‘Maybe.’ Jennet didn’t look convinced. ‘At least she hasn’t been sick again.’

Back downstairs they all drank tea and talked quietly about the coming elections. Then James walked her back to King Street.

‘This is becoming quite a habit,’ he said as they walked along.

‘I hope it’s not too much of an imposition.’

‘No! I don’t mind at all,’ he reassured her. ‘I only have an empty house to go back to.’

‘It must be strange to live alone. Not many people do.’

‘People tell me I should find myself a good woman.’ Their eyes met for a moment. ‘It would be nice to have someone to share my home with,’ he said.

‘And do the chores for you!’ She hoped he wasn’t offended by her teasing, but he laughed.

‘That’s very true,’ he agreed. ‘Although I can manage to sew on a button. I’ve had to learn to keep myself decent. Here we are,’ he said as they approached the Feildens’ house.

‘I’m grateful,’ she told him. She wished that he would lean in and kiss her on the cheek. That’s what he would have done in her story, but he only opened the squeaking gate for her to go through, nodded his head and then retraced his steps as Hannah went inside.

‘Where’s tha been until this time?’ asked Cook. ‘I were thinking of sending out a search party for thee.’

Hannah told her that the meeting had been cancelled and she’d gone to see her sister. She didn’t mention cholera. And she didn’t mention James Hindle either. She didn’t want Cook thinking that there was something between them because it felt like tempting fate when she so wanted it to be true.

Chapter Fifteen

‘Can I ask thee about summat?’ said Mary to Mrs Hall when she went down the next morning. It was early and Mrs Hall was sitting by the fire drinking tea as was her custom at the start of the day.

‘What is it?’ she asked. Mary saw that she already knew it wasn’t going to be anything good.

She walked slowly across the flagged floor and sat down on a stool, feeling sick. ‘I think I might be expecting.’ Mrs Hall stared at her, tea half raised to her mouth and forgotten. ‘I haven’t had my monthlies.’

‘How long since?’

‘A couple of months. I’m not certain. And I felt a bit faint at the theatre yesterday, and I’ve been feeling a bit sickly first thing in the morning,’ she admitted.

Mrs Hall frowned. ‘Hast tha been using that sponge I give thee?’

‘I don’t think it worked,’ said Mary. ‘Please don’t tell Mr Starkie. He’ll only be angry and blame me,’ she pleaded.

‘Aye. Tha might have a point. We’d best deal with it quietly.’

‘How?’ asked Mary.

‘Tha really is a little innocent, isn’t tha?’ sighed Mrs Hall. ‘I sometimes forgets how little tha knows. Tha needs to go and see Ma Critchley. She’ll give thee some of her female pills to bring on thy monthlies. Don’t look so worried,’ she told her as she counted half a crown into her hand. ‘Lots of women use her pills. It’s nowt to fret about. Go round this morning. Back Mary Anne Street. Last on the row.’