Kane was enjoying the bawdy interchange but sensitive to Jack’s feelings he did not join in. Trotting up beside his brother he prodded his arm. ‘I’ll race you home, Luke, and I wager you my new pocket knife I’ll beat you by more than the whole length of the carriageway.’

Luke never refused a challenge but he had more to say to the buxom bal-maiden. He bent his wiry young body to whisper in her ear. ‘What about my brother, Heather? I don’t do anything without him.’

Heather smiled at the small, handsome, strong-featured face close to hers and glanced across at the beaming redhaired boy. ‘Well, it’s like this, Master Luke,’ she said jauntily. ‘Master Kane is nearly as good-looking as you are and if ’e carries on in the same way I’m sure I can manage if both of you can.’

Fresh cackling broke out and Jack was afraid the matter would get out of hand. He was about to order Luke away when the boy, satisfied with the answer he’d got, gave a bawdy laugh equal to that of Sir Martin Beswetherick’s and said heartily, ‘How about a kiss to be going on with?’

Jack tried to intervene but the other women put themselves in the way. He was outraged as Heather said, ‘A kiss, Master Luke? Now that will cost you a shilling.’

Jack’s protests were drowned by peels of riotous laughter but he heard Luke say, ‘I haven’t got a shilling on me at the moment but if you’ll allow me I’ll open an account.’ Heather turned her head and planted a long kiss to the side of the boy’s lips.

Luke let out a mighty whoop and raced off with a shout over his shoulder, ‘You lucky man, Jack!’

Kane bolted after Luke and the two boys quickly disappeared into the distance.

Jack debated whether to chase after his charges or stay and talk to Heather. He knew what he ought to do, but he wanted to do the other, despite his affront at Heather’s common behaviour. The girl was smiling sweetly at him and she won his decision.

‘Well!’ she shrieked at her companions. ‘Off with you then. A maid don’t need no company when she’s met up with ’er man.’

The other bal-maidens carried on their way over the hard, well-worn ground, giggling and throwing back crude innuendoes.

Jack jumped down beside Heather. Her smile vanished and she stared at him. Jack sighed. He could never tell what mood his ‘sweetheart’ was in.

‘You shouldn’t oughta have spoken to Master Luke like that and carried on in that way in front of me and Master Kane and they other women,’ he reprimanded her.

‘Oh, don’t be so stuffy,’ she pouted, looking annoyed.