‘Certainly not,’ he said firmly. ‘Whoever takes on one of the properties must pay the rent and keep it in good order, although any major work, like roof repairs and so on, will be attended to by the company.’

Ellen looked at him. Was there a catch? Could they afford the rent? He seemed like an honest man, but how could she possibly tell? Not all businessmen were, or so she’d heard, for she didn’t know any others. Would she have to ask Harry first before committing them to moving elsewhere?

‘It seems too good to be true, Mr Tannerson,’ she murmured.

He smiled as he perched his bowler on his head at a jaunty angle. ‘It does, doesn’t it?’ he agreed. ‘But I assure you it is not. I’ll take you to look at it, if you’d like to?’

Ellen turned to Lizzie, who was listening avidly and nodding her head at the suggestion. ‘Well,’ she said, turning back to him, ‘I suppose …’

‘You’ve nothing to lose, Mrs Randell,’ he said in a kindly tone. ‘If you don’t like it, you can refuse.’ His eyes sparkled. ‘But I’d place a bet that you won’t. This afternoon?’

‘What about your paperwork?’

‘Pah!’ he said. ‘It can wait an hour or two.’

They’d reached the outside door when Lizzie, suddenly galvanized into action, jumped off the bed and followed them.

‘Mr Tannerson!’ she said. ‘I couldn’t help but hear what you were saying to my sister and of course I’ll treat all you said as confidential, but I was thinking – well, I’m considering coming to live in Hull. I’m recently widowed and need to find work. I’m not as good as Ellen with practical household matters, but I have a head for figures; I was always top of ’class at school and I’m an excellent organizer. I looked after ’household bills for my husband and kept us out of debt.’

She drew in a breath. ‘Unfortunately, I doubt that many businesses would take on a woman as an employee unless it’s to clean or wash floors, but from what you said you were thankful to have your wife in ’role of administrator.’ She swallowed. ‘If you would ever consider employing a female clerk or office manager, I’d like to apply.’

He stared at her for a second and then closed the front door and took off his hat again. ‘You’re quite serious?’ he said.

Lizzie nodded. ‘Yes, sir.’

‘Mm. Well, come and see me in the morning at my office. Say nine thirty? Whilst nothing’s happening at the mill I’m going in later than usual.’

‘You said you had surveyors coming in tomorrow, sir,’ Lizzie reminded him.