‘Splendid! Now, let’s see where Father has gone to with those children. You will be wanting your lunch and to get back to Rosie, if she is not feeling well.’

‘Yes, I would appreciate getting back a little earlier than we anticipated, just to make sure she’s alright.’ Harriet was relieved that Isabelle understood.

‘I understand. I’ll ask Thomson to hurry Cook along.’ Isabelle linked her arm through Harriet’s as they walked into the hallway. ‘Danny, do you want that old grandfather clock? It really does not fit in this hallway; it was another thing that my mother put up with, but didn’t like.’

‘It’s belonged to my father’s family for years – you can’t just throw it out. We’ll have it up at Crummock, won’t we, Harriet?’ Danny looked shocked at Isabelle’s lack of love for a family heirloom.

‘Yes, it will fit well at the bottom of the stairs. Archie will no doubt like to have it back with him.’ Harriet smiled.

‘Then I’ll get Jethro to bring it up to you on the flat cart next week. Now, where are those children?’

The train pulled into Appleby station after making its way through the tunnels and cuttings that spread along the length of the remote railway track. The engine heaved a sigh of relief as it came to rest after the steepest climb on the line, known as ‘the long drag’.

‘That was a journey! How beautiful did Dentdale and Garsdale look as we passed through them? The houses looked so small, way down in the bottom of the valleys.’ Rosie smiled and tried to keep up with Ethan as he made his way through the station gates, following the crowd down into the town of Appleby.

‘Mallerstang looks so rugged, even on a beautiful day like this. Just think what it would have been like when they were building the railway line. It’s a wonder they didn’t freeze to death when they were laying the track down.’ Ethan stopped in his tracks and watched in wonder the number of horses and travelling people that lined the streets of Appleby. Flat-bedded wagons and round green-topped caravans painted with bright-green, red and gold decoration crowded through the narrow streets, drawn by horses of every description. Black-and-white pintos, brown-and-white skewbalds, chestnuts and roans were all were being led and ridden by their owners, who were not bashful when it came to showing off their horsemanship. Amongst the horses, droves of sheep and cattle were also being driven in the direction of Gallows Hill, the main field for Appleby Fair.

‘White heather for your girl, Mister?’ A beautiful, sultry young gypsy girl came and enticed Ethan with a basket full of heather and wooden clothes pegs. ‘It’ll bring you both luck.’

Ethan shook his head and looked at Rosie, knowing that between them they had very little money.