The play itself was entertaining and well acted, and Mary found that she was able to relax for a while and forget the worries that were tormenting her. Afterwards, they walked back to the beerhouse and Mr Starkie took her upstairs. He was in a good mood and for once was gentle with her. She wanted to tell him that she wished he was like that every time, but she said nothing. His temper could flare at any moment. He could be smiling and lovely one minute and then angry and landing blows on her the next. She’d learned that it was better to keep him sweet for as long as she could. And she dreaded to think what kind of a rage he would fly into if she hinted that she thought she was expecting a child. Although she was doing her best to put the thought aside, it was preying on her mind. She hadn’t dared use the sponge again, although she was beginning to wonder it it had ever worked. Perhaps she ought to go to the Dispensary, or maybe the chemist’s shop. But it wasn’t something that she could talk about with a man. Perhaps she’d better ask Mrs Hall. She didn’t want to. She knew she’d be angry with her for not using the sponge as she’d instructed.

Hannah was on her way to see Jane when she caught sight of Mary walking down Church Street on the arm of Mr Starkie, the pawnbroker. She was wearing a different dress from the one she’d seen her in last time. It was the latest fashion with a low bodice and a full skirt – and Hannah could have sworn that Mary was wearing a corset underneath it. With a warm shawl wrapped around her shoulders, feathers in her hair, and a reticule swinging from her wrist, she looked quite the lady.

Hannah guessed that they were on their way to the theatre. She felt a mixture of relief and jealousy. Relief that Mary had done all right for herself after all and jealousy at the clothes she was wearing. Hannah loved nice clothes and she wished that she could be so well dressed, walking on the arm of James Hindle. She hadn’t seen him since the afternoon the political candidates were announced. The Feildens had gone to their country house at Feniscowles to get a few days’ respite from the electioneering and she’d been kept busy by Cook, first scrubbing the kitchen from top to bottom and now bringing food to Jane when it should have been her night off.

‘Tha can go on to thy meeting afterwards,’ Cook had told her, but Hannah knew that she wouldn’t have the heart to leave Jane on her own, and Jane wouldn’t want to go to the meeting so soon after Eddie’s death.

She was going to stay in the same house on Clayton Street for the time being. As soon as he’d heard about Eddie’s death, Mr Feilden had paid her rent for the next couple of months so that she wouldn’t be turned out, although what she would do after that Hannah was unsure and she was sorry that Jane had the worry of insecurity on top of her grief.