The summer was well advanced. The hay was gathered and the corn ripening. Soon they would have to think about the next harvest, Esther thought, and her mind fluttered back to the harvest when Jonathan had been here. Working all day side by side in the fields and then lying together in the soft hay . . .

Esther wandered through her fields of corn, splitting open an ear of wheat here and there. Almost ready, but not quite. She heard the rattle of cart wheels in the lane and glanced up in surprise. Today was not one of Will’s days for a call. As she shaded her eyes against the glare she could see that it was Will’s carrier cart right enough, but he had not blown his whistle to announce his arrival.

He saw her in the field and waved. She returned his greeting and went towards the gate where he pulled the cart to a halt. He climbed down stiffly and leant over the gate waiting for her to reach him.

She smiled a greeting. ‘This is a nice surprise, Will. What brings you out here today?’

There was no answering smile on his face. ‘Esther lass,’ he said at once. ‘It’s yar aunt. She passed away last night.’

Esther laid her hands upon the gate, feeling the rough wood beneath her palms. She could think of nothing to say.

‘Yar uncle wanted me to come and tell you. He asked me specially to ask you to come to the funeral . . .’

Esther drew in a sharp breath.

‘He asked me special-like,’ Will insisted, and Esther found her eyes held by his intense gaze. Softly, he said, ‘Ya’ll not refuse yar uncle, lass, will ya?’

Slowly, almost against her will, Esther found herself shaking her head. For a moment a look of anger flitted across Will’s face, but as she said, haltingly, ‘No, no, Will, I’ll not refuse him, this time,’ his anger died and he covered her hand with his own as it lay on the gate.

‘I knew you’d not let me down, lass. I knew it.’

They stood a few moments like that until Will seemed to rouse himself and opened the gate for her to pass out into the lane. Briskly now he made the arrangements, and Esther found herself with no chance to withdraw her promise.

‘I’ll come for you early on Friday morning and bring you back again when it’s all over.’

‘But Will, it’s one of your busiest days, a Friday . . .’

‘I’ll work the Sunday, then. The Lord’ll not mind for once.’

Esther felt the corner of her mouth twitch. There was no arguing with Will when he was in a determined mood.

Dawn on the Friday morning found Esther climbing up on to the seat of the carrier’s cart beside Will. She was dressed in a new black costume, with a neat black hat to complete the outfit.