‘Mary?’ she whispered. Her friend’s eyelids flickered and she seemed to struggle to open them, as if she didn’t have the strength. ‘Mary? It’s me, Hannah.’

‘Hannah,’ she whispered. ‘Is tha really here?’

‘Aye. I’m here. Mrs Hall said I could come up to see thee. What happened?’ she asked.

‘I’m dying,’ whispered Mary.

‘Don’t talk daft,’ Hannah told her, but she was afraid that it might be true. The only people she’d ever seen who looked this bad hadn’t lasted the night.

She heard Mrs Hall come up and turned to her as she stood in the doorway. ‘What’s wrong with her?’ she asked.

‘The bleedin’ won’t stop. It’s drainin’ all the life from her.’

‘But there must be something to be done!’

‘Dr Scaife says to watch and wait. He’s coming back in the morning. But I don’t think …’ Her voice trailed off.

‘Dr Barlow!’ said Hannah. ‘Send for Dr Barlow.’

‘The fancy surgeon up at Spring Mount?’

‘He helped my sister when she was giving birth to our Bessie. We thought she were a goner, but he got the baby out and sewed her up and she were fine. I’m sure he can help Mary.’

Mrs Hall looked doubtful. ‘Would he come?’

‘I’m sure he would. He’s good with women’s illnesses and such. Will tha send for him?’

‘He’ll want payin’,’ said Mrs Hall. ‘Mary’s got no money and I can’t afford it.’

‘What about Mr Starkie?’ asked Hannah. ‘I’m right in thinking he’s the one responsible, aren’t I?’

‘Aye. He is.’

‘Tha could ask him. Tha could go to his door. It’s only across the way.’

‘He’ll not be in at this time.’

Hannah looked down at Mary. She’d drifted off again and she doubted that her friend would wake if she didn’t get help for her.

Titus’s voice called up the stairs. ‘Mrs Hall? Hast tha seen our Hannah? She’s disappeared.’

‘I’m up here,’ she called back from the top of the stairs. ‘It’s Mary. She’s in a real bad way.’ Titus came up and looked from one woman to the other. ‘She’s bleedin’ to death,’ said Hannah. ‘We need to send someone for Dr Barlow. He saved Jennet. I’m sure he can save Mary.’

‘What’s wrong?’ James Hindle was halfway up the stairs. ‘Are you all right, Hannah?’ He sounded concerned.

‘It’s Mary,’ she repeated. ‘Someone needs to go up to Spring Mount and fetch Dr Barlow.’

‘I’ll go,’ said William Hart, who had followed them up. ‘I’ll get a horse. It’ll be quicker than walking. What shall I tell him?’

‘Tell him she’s miscarryin’ a child. Tell him that Dr Scaife has seen her, but nowt’ll stop the bleeding,’ instructed Mrs Hall. ‘And tell him he’d best be quick.’ She turned to Titus. ‘Put the sneck on the door behind him, will tha? Unless tha wants to get off home.’

‘Well, Jennet’ll be worried about me if I’m out much longer. And there’s nowt I can do here,’ he said, glancing towards Mary’s bed.