‘The dear child has confided in me and I sought you out, to let you know that I am to be your saviour, channelling the light and love of the good Lord as He so wishes. I – I have been waiting on the path here.’

The words spoken too fast for Daniel to take in. Sarah had confided in the parson, yet he could not imagine how their paths would cross, never mind that she would open the secrets of her heart to him. She had never so much as mentioned him. They had not spoken of their love in the real world, nor mentioned their families. He had assumed she’d told no one.

‘It is a challenging path you have chosen, no doubt, my son, but I am to intervene on your behalf and indeed on that of our dear Lord and His plan to bring together those pure in heart and welcome to the fold a family thus far cast aside.’

Daniel squinted at the parson, whose face was obscured by the sun behind him, and tried to make sense of the words he spoke. His disquiet communicated itself to the oxen. The beasts grew restless, and the parson at last stepped back.

‘I—’ Daniel looked about him. No one to hear. He dropped his voice nonetheless. ‘Sarah has confided in you?’

Parson Walsh nodded enthusiastically. ‘Indeed, and I impressed upon her, upon them all, that she has chosen a match of the most excellent qualities of kindness and purity as one can wish.’ A great smile broke out on his face, and disappeared just as quickly. ‘Though there are difficulties, to which I just referred and of which you are surely aware. But I shall speak to your father and we shall—’

‘My father?’ Daniel stepped forward, reaching a hand out as though he could physically restrain the parson. He imagined Father’s fury at such a discovery, himself and Sarah cast out. Where could they go but to the Haworth hovel? Living on buttermilk with her Devil-brother. Daniel swallowed his feeling of sickness. ‘No, please don’t do that.’

Parson Walsh shook his head, his face a scramble of confusion. ‘Then how are we to convince him of the desirability of the match?’

‘I – I don’t believe we can.’

No sound but the disgruntled lowing of the beasts. One of them dropped its filings right by the parson’s foot, but he did not react.

‘Then you are trifling with the girl? Using her for pleasures of the night only to abandon her? I had thought more—’

‘No, no. I – we plan to be together. But I – I don’t yet know how. We have not discussed it much.’

‘You are afraid your father will not approve?’ the parson asked.

A fat, slow bumblebee droned between them, settling on the pouch of a white-nettle. ‘More than afraid, I am certain. My – he will not allow it.’