A smoky, ash-scented gloom inside revealed only the shapes of objects; a fire, no more than a pit on the floor. A straw mattress, three stools and a wooden table, roughly hewn, filled the first room. Furniture that was smaller and far simpler than his own, but more than he had imagined they owned. He supposed now that they had moved into the house and taken all they found in it. Those it had once belonged to were long gone. The walls were stained with soot and through the gaps in the roof and door streamed the cold night air.

In the doorway to another room stood Sarah, a blanket pulled around her, huddled with Annie and their mother. There was a wariness about them. For the first time Daniel thought how his unexpected arrival might appear threatening, ashamed that he had not been aware before.

‘I’m sorry,’ he said, removing his cap and clutching it in front of him. ‘That must have frightened you, me knocking on the door at this time of night, especially after …’ He glanced over his shoulder at the brother, leaning against the wall and watching. Would he ever stop that infernal scraping? ‘I’m sorry,’ Daniel said again. No one responded.

Annie yawned and stuck her thumb in her mouth, the other hand fiddling with her tangled hair. She slumped against her mother, eyes still on Daniel. ‘Did you bring my shell?’ she asked.

He held out his hands in apology. ‘I’ll bring it next time.’

‘That’s what you said before,’ she said, her voice thick with sleep.

‘I know.’

‘I knew your mam. She was a gentle soul,’ the mother said, lifting Annie and carrying her into the shadow of the other room.

He looked at Sarah, waited. She pulled the blanket tight around herself. She looked weak. Was she ill? ‘What do you want?’

‘I—’ There was too much in the way of audience here. ‘Could we perhaps go for a walk?’

She gathered the blanket and stepped over to him, but the brother blocked their path.

‘You’ll not walk out with my sister after dark.’

‘Don’t be a fool, John,’ Sarah said.

‘But—’ He glanced at Daniel, bent his head and lowered his voice. ‘You’re not well.’

‘I’m better. Move.’

He did, and Daniel wondered which of them had the greater power. Outside the sky was clear and bright with moonlight. He replaced his cap and they walked towards the woods, Sarah silent at his side. She moved slowly, as if afraid to trip, her head bent towards the ground.

They walked only a little way in amongst the trees, stopping below the wide-spread branches of an ash. For the first time he saw the mark on her cheek.

‘What happened to you?’ he asked.

‘Mam.’