From her manner towards him, he realised that she had guessed he was the father of her daughter’s child and he felt ashamed as he offered her a silver coin.

‘An’ what’s that for?’ Her voice had a cutting edge to it as she glared at him.

‘I’m merely trying to ensure that the families of the fishermen have enough to get by on until they get back.’

‘Aye, well I ’ave, thank yer very much, so yer can keep yer money.’

‘You can consider it a loan until Mr Ainsley returns, if you prefer,’ he said patiently but again she shook her head. After what he had done to her lass she could have spat on him as look at him, although of course she knew that she couldn’t.

‘I, er . . . was wondering if you’d heard how your daughter is getting on with the Temples in London?’ he said then. ‘She’s due back soon, isn’t she?’

‘In just over a week, an’ aye, I have heard from ’er an’ she’s well.’

‘Good, I’m delighted to hear it.’ He would have liked to say more but it was like talking to a brick wall so he turned with a sigh. She was the only one who had refused his money and he hoped that she had enough food to get by on – he didn’t like the thought of her going without. But there was nothing he could do about it if she chose to be stubborn. ‘Goodbye then, Mrs Ainsley, and a Merry Christmas.’ The second the words had left his lips he could have bitten his tongue out. Here she was standing in the freezing cold waiting for a husband and sons who might never return and he was wishing her a Merry Christmas. The look she gave him was so scathing that he shrivelled inside and he turned about so hastily that he almost fell over.

*

Alice stood there until late that morning. Many of the other women with children had made their sad way home to see to their bairns but Alice stayed, hoping against all hope that a glimpse of the ships would appear through the mist.

The house felt strangely quiet when she got back and she stared sadly at her husband’s empty chair at the side of the fireplace. Will and Ted had come home the day before to spend Christmas with the family and she saw that they had thought to pop the goose that she had collected from the butcher the day before into the range oven. They had also prepared the Brussels sprouts and the vegetables, so at least they would have a Christmas dinner – not that she thought for one moment any of them would enjoy it. How could they when half of their family was missing, possibly lost at sea?