Some of her words must have got through, because with an almighty shudder, he threw Lottie aside. In that moment, when he was spent of energy and Molly was bent double trying to catch her breath, Lottie grabbed her bag from the floor where it had fallen. Stumbling down the passage, she made for the door before he could have her again. ‘You’re mad!’ she screamed, her throat aflame from his mauling. ‘Mam hates the sight of you, and so do I!’

‘Come back here!’ Incensed, Frank went after her again, only this time Molly had the strength to hold on to him, until Lottie was safely away.

When the front door slammed, he went wild. Screaming like a banshee, he clenched his fist and ran straight at the parlour door, sending his fist through the panel, his arm split open by the exploding splinters. ‘Jesus!’ With the blood dripping down his arm, he took hold of Molly by the shoulders. ‘I’ll swing for that girl!’ His eyes stood out like cold bright marbles. ‘If she ever sets foot in this house again, I swear to God, I’ll do for her.’

Meeting his gaze defiantly, Molly told him, ‘Let go of me.’

At first it seemed he might hit out at her, but then he lowered his hands and turned away. ‘It weren’t my fault,’ he muttered. ‘Yer mam didn’t go because of me.’ Watching Molly out of the corner of his eye, he asked, ‘How will I find her, lass? How will I know where she’s gone?’

Molly’s voice was cold and unforgiving. ‘You won’t.’

He nodded heavily, his eyes bloodshot. ‘Happen it’s just as well.’

Because in that moment, he had murder in mind.

Just as she was, without coat or thought for herself, Molly ran out of the house and into the night. She had to find Lottie.

Calling her name from every corner, she found her way to the old recreation ground where the fair was set out, ghostly and silent, and there, seated on the steps round the Waltzer, was her sister. Dropping down beside her, she draped an arm round her shoulders. ‘What did you want to rile him like that for, eh?’

‘He’s a bad ’un, Molly… worse than me.’

‘Who says you’re a bad ’un?’

‘They all do – me dad, Rosie, and most of the folks down the street.’

‘Take no notice,’ Molly consoled her. ‘Anyway, none of it matters now. All I’m concerned about is you.’

‘Well, yer shouldn’t be.’

‘Come home, love. He’ll have calmed down by now.’

Lottie gave a funny kind of laugh. ‘It’s too late,’ she answered dully. ‘I’ve left home now. The fair leaves here first thing in the morning, and when it does, I’ll be with it.’

Molly glanced about, at the big, awesome machines. ‘You can’t mean that,’ she protested. ‘What, travelling from place to place, out in all weathers, no proper home of your own? What kind of life is that?’

‘The best.’ It was another voice that answered. The young man who spoke was obviously part of the fairground; tall and lanky, he had an easy, arrogant look about him, and straightaway Molly could see how women might be attracted to him, especially one as young and impressionable as her sister.