‘I’ll see – give me some time to think about it. I don’t want to be hurried into something I might regret.’ Harriet breathed in deeply and looked at Isabelle. ‘You’d get me a nanny and transport, and I could come and go as I please?’

‘Yes, I said so, and I’d be so grateful. It would be like old times, except that we are both much wiser.’ Isabelle smiled and knew that she’d got what she’d come for.

‘Aye, old times. Remember the bad as well as the good, and then hopefully neither of you will fall out again.’ Archie spat his mouthful of tobacco into the fire, making it hiss.

‘We’ll not fall out, we’ve both learned a lot since those days.’ Harriet smiled wistfully, remembering the better days with her sister-in-law. ‘I’ll come and help. Only a few days, mind, and we will see how it goes.’

‘Thank you, I just need somebody to be there for me. And I knew I could count on you.’ Isabelle rose from the table and hugged Harriet and then looked around her. ‘Crummock looks lovely. Mind, it always did at this time of year.’

‘Aye, you’ve got to learn to take the sunshine with the rain, otherwise you’ll not survive long up here, or in life. Get home to your man now, you’ve done your business; and make sure you look after him first. Happen then he won’t wander off again,’ said Archie.

‘Father, be quiet.’ Danny stood up and tried to stop his father from saying any more.

‘It’s alright, Danny. Father always says what he thinks, we both know that. And perhaps I don’t always put James first, but he doesn’t with me, either, so on that score I think we are even.’ Isabelle made her way to the doorway. ‘Harriet, I’ll let you meet all the nannies that I think are suitable, and Jethro will pick you up for the station in the mornings.’ Isabelle smiled as she made her way out into the late summer’s day. ‘I’m so grateful, believe me,’ she said as she made for her carriage.

‘She’s just like her bloody father. Crafty and cunning, but you can never say no to her. That James will have to pay for his hour or two of pleasure, if I know Isabelle. He’ll rue the day he went behind her back – although I think he’ll be doing that already.’ Archie looked at Danny and Harriet. ‘Make sure she’s right with you this time, lass; take no rubbish from her.’

‘I won’t, Father. This time I know she needs me more than I need her.’ Harriet smiled.