‘You know why I’m leaving it to you, lad. Your mother’s told you that you were conceived out of wedlock and to a different father from the rest of her brood. You are Danny Atkinson’s son – his bloody father was only in our farmyard a week or two back. I thought then that I should have said something to him, to set you up right, after my day. Like a fool, I didn’t, but there’s nowt stopping you from making yourself known to them at Windfell Manor after my day. They are a good family. Archie and I went to school together – if you could call the few days we did attend, between helping our fathers out on the farm, schooling. Archie looked at you when I was talking to him, and I know he recognized you as one of his own. With that mop on your head, you stick out like a sore thumb – a right Atkinson. No wonder your stepfather at Slaidburn hated you.’

Daniel hung his head. ‘Why didn’t Mr Atkinson come and say something to me? Am I something to be ashamed of – a dirty secret, best left alone?’

‘Nay, lad, Archie is not like that, nor is his lad, Danny. It’s the first time he had seen you. As far as they were aware, you were a Bland. After all, your mother wed and disappeared from Danny’s life. Danny went on to wed and have a family of his own, and both your mother and he had to make the best of it.’

‘My mother has always told me that the Atkinsons are well-to-do. That they are wealthy, and that part of that wealth should one day be mine. But I’m not bothered about the money. I just want to be acknowledged as Danny Atkinson’s son.’ Daniel lowered his head, remembering his childhood at Slaidburn with the Bland family. A childhood filled with misery, when he was treated like a dog – not a human being with feelings – by his stepfather and stepbrothers. His mother was the only one who showed him affection. She talked about better days before she was married, with a twinkle in her eye and a lightness in her voice.

‘Aye, well, like I say, get yourself known to them, after my day. They’ll do right by you, once they ken who you are.’ Bill breathed in deeply and closed his eyes.

‘I will, Grandfather. With your blessing, I will.’ Daniel sat back in his chair and looked around the kitchen of Ragged Hall. A farm of his own and a family to call his own – that was all he had ever wished for. And now it lay within his grasp.