They all knew that any other milkmaid would bring her own spare clothes. Daniel felt a brief urge to kiss her, though she would not approve, and thanked God that Father had seen fit to gift Bett so many of his mother’s clothes. Her generosity would not leave her short.

‘Well, I can’t be dawdling here all night,’ she said. ‘In you go.’

Inside both fire and candles were lit, there was a smell of cooked meat and the dinner plates had been washed and cleared away. Father sat at the table with his ale and Gabriel stood in his cap, ready to leave. Daniel looked around, trying to see as for the first time. It was welcoming, as new homes go. Sarah stood in the doorway, her face cast into shadow so that he could not see her expression. Daniel swallowed and steadied himself. There was no turning back now.

‘Step in, lass,’ Father said in a voice so soft Daniel barely recognised it. ‘Strange feeling to start anew, I know, but this is your home now. Do not be shy.’

Sarah stepped in, smiled at them. ‘Thank you.’

Daniel waited for a shout of recognition to come. The moment stretched endlessly. He kept his eyes on her, and saw just a girl, a milkmaid, no different from any other but that he knew the chaos of light and dark that stormed through her, and had been drawn into it. Bett’s warning spun through his mind. He had brought Sarah to the home of her enemy, and placed her in a worse situation than before. They would know her now, and all would be undone.

He waited. Nothing.

Gabriel cleared his throat, removed his hat and turned it in his hands. ‘You are welcome to be here,’ he said, glancing at Father’s amused expression and raised eyebrows. ‘Though it’s not for me to say so, not being my home to offer.’ Head down, he stepped towards the door. ‘Lovely to have you here, miss. Meaning that, you are needed. By the cows.’ He stopped in front of Sarah, blushing, peering at her face. ‘Wait, we have not – have our paths crossed?’

Daniel’s heart beat faster. Sarah stiffened, glancing at him. He laughed, as convincing as he could. ‘Not – not possible, how could it be so?’

‘Out, Gabriel,’ Father said. ‘Be off home.’

Gabriel shook his head and replaced his hat. ‘Aye. Senseless notion. I’ll be saying good evening.’ He hurried out into the night.

‘Well,’ Father said. ‘You must be hungry and tired. There’s food saved and my son will show you to your room.’ He emptied his tankard, placed it on the table and swallowed a belch. ‘I shall be off to the tavern.’