Taking hold of her again, he shook the girl hard. ‘Did he say where he was going – where he was staying? If he reckons to take her away from me, he can think again. He can’t do anything – not with her in the infirmary, he can’t. He’ll be holed up somewhere, waiting. Think, lass. Where can I find him?’ Find him and break his bloody neck, Frank thought grimly. Amy was his woman, and any man who thought to steal her away would have to come through him first.

‘Leave me alone!’ Twisting from his grip, she sent him stumbling. ‘I don’t know anything.’

As she ran down the passage and out the front door, his voice sailed after her. ‘Come back ’ere, you little bitch!’ But Lottie was already halfway down the street.

She had things to do. Money to make, and no time to lose.

Like the other guests staying at the modest Darwen Hotel, Jack Mason was up and about, seated in the bar and partaking of a bacon buttie and a huge mug of tea. ‘I’m sorry, lass, you can’t come in here.’ Having spied her from across the room, the landlord barred Lottie’s way. ‘What is it you want?’

Pointing to Jack, who was too deep in thought to know what was going on, she answered, ‘I’ve come to see him.’

‘Wait there.’ Closing the door, he shut her out.

A minute later the door opened and Jack was looking down on her. ‘You’re one of Amy’s young ’uns… Lottie, isn’t it?’ He recalled how she had been the defiant one. A quick glance at the clock told him it was only half past seven. ‘What the devil are you doing out so early of a morning? And why are you here?’ Hope shone in his eyes. ‘Did your mam send you?’

‘No.’

‘Then what do you want with me?’ Hope faded and despair set in.

‘I’ve summat to tell you.’

‘I’m listening.’ Intrigued, he waited. Either Amy was coming or she wasn’t. And if she wasn’t, then why was the girl here? All Amy had needed to do was not turn up. That was the loose arrangement, and one which would have told him all he needed to know.

What Lottie said next only increased his curiosity.

‘I’m not talking here, where everyone can see.’ All eyes were on them, and Lottie was clever enough to know that anything overheard now could land her in trouble later.

‘In that case,’ he closed the door behind him, ‘we’d best take a wander.’

Lottie had an idea. ‘You can take me for a toasted teacake and a brew in the Railway Cafe,’ she suggested. ‘It’s allus open.’

He smiled. ‘You’ve got it all figured out, eh?’ As far as he was concerned, it was tantamount to blackmail, but if it was to do with Amy he wasn’t about to argue. She was the only reason he was here, and if there was the slightest chance he could take her back with him, he would move heaven and earth. But the choice had to be Amy’s. That was the only way.