‘Aye, they are alike them two, thick as thieves.’ Danny ran his fingers through Harriet’s hair and held her tightly. ‘Our children will soon be grown and away, and then we will have time for ourselves and we will look back and wonder where all the years have gone. Just like my father and Charlotte.’ Cradling Harriet tightly, he looked up at the ceiling and thought about the lad that he knew to be his at Ragged Hall. How could he ever admit to having a child with anyone other than Harriet? It would break her heart. The lad would just have to stay where he was for now. And he would have to bide his time and hope that over the next few years, as their own children grew, he would get the opportunity to make good his mistake. His heart was owned by the woman at his side, and always would be. He bent down and kissed Harriet’s brow, before both of them pulled the covers up to their chins. ‘I love you, Harriet Atkinson,’ Danny said quietly.

‘And I you, Danny Atkinson,’ Harriet whispered, half-asleep.

‘Goodnight, my love. All will be well in the end.’ Danny turned and blew out the bedside candle and gazed into the darkness of the night, hoping that his words rang true and that all would be well in their world. Time would tell, no doubt.

Bill Brown sat across from his young grandson and decided to say what had been on his mind for some time.

‘I’m buggered, lad. This old ticker of mine can’t go on for much longer.’ He looked at his well-built grandson, the lad he knew was the love-child of his daughter Amy and the farmer Danny Atkinson. ‘Now, after my day Ragged Hall is yours, do you hear? Don’t let that bastard over at Slaidburn take it off you. It should have been your mother’s, but I’m leaving it to you.’ Bill caught his breath and dropped his head as he thought of the loveless marriage that his daughter was in.

‘Nay, Grandfather, it should be my mother’s, not mine. Besides, you are not going anywhere yet, so don’t talk of suchlike.’ Daniel’s eyes filled with tears, for his grandfather had been his saviour, rescuing him from a life no better than a servant with his so-called family.