‘Well, go on then, lad, let’s be hearing you.’ Archie looked at the nervous lad; he’d known Ethan since he was born and, no matter what else was said of him, he knew Ethan never did things without a cause.

‘I had to leave. I needed time to think and to see if what I was feeling was right.’ Ethan paused and looked at both burly farmers. ‘I’ve been living in the shooting hut below Moughton these last few weeks, because I had to get away from here. I couldn’t let my feelings get the better of me until I knew what to do. Rosie has felt the same.’

‘Rosie – what has this got do with Rosie?’ Danny sat up in his chair and gazed at the swarthy lad, who stood looking uncomfortably at them.

‘Let the lad finish, Danny.’ Archie pulled on his son’s sleeve.

‘I, er . . . we, both think a great deal of one another. We can’t help it, we are just alike. But I know my father would give me another braying, and I know that I’m way below Rosie’s station in life and I shouldn’t even be thinking of her in that way. That’s why I needed time to think. But I’m hoping that you’ll both understand and that you’ll give me permission to court her properly.’ Ethan blurted it all out. What he’d rehearsed so carefully was nothing like what had come out of his mouth, but at least they knew how he felt.

Danny sat back in his chair. ‘I bloody knew it! I’ve been as blind as a bat, until I saw Rosie’s face when I told her that he was back.’ He turned and stared at his father. After all, Archie was to blame for making this happen, by bringing Ethan up to Crummock and turning his young daughter’s head. ‘She pretended not to care, but she cared alright.’

‘Hold your noise, lad. It’s not the end of the world. Rosie’s nearly seventeen, and Ethan here is not a bad soul. At least you know all about him, and he is right: they are alike. Two wild ’uns together. And he’s doing the proper thing, instead of sneaking about – give him some credit.’ Archie winked at Ethan as he stood, almost trembling.

‘But he has nowt, not a bloody penny. I wanted better for Rosie.’ Danny sat back and looked at Ethan. ‘Oh God, Harriet will not be happy.’