‘Just in time!’ he said as Titus called the meeting to order.

‘A washhouse!’ Titus told them. ‘What this town needs is a washhouse. And who’s going to build one? That’s what I’d like to know. Feilden and Turner haven’t shown any interest. They just want the support of the ten-pound voters so’s they can go off to some fancy house in London and forget all about us working folk here in Blackburn. Dr Bowring, though – he’s different. He cares about what happens to us. He’s already promised that when he’s our member of Parliament then we’ll get a washhouse. There’s just one problem. We’re not allowed to vote for him. And until we all get the vote and not just them who’s well off, then nothing will change.’

He paused and there were cries of ‘Hear! Hear!’ around the parlour, and ‘What we want is a vote for every man!’ The cries increased and the men banged their cups on the tables in agreement. ‘One man, one vote!’ they shouted. And Hannah joined in, banging her cup in time with James Hindle, who turned and smiled at her.

Later, as the crowd drifted off home, Hannah remembered Mary. She wondered whether to ask Mrs Hall if she could visit her. The trouble was she could see James hanging around and she hoped that he might be waiting to walk her back to King Street. But he seemed deep in conversation at the moment and she needn’t stay long. Mary might refuse to see her anyway.

She tapped on the kitchen door.

‘What is it?’ asked Mrs Hall. ‘I’m up to my eyes in it here.’

‘I’m a friend of Mary’s,’ said Hannah. ‘It sounded as if she’s proper poorly. What’s wrong with her?’

Mrs Hall looked at her suspiciously for a moment and then beckoned her to come in. ‘Shut the door,’ she said. ‘She’s not so good. Dr Scaife’s been but he’s not much use – not when it comes to women’s troubles. I sent a message to Ma Critchley, but it seems she can’t be found. Probably in the gin palace.’

‘It isn’t cholera then?’

Mrs Hall gave her a sharp look. ‘Were tha born yesterday?’ she asked. ‘She’s taken the female pills to bring on her monthlies. Trouble is she’s bleedin’ too much.’

‘Female pills?’

‘Did tha not know? I thought tha said tha were her friend?’

‘I haven’t seen her for a bit. Not since I started at the Feildens’ house.’

‘So tha didn’t know she were expectin’ a child?’

‘A child? No!’ Hannah was shocked.

‘Aye. Well, she was.’

‘And she isn’t now?’

Mrs Hall shook her head at Hannah’s innocence. ‘Is it any wonder lasses get themselves in a fix,’ she muttered.

‘Can I see her?’ asked Hannah.

‘Aye. Up the stairs, right to the top.’

‘I know. I’ve been afore.’

Hannah hurried up the steep steps and tapped on Mary’s door. When there was no answer she pushed it open and looked in. There was a rushlight flickering on the washstand and Mary was lying in bed. She was very still and Hannah bent over to check that she was breathing. She was. But her breaths were very shallow.