‘It’s just a tummy upset,’ said Titus. ‘But Jennet were concerned so I decided to stay home tonight. Were it a good meeting?’ he asked James.

‘It was cancelled,’ he said.

James settled on the chair opposite Titus to talk politics and Hannah followed Jennet into the back kitchen.

‘Is she very poorly?’ asked Hannah.

‘I don’t know. I took her to Dr Scaife and he said she were to eat and drink nowt, but she were cryin’ and moiderin’ that bad that Titus give her some warm milk and treacle and I’m beside myself that it were the wrong thing to do and that it’s made her worse.’

‘She’s quiet now though.’

‘Aye. She’s sleepin’. She were exhausted.’

‘It might not be … tha knows.’

‘No. But I can’t help thinkin’ it might be. There’s so many as have had it. Why should we be spared?’

‘Because tha keeps the place clean, for one thing.’

‘Aye. And it’s not just that. Look here.’ Hannah watched her sister pull out a blouse from a pile of laundry waiting to be pressed. ‘She were carrying on so much that I left the iron on this. Belongs to Mrs Pickering an’ all, and tha knows what she’s like. She’s bound to make a right to-do about it.’

Hannah stared at the brown mark on the back of the blouse. ‘What will tha do?’ she asked.

‘I’ll have to be honest and tell her I’m right sorry and I’ll replace it, though I’m not even sure that will satisfy her. She’ll not let me touch her washing again and she’ll be spreading it all round town that I’m not to be trusted.’

‘It’s good quality,’ said Hannah, fingering the fine cotton. ‘And it’s got lovely embroidery. It only needs the back panel replacing if tha could get material that would match.’

‘I doubt that’ll satisfy Mrs Pickering. She’ll insist on a new one. If I get the cloth will tha stitch it for me? And do some fancy work? Tha’s so much neater with a needle and thread than I am.’

‘Aye. I’ll do my best,’ agreed Hannah, hoping that she could find the time.

‘I’ll try to get enough material so tha can make a new back for this one and keep it for thyself as payment,’ Jennet told her.

Hannah nodded. It would have to be done late at night in her room and that would mean trying to get extra candles because the nights were drawing in and it was dark by the time she went upstairs now. And it would mean that she wouldn’t be able to get on with her writing, but she couldn’t refuse her sister.

They crept upstairs to check on Peggy and Bessie. Peggy was asleep in the big bed in the front room. She lay on her back with one arm flung out, breathing deeply. Jennet felt her forehead and she muttered in her sleep.

‘She doesn’t look too bad,’ said Hannah. ‘Maybe Titus was right.’