A flare inside me. The scent of ash, the flash of ember eyes. I should act the demure girl he thinks me to be, but I cannot. I know him; his cruelty, his vanity. The anger caged within me scratches to be released. He, who thought me unworthy of his scraps when in my rags and simpers at me now I appear respectable. I will not grant him the power to destroy me by letting my rage give me away. I hold the dog in check, a task more difficult each time it rises. Force myself to tip my head, smile at him.

He laughs, waves a hand. ‘Of course, it could not be. You are a innocent and she were a—’ He glances in the direction of the hill. ‘Well. I shall not blemish your ear by speaking what she were.’

I shake my head a little as though confused and he backs away, waving his cap at me before replacing it. Hatred beats through me and I swallow the snarl in my throat, furious at myself for displaying such coyness in the face of his questioning, furious at him for forcing it upon me.

Willing him away will not do. He is too close to knowing me and destroying all Daniel and I dream of. I need a more lasting plan, a permanent absence. I have the knowledge and skill to bring it about.

I will gather all I need later.

When at last I reach the cool of the dairy, Bett is unimpressed. ‘Where’ve you been at?’

I shrug. She has already prepared today’s milk, and I hold the muslin so that she can pour it through, separating the curds and whey. I turn my head against the bitter stink, then hang the parcel and take down the curds from yesterday.

‘You can manage this?’ Bett asks.

‘Aye.’ I line the cheese press with muslin and put the curds in, squeezing out the last of the whey. Bett eyes me but says nothing, and so we work in silence as she wipes and turns the older cheeses, and I lean with my full weight, imagining it is Gabriel’s head I press down upon.

A stain circles Annie’s face, a ring of grime where the cloth Mam uses to wipe her does not reach, like the streak of silt left on the beach when the tide goes out. Her hair is damp and her cheeks pink from scrubbing; the fox necklace sits on top of her clothes. This has been done for my benefit. As though I am no longer part of the family, but a visitor.