He stands, stick dropping to the floor, but he keeps hold of the knife. ‘Easy for you, in your new clothes. You’re a village lass now, you’ve forgot what we must do to live.’

‘Whatever you’ve set upon Sam Finch you must call off. If he dies they’ll turn on you. They’ll come for you, all of you. Annie too, and a scratched face shall be the least of it. Even today the magistrate’s had a man and his wife dragged away, for less than this. You must listen to me, Mam.’

‘He hurt my flesh,’ she says. ‘His flesh will pay. It’s as simple as that.’ She glances at the floor by her feet. ‘That’s right, little one. You understand, and you’ve your role to play.’

‘But, Mam—’

Her eyes like needles. I daren’t argue. Despair has me pressing tears away. Pain beats in my head, a darkness that I only hope I can hold back, tame and quieten.

The door behind me opens and Mam gasps. ‘Out,’ she says. ‘Get them out.’

Annie stands on the threshold, holding a cluster of scarlet flax and cow parsley. The smile on her face, as though it’s jewels she offers, falls and she glances down at the flowers, frowning.

‘Get them away,’ Mam says. Pushes past me and bears down on Annie, snatching the flowers from her and throwing them through the air and down the hill as far as she can. Annie stamps her foot, clenches her fists and bares her teeth, growling. Tears seep from her eyes and trickle down her cheeks. John laughs.

‘They were for Sarah,’ she shouts. ‘They were pretty.’

I take her in my arms but she shakes me off.

Mam leans against the door, panting, pressing her palm to her side. ‘Thought I’d brought you up to know better than that, lass.’

John keeps his head bowed as he whittles the stick. ‘Never put red and white flowers together,’ he says.

Annie looks up at me, her eyes awash. I stroke her hair. ‘Brings death to the dwelling,’ I say.

What He Had Seen

There was no news from the parson when Daniel spoke with him after church, though he expected word any moment. The waiting was unbearable, and Daniel woke each morning, well before dawn and wrung through by terrible dreams, praying that it would be the day their new life could begin. Under Magistrate Wright’s influence this place had become one of fear and suspicion. The danger of discovery was greater with every day that passed, and he dared not think of what would befall them then.