‘It’s no skin off my nose. I deserved it, and I’m quite proud I’m part gypsy.’ Ethan smirked, thinking about Rosie. So he had taken her eye. That was quite something he could be proud of, and Rosie was the nicer of the two girls.

‘Well, let’s remain friends, and don’t you say a word to Rosie about me telling you that she likes you.’ Jane stood and waited for his reply as she watched her mother and father lift Luke into the waiting carriage to take him home to Ingfield.

‘Won’t say a word, I promise. And thanks for not telling on me.’ Ethan blushed and looked down at his feet, knowing that he had pushed his luck.

‘Jane, come quickly, we need the doctor to look at your brother,’ shouted Isabelle as she climbed into the carriage.

‘Coming, Mother,’ Jane yelled as she rushed across the pebbled drive to join her parents and brother.

Ethan watched as the carriage made its way out of the gates, before joining his father in the stable.

‘That was a near do.’ Jethro stood by his son and looked at him. ‘It could have ended in tragedy. As it is, I think Luke’s just knocked the front of his head badly. Better to spoil his beauty than his brains – not that he’s got many.’

‘Aye, he’s going to have to learn to swim. I’ll teach him this summer.’ Ethan lifted the horse harness that he’d been cleaning earlier, before he’d got distracted by the sight of Jane admiring the foal. He put it back on its peg on the stable wall.

‘Now, lad, I’m giving you a bit of advice. There’s them – the posh ’uns – and there’s us. You can look, but you don’t touch. We are not in their class and never will be, and an ill wind will always blow if you dare to do any other. You let his father teach him to swim, if Luke wants to do so. And as for Miss Jane, you leave her be, lad. She’s not right for you.’ Jethro spat his mouthful of tobacco out and looked at his son.

Ethan dared only glance at his father. Was there nothing he didn’t see or know? He’d never noticed him there when he’d tried to kiss Jane.

‘Aye, alright, Father.’