‘I’ve noticed the caravans and horses on the roadsides lately. It’s Appleby Fair very soon, isn’t it?’ Rosie put her arm through Ethan’s and smiled.

‘Aye, second week in June. They hold it on Gallows Hill, just outside Appleby. I’d love to go and just look around. I’m not bothered about my grandfather, he’s not worth looking for. Who could walk out on a woman who was having your baby? He should have done right by her and settled down to a life in Settle. But I would like to see something I’ve heard about all my life and perhaps, just for once, feel as if I fit in.’ Ethan hung his head and twiddled the piece of grass between his fingers.

‘You should go. As you say, see what goes on there. Your curiosity will be satisfied then.’ Rosie looked at the young man who had been the main topic of conversation in Crummock’s kitchen. Her grandfather and father did not understand how her Aunt Isabelle could not keep Ethan in employment, after he had saved her son from drowning. ‘I could come with you.’

Ethan lifted his head. ‘You couldn’t come with me – your parents would not allow it. Besides, how do we get there? It isn’t as if it’s in the next field. It is at least forty miles away.’ He shook his head and pulled a tuft of the herb-filled grass from the earth, then threw it for the wind to blow and do with it what it would. He watched it float away, just like his dreams.

‘Leave it with me. You will go to Appleby Fair. It’s important to you.’ Rosie pushed herself up from the warm, fragrant land and twirled round in the breeze as she looked down upon her crestfallen companion. ‘Come on, let’s walk over to Beggar’s Stile and then get home for supper; the day is too good to waste.’ She smiled as Ethan pushed himself up and joined her.

‘Don’t promise something you can’t fulfil, and stop teasing me, Rosie Atkinson. Else you are no better than your cousin Jane.’ Ethan grabbed her hand, stopping her from dancing in the warm summer sun.

‘I never promise something I can’t fulfil, and don’t insult me by likening me to my cousin. She thinks only of herself and plays with your heart. That is why, if truth were told, you will have been banished to us, at Crummock. We can’t have our precious Jane mixing with the lower classes, now can we? Stop that sullen look and catch me if you can. And stop feeling sorry for yourself – we will go to your Appleby Fair.’ Rosie pulled away from Ethan and started to run over the short dry grass of the fell land. ‘And we will go together.’