‘I ain’t talkin’ about all that, lass. That’s all over and done with.’

‘Over it may be,’ Esther retorted, ‘but I dun’t reckon it’ll ever be done with. People’s got long memories round here for minding other folks’s business.’

‘So – what’s going to happen when Matthew gets back and he hears about – about this feller? What’s going to happen then, eh?’ Ma Harris persisted.

Suddenly the fight went out of Esther and she sank down on to the cold stone of the gantry where the milk stood in its churn. ‘I haven’t had a card from Matthew for months, Ma. I – I dun’t reckon he’s ever comin’ back.’

She raised her eyes to meet Ma’s and watched the fleeting expressions on the woman’s face as she tried to come to terms with what Esther was now telling her, tried to find it within her to understand Esther, to forgive her even, but failing, as she said, ‘Well, it still dun’t give you the right to take up with another man. And worse, leave yar bairn alone in the house whilst you’re – you’re . . .’

For all her bluntness, even Ma Harris could not bring herself to put it into words.

Esther stood up. ‘On that score, I happen to agree with you. It won’t happen again.’

‘Ya mean . . .’ For a moment there was a hint of relenting in Ma’s expression. ‘You mean you’re going to end it?’

‘No, no, I don’t.’

Ma Harris sucked in air through her sunken mouth. ‘Esther – you dun’t mean you – you’ll take him into yar bed? Not Matthew’s bed!’

Esther faced her brazenly, then yielded. She didn’t care what any of them said about her, but she couldn’t bear them to think ill of Jonathan. She shook her head. ‘Jonathan would refuse anyway. Whatever you think of me, you shouldn’t blame him, he’s a gentleman.’

Ma shook her head grimly. ‘I dun’t blame him. Ya can’t blame a man. I blame you.’ With that she turned and went out of Esther’s pantry and out her house. Esther followed her to the back door. Half-way across the yard, Ma turned and shouted back, ‘I’ll be sending Enid for the milk and eggs in future, Esther Hilton.’

She was surprised just how the older woman’s attitude hurt her. She had thought herself tough and hard and totally resilient to the opinions others had of her. But she had always liked Ma Harris, had valued her friendship and, at times, her help. Now Ma had literally turned her back on her.

Determinedly, Esther shook herself. I’ll survive, she told herself. Of course she would – but still, it hurt.