He shakes his head, smiling. ‘You lingered too long, I know the truth of it now.’

For a moment the thought of the fire and the flawn, the thought of this life with him, feels real. Hope soars in me. ‘Where can we go?’ I ask.

He sighs, spreads his arms. ‘I don’t know. We both have skills, we can find work. We cannot wait for the mop, we shall have to travel and seek. Take whatever work and lodging we may find.’

‘You’ll lose the farm.’

‘Matters not.’

‘And your family?’

He shakes his head.

‘This is our plan?’ I ask.

He bends to kiss me. ‘This is our plan. But first, we must be wed.’

I have not set foot in church before. Colourful splinters of light fall from the window behind him and splash on to the dusty floor, and I struggle to focus on Seth. There is a scent I recognise from the farm as candle wax and, though the sun shines outside, a chill seeping from wall and ground.

‘We will not part,’ Daniel says, glancing at me.

‘Would I could persuade you otherwise,’ Seth says, slowly, as though each word is a boulder of great weight heaved from within. He holds a leather-bound book, which I know must be the Bible.

‘You cannot,’ I say. ‘But you can help us still, if you’re willing.’

Seth chews his lip. ‘If there is any way to make amends for the hurts I’ve caused by encouraging your feelings and putting you in danger, then—’

‘We’re leaving this place,’ I say.

‘And we must be wed,’ Daniel says.

Seth looks upon our clasped hands. ‘Where shall you go?’

‘We don’t know yet,’ I say.

He walks to a raised area at the front of the church and climbs the wooden steps. ‘Then I may be able to help a little, and perhaps do some small good after all. It will not be easy, but I see you are determined.’ He lays out his Bible, turning the pages until he finds the one he’s looking for. Daniel meets my eye. It is all I can do to stop myself screaming at Seth to continue.

‘I know of a family,’ he says, ‘far from here, that might help. Farmers, they have suffered dreadfully with the loss of their children, and I in my humble way comforted them. Perhaps, if I entreat on your part, they will allow you to work their land and share their home, echoing as it does with vanished joys.’

Daniel’s grip on my hand tightens. ‘Parson, we would be so grateful.’

Seth gives a brief smile. ‘Then I shall send word today. Bide just a little time, I shall inform you as soon as I receive reply. And you shall be husband and wife before you go.’