‘What are you still doing in here? You should have been finished long since,’ said the butler. ‘Mr Feilden’s on his way down for breakfast so you’d better make yourself scarce.’

Hannah knew that her cheeks were burning, but the butler didn’t notice, or else assumed that she’d been working hard. She hurried out as she saw Mr Feilden coming and paused to curtsey. He gave her a brief nod and she ran down the back stairs to the kitchen.

‘Where’s tha been?’ grumbled Cook. ‘Didst not hear Mrs Feilden ringing for thee? Tha’d best get up there sharpish.’

Hannah ran up the steep back stairs and arrived slightly short of breath.

‘Ah, there you are, Hannah,’ said Mrs Feilden. ‘Will you fetch the blue dress, and I’d better wear the little jacket. It can be quite chilly in church.’ Hannah fastened up the dress and helped Mrs Feilden to put on her shoes. ‘Run next door and see if the girls need any assistance,’ she said, ‘and then tell Horrocks he can call for the carriage.’ She stood up and reached for her bonnet. ‘Will you be coming this afternoon?’ she asked.

‘To the hustings?’

‘Yes. Mr Feilden will be speaking after the candidates have been announced.’

Hannah didn’t know what to say. Two hours on a Sunday afternoon were supposed to be her time off. Sometimes she walked to Water Street to see Jennet. Sometimes she stayed in her room to write. At one time she would have gone out with Mary, although it would have been impossible to go to any lectures or classes or even the cheap seats at the theatre now that she was expected to be back to help clear away and wash the supper pots and then help Mrs Feilden get ready for bed.

‘I’m sure you’ll find it interesting,’ said Mrs Feilden. ‘Politics isn’t just for the men, you know.’

‘I know that. I went with Jane to see Mrs Kitchen.’

‘Did you really? Jane always was very keen on that kind of thing. You’ll come then?’ she urged.

‘Yes.’ Hannah found herself agreeing as it dawned on her that the schoolmaster would probably be there.

So, that afternoon, wearing her Sunday best, Hannah joined the crowds making their way towards Tacketts Field. She looked about for Titus, knowing that he would attend, but as her eyes roved around the assembly she found it was a different face she was seeking – that of James Hindle.

As she threaded her way through the jostling throng to try to get nearer to the front she caught sight of Jennet – well, not so much her sister as the bonnet that she knew was hers. She was surprised that even Jennet had been caught up in the election fever. She’d expected her to stay at home, but, no, it was definitely Jennet with Bessie clinging on to her hand, wide-eyed and thumb in mouth.

She called out, but there was too much noise. So she began to elbow her way past people, until she was close enough to reach out and touch her sister’s arm.