Hannah nodded a reply. She didn’t know what to think. It was far too soon after Eddie’s death for other men to be coming round and she was consumed with jealousy that the schoolmaster might be showing an interest in Jane. She watched as Jane poured his tea, seeming to know that he liked three spoons of sugar, and stirred it before she handed it to him.

‘I went to the Reform meeting at the Star,’ he told them, ‘but it was called off. Titus didn’t turn up,’ he said to Hannah. ‘I hope he isn’t poorly.’

‘I don’t know. I haven’t seen him,’ she said, a sudden fear growing for her brother-in-law and sister. ‘Did he not send word?’

‘No. And they’re short-handed because the lass who works there’s gone out to the theatre. Some went on to the Old Bull, but I haven’t got a thirst for beer tonight so I thought I’d call for five minutes before I went home.’

‘I need to go,’ said Hannah, putting her cup on the table. She was afraid that something bad had happened at her sister’s house.

‘I’ll walk with thee,’ said James, quickly drinking his tea as she fastened her bonnet.

‘Will tha be all right?’ Hannah asked Jane.

‘Aye. Go and check on thy family,’ she said.

James followed her out and they said goodnight to Jane. She walked with him to the end of the street where he offered his arm to cross the road.

‘I feel so sorry for Jane,’ he said as they made their way towards the river.

‘Dost tha know her well then?’ asked Hannah, dreading to hear his answer.

‘I knew Eddie better. He was always keen on Reform, and then I got to know her when she started coming to the meetings. It’s a shame what’s happened to her so soon after their marriage.’

‘Well, happen she’ll not be on her own for long.’

‘I wouldn’t count on that,’ he said. ‘She thought the world of Eddie. I can’t see her being interested in anyone else for a long time.’

The words brought Hannah joy. It seemed he didn’t have designs on Jane after all, but was genuinely concerned about her welfare. He was a good man. And he cared about Titus too, or why else would he have offered to walk with her to Water Street? She hardly dared hope that it was because he enjoyed her company.

Titus and Jennet were sitting by the fire when they went in. Jennet was mending and Titus was reading and smoking his pipe. At first glance everything seemed all right, but when they looked at her she saw that their strained expressions were at odds with the appearance of calm and neither commented on why she had appeared in the company of James Hindle – or maybe they thought she’d come from the Reform meeting as well.

‘What’s wrong?’ Hannah asked her sister.

‘Our Peggy’s poorly.’

‘Not …’ Hannah found she was unable to say cholera.