Some five or six miles further on he stopped at an inn for a jug of ale and to give the horse a short rest. He didn’t normally drink so early in the day but he reasoned that the drink would not only quench his thirst but steady his nerves for when he finally tracked Amber down – as he had no doubt he would.

As he had hoped, it was approaching lunchtime when the town came into view and he slowed the horse to a trot for the last part of the journey. Once he entered the cobbled streets, he found a stable where he left Major to rest and before leaving, he asked the young groom, ‘Would you happen to know where Harding’s hardware shop is, young man?’

‘Aye, I do, sir,’ the young man replied, realising by the cut of Barnaby’s fine clothes and the stallion he was to tend that he was speaking to a gentleman. ‘It’s reet ahead o’ you. Just tek your first left then the first sharp right an’ you’ll come to it on the left o’ the street.’

Barnaby touched the brim of his hat and inclined his head before following the chap’s directions and within minutes he saw the shop ahead of him. There was a young man outside the front on the pavement sweeping the shop frontage and after checking the sign above the door to make sure that this was indeed the right place, Barnaby approached him with a smile.

‘Good morning, sir, or is it afternoon now?’ Barnaby said jovially as the young man stood straight and leant on the broom handle. ‘I’m looking for a friend of mine, Miss Amber Ainsley. I believe her uncle owns this shop and she’s been living with him to take care of him while he’s ill.’

Archie narrowed his eyes and scratched his head. ‘Aye, Amber’s stayin’ wi’ him all reet,’ he agreed. ‘But Mr Hardin’ ain’t been ill so far as I know.’

‘Oh . . .’ Barnaby was slightly confused but hiding it quickly he went on, ‘Then I must have got it wrong. Is she here? I’m sure she’ll be pleased to see me. I bring her news from home.’

Archie stared at him suspiciously for a moment but then deciding that the man looked perfectly respectable he shook his head. ‘No, she ain’t here, sir. Amber ain’t worked in the shop for a while now. She’ll be at Mr Hardin’s house.’

‘I see.’ Barnaby frowned as he stroked his chin. ‘Then I wonder if you might point me in the right direction? Amber did give me the address but when I stabled my horse back there, I realised that I’d come without it and I really don’t want to have to go back without being able to tell her mother I’ve seen her.’