‘Ethan, these are absolutely beautiful. I can’t believe you have made them yourself.’ Rosie smiled as she admired the miniature set of drawers that Ethan had lovingly made for her birthday present. They both sat outside on the stone steps that led up to his new lodgings in the feed-room. They sat as close to one another as they dared, given that Rosie’s father kept walking across the yard as he went about his work, before the family tea that had been arranged for Rosie’s birthday.

‘I thought they could be put towards our home, when we get wed. They’ll look good on top of the mantelpiece. That is, if we can ever afford a home.’ Ethan kissed Rosie quickly on the cheek, hoping not to get caught in the act. ‘I love you – you do know that. I was just frightened when you said you were with child. I’d have stood by you.’

‘I know, and I was frightened too. It was perhaps a good thing I lost it. It makes days like this more special.’ Rosie opened the small drawers that could hold various bits and bobs, and looked at the handles that Ethan had fashioned out of offcuts of brass from around the farm and from old brass curtain rings. ‘I’ve been thinking that if we do wed and need a home, I could perhaps persuade Grandfather to let us live in his Great-aunt Lucy’s cottage in Austwick. It’s been empty for years and needs a lot of repair, but it would be lovely for just us two.’

‘I don’t think your mother will agree. She doesn’t seem to think that I’m good enough for you, but I aim to prove her wrong. There’s not much I can’t turn my hand to, and your father keeps saying what a good job I’m doing, now I’ve decided what’s important to me in life. I don’t want to be just the lad that mucks out the stable and cleans the harness – I can do better than that. Where’s the cottage at? Should we go and have a look at it, when we can get away together?’ Ethan had decided it was time to show his commitment to Rosie and to prove to her parents that he was a worker, now that he had something to aim for. He didn’t want to be excluded from the family as the outcast that he currently felt he was.

‘It’s down on the back green, just set back a bit off the main road. The garden’s overgrown, but the roof is alright and so are the doors and windows. Should we go and have a look at it on Sunday? We are both allowed time together then.’ Rosie looked excitedly at him.