way. ‘I don’t think there’s need for her to stay away,’ she said to Titus. To tell the truth she was more worried about him if the sickness had spread to the mill.

A couple of days later, Jennet came back from taking Peggy up to Thunder Alley and saw Molly Chambers taking water from the river again. She gave an inward sigh. There was no telling some people. She took out her key to let herself into the house and start on the pile of laundry that was waiting for her, when she heard Molly come up and put down the bucket outside her own front door.

‘Our Kitty’s poorly. I’ve had to stop home,’ she said. Jennet heard the fear in the woman’s voice and bit back a stinging reply. ‘I’m goin’ to have to wash all the bedding,’ she said.

‘Well, it should dry. It doesn’t look like rain.’

‘It’ll take a while when it’s all drippin’ wet.’ Molly hesitated. ‘I were wonderin’ if I could have a lend of thy mangle?’

So that was what she was after, thought Jennet. But she knew it would be churlish to refuse. The woman did look worried.

‘Tha’ll have to wait until I’ve finished my work,’ said Jennet.

‘Aye. I will. Give me a shout when it’s free then?’

‘Aye, all right.’

Jennet went inside and pulled an apron over her head. Today’s work wasn’t so bad – mostly underwear and shirts and blouses from one of the better-off houses on Richmond Terrace. It wasn’t such heavy work as sheets and blankets. Most people had taken advantage of the hot weather to get their bedding done, and though it had paid well, Jennet was glad to see the last of it.