‘Jennet!’

‘I didn’t think tha’d be here …’ They both spoke at once; then they laughed and Jennet explained that she’d come to speak to Dr Bowring about a washhouse.

‘Maybe I could mention it to Mrs Feilden,’ suggested Hannah. ‘If Mr Feilden is voted in, he might be willing to do something about it.’

‘Aye. Tha could. But Titus is certain that Dr Bowring will win a seat. He says as everyone wants him to. Anyroad, they’re about to begin,’ she said as the officials got up on the stage and began to call for hush.

The candidates were announced and it turned out there were three in total who had their hopes pinned on being Blackburn’s first members of Parliament. As well as Mr Feilden and Dr Bowring there was a Mr Turner who was a popular employer in the town. He was the first to speak.

‘Gentlemen!’ he announced. ‘They said I wouldn’t come, but I am come, and I will be here on the day of the election come rain or shine. Now give me three cheers and if you come down to the Old Bull Hotel there’ll be beer for everyone!’

His speech was greeted with a loud cheer and once he’d got down from the stage, many in the crowd began to follow him back towards the town centre. Hannah saw Titus frowning.

‘I didn’t think he’d turn up,’ he said. ‘He’s not shown much interest in politics up until now. Look how many of ’em are going off to get their free beer!’

Mr Feilden was next up and he told the crowd that he would represent their interests as best he could.

‘I’m a local man,’ he said. ‘You know me and you know that I’m trustworthy. Vote for me!’

Then it was the turn of the charismatic Dr Bowring, who promised he would campaign for more reform, for votes for all, for equal rights for women and the abolition of slavery. When he mentioned equal rights for women, Hannah heard Mrs Kitchen and her union members cheer loudly and wave their banner. Hannah clapped enthusiastically and hoped that Titus was right when he said that this was their man. He was good-looking too, she thought. She almost forgot that she was supposed to be looking around for James Hindle.

People crowded around Dr Bowring when he came down from the stage. Some just wanted to shake his hand and wish him well, whilst others regaled him with their tales of woe, but he listened patiently and promised that he would do everything he could to help them if he was voted in. The pity of it was that most of those who spoke to him had no say in the matter. The decision would be left to those who were property owners or who paid more than ten pounds a year in rent. Hannah didn’t see many of them lingering. They’d all gone off with Mr Turner.

She saw Titus approach Dr Bowring and introduce himself and shake him by the hand; then he turned to introduce Jennet. Hannah pressed closer to hear what they were saying.