Will nodded and held out the newspaper towards him. Matthew took it eagerly and scoured the page. ‘It says there’s a rumour there’s been a naval engagement off Flamborough Head.’ He looked up at Will. ‘That’s up north from here, ain’t it, on the Humber?’

Will nodded. ‘Aye, just north of the mouth of the Humber.’

Esther glanced in the direction of the sea, as if she suddenly expected to see soldiers appearing over the sand dunes and advancing in steady lines across the land – her land. She shook herself and said firmly, as if by doing so she could refute the possibility, ‘Oh, come in and have a cup of tea, Will. It’ll not affect the likes of us.’

Just as she turned away she saw the two men exchange a knowing look. The older man sombre and afraid, the younger with an air of anticipation and exhilaration.

It seemed to Esther that the days that followed were filled with nothing but the talk of the war. Even young Ernie Harris, his eyes bright with excitement, came with news for Matthew.

‘The squire’s leading a recruiting rally tonight in the town. Shall ya tell the mester for me?’

Esther swung round to stare at him, her eyes dark with anger. ‘Ah’ll do no such thing, an’ you’re not to think of going, Ernie Harris!’

He grinned at her cheekily, a newborn confidence in his manner. ‘Just try and stop me!’

‘You’re not old enough, Ernie. Ya can’t—’ But the boy had turned and was running out of the yard, giving a little hop and jump every so often, capering almost, as he ran home.

Esther shook her head. ‘Madness,’ she murmured. ‘Sheer madness.’

When Esther found out that her husband planned to attend the recruiting rally in the town on the first of September, she asked Ma Harris if Enid would come to the farm and look after Kate so she could attend too.

‘Aye, she can come, lass,’ Mrs Harris said, but added doubtfully, ‘Yar man’ll not like it. Men dun’t like women interfering in such things.’

Esther snorted. ‘Then he’ll have to lump it. If he thinks he’s got any grand notion of volunteering, he’s got another think coming.’

Instead of laughing, as Esther might have expected, Ma Harris merely shook her head and sighed. ‘Dun’t mek a fool of him, lass, ya’ll regret it.’

Esther stared at her. ‘Ya not letting Ernie go, are ya?’

Ma shrugged. ‘Can’t stop the young ’uns, lass. Nor the old ’uns, come to that.’