‘Aye, since time of ’first Mr Tannerson and his daughter, your late wife. I was onny a lad back then; it was my first job after school. A job for life, I thought.’

‘Well, so it can be.’ Tannerson stood up, and Kirkwood did too. ‘I’m pleased we’ve had this discussion, Kirkwood. I feel more positive than I did. I confess I’ve been knocked sideways by this tragedy.’

He put out his hand to Kirkwood, who shook it and then said, ‘And you’ve got someone to deal wi’ paperwork and mundane stuff.’ He nodded up the steps towards the office. ‘I remember your wife, sir; nowt much got past her, did it? Mrs – Robson, did you say?’ He grinned. ‘These women, they’re made of strong stuff. You’d want ’em with you, not against you.’

‘My thoughts exactly,’ Tannerson agreed. ‘Call back in about a week, Kirkwood, and there might be more to tell you. Then perhaps we can organize a meeting with the men who want to come back.’

‘I can do that, sir,’ Kirkwood said eagerly. ‘I know where they all are; those who are reliable and those who are not.’

‘Set up a meeting with Mrs Robson then,’ Tannerson agreed. ‘Her favourite passion is lists!’

Kirkwood ran down the steps and across the yard; Tannerson watched him. The man had a spring in his step that he’d never noticed before. Then he turned and walked back into the office. ‘I think I have a plan,’ he announced.

Lizzie folded her arms and sat back in her chair. ‘So have I,’ she said. ‘Mine’s a good one. I hope yours is too.’

Tannerson pulled out his own chair and placed it opposite her. ‘Right you are then, Mrs Robson. Let’s hear yours first.’

CHAPTER FORTY

Ellen had kept in constant touch with Billy and their mother and also with Harry’s sisters, Meg and Polly, who quite naturally were concerned about Harry. She had told Billy in confidence that they were about to move house but urged him not to tell Harry yet as it was to be a surprise.

Quite coincidentally he arrived on the Saturday morning when she was in the midst of packing the bedding into a clean and washed flour sack that Mrs Brownlee, the baker, had given her. There had been no one else in the shop when Ellen had gone in and she’d told Ellen that although she was pleased that they were moving to a better house than the one they had at present, she would miss seeing her as well as her custom.

‘You introduced Anna to me,’ she had said, ‘and she’s been a godsend.’

‘It was Anna who brought me to you in ’first place,’ Ellen told her, ‘but she couldn’t have asked you for work then because of ’children. We’ve all benefited from our meeting by helping each other.’