‘What’s she to do wi’ you then, Will Benson? And what right have you to inflict such as her on me? Ah didn’t ask you to bring her. She ain’t staying, Ah can tell you that!’ It was a long speech for the taciturn Sam, but Will only laughed again.

‘I didn’t bring her, but I admit I told her about you needing a young ’un about the place. I were going to offer to bring her over at least to see you, but when I called at her aunt’s – ’ he gave a snort of contempt. ‘Lord strike me, how I detest that woman – Esther had already left. Set off to walk through the night, her aunt said, so as to arrive by first light.’

‘’Ow far she come, then?’

‘Oh, must be thirteen odd mile, I reckon.’

Peeping out of the door, but minding to keep well hidden from the two men, Esther saw the farmer staring up at the carrier and then – a rare thing – Sam Brumby smiled. It twitched the corner of his mouth, unwilling at first, hesitating as if not knowing quite how to form itself after years of neglect, then spreading across his mouth, wrinkling his eyes. From deep within came a chuckle. ‘The young . . .’ he murmured more to himself than to Will. ‘And Ah accused her of being weak because she looked tired this morning. Well, Ah never did!’

The carrier’s mouth dropped open. Sam Brumby was actually laughing! It would be a talking point on the carrier’s rounds for weeks to come.

Esther saw Sam shake his head wonderingly. He took off the cap he always wore and scratched his balding pate, then pulled his cap on again. ‘Well, Ah never!’ he muttered again. Esther knew she had, for the moment, earned Sam’s grudging respect. And that, she guessed, was not an easy thing to do.

‘Ah’ll tell you summat else, Will. She got the better of me gander last night. Now, I ain’t ever seen old Wellington beat afore – not by anyone.’

‘Didn’t I tell you, Sam, didn’t I tell you she’s a rare lass?’ the carrier said delightedly.