‘Nay, she’d no need to do that, there’s plenty of work for both of you. Especially as that lad of hers is worth nowt. But you didn’t hear me say that.’ Archie shook his head again and looked at Jethro. ‘She’s obviously not thinking straight. But I’ll not see your lad out of work. If she won’t see sense, I could perhaps have an answer to your problem.’ He thought for a moment, before asking Jethro, ‘What would you say if Ethan came and worked for me up at Crummock? I can’t make our lass keep him on at Windfell, but he could still work for me.’

‘I’d appreciate that, sir. Crummock would be the right spot for Ethan. I’d not deny that he’s as wild as a mountain hare, but he’s a good lad really.’ Jethro breathed out in relief. If Archie Atkinson employed Ethan, he’d have a good master and he was better away from that Miss Jane, whom Ethan had shown more than a passing interest in.

‘Right, well, leave it with me, I’ll speak to both of mine and make it right with them, and you tell your Mazy, and then it will be sorted.’ Archie gazed in front of him, trying to understand why Isabelle had given Ethan his marching orders. After all she was more be-holden to him than to anyone else in her service, after he had saved Luke from drowning.

Spirits were low in the kitchen at Windfell, after the realization that they were to lose both Lily and Ethan.

‘You know, I thought better of Miss Isabelle.’ Ruby sat back and hugged her cup of tea while she looked around at the crestfallen staff.

‘That’s the trouble – we all still think of her as “Miss Isabelle”, but she isn’t the young woman we all knew; she’s a grown woman with children of her own. And now Mr Atkinson’s gone to live at Crummock, and with Mrs Atkinson at rest, she’s our mistress.’ Lily’s eyes filled with tears. ‘She can do what she likes with any of us. Besides, she’s laid off all the staff at Ingfield except for Dorothy Baines, so you should think yourselves lucky.’

‘But what will you do, Lily? Where are you going to go? Windfell’s been your life.’ Nancy stopped for a minute from peeling potatoes and looked at the sniffling lady’s maid.