Esther kept her part of the strange marital bargain. Never once did she refuse Matthew his demands upon her body, day or night. He took her whenever and wherever he wanted. In the hayloft, in the wash-house as she bent over the dolly tub, out in the fields where anyone might have seen them – almost as if he were trying to punish her, trying to make her refuse him, just once, so that he could turn on her and accuse her afresh. Certainly, he was trying to humiliate her. But Esther remained stoically docile to her husbands demands. Not a word of complaint or protest passed her lips. Matthew had not reckoned on her strength of will. Nothing he could do to her physically would break her resolve. She had got what she wanted – the farm – and she had been willing to pay the price. And the price was to be a dutiful wife to her husband.

For a time there was an uneasy truce between them, but a week after their marriage, that tentative pact was threatened almost before it had begun.

Beth came to the farm.

From the wash-house Esther saw her talking to Matthew and as she stepped out towards them, drying her hands on her apron, they both turned to look at her. Matthew’s face was set in an angry glare, whilst tears trembled on Beth’s black lashes. As Esther came closer the weeping girl whispered, ‘So it’s true, ya got yar way at last?’ She turned her tearful eyes to look up into Matthew’s face. ‘She dun’t love you, Matthew. She – she’s used you. Mester Willoughby, ’ee told his wife that the squire said he never gives the tenancy of his farms to a woman. She had to be married – to get the farm.’

‘Beth, I—’

‘It’s true!’ Her voice was becoming shrill. ‘I love you, Matthew, I’ve always loved you and I thought we was . . .’

‘Beth, I’m sorry, I—’

The girl shook her head. ‘Mebbe it’s me that’s the fool. I let you . . .’ her voice broke and she took a deep, trembling breath. ‘But she – she got you by holding out, didn’t she? Didn’t she?’ She screamed at him now, pummelling her fists against his chest and then falling helplessly against him, sobbing hysterically.

‘Aw, Beth.’ His voice was an anguished whisper, and for a moment his arms were around her holding her tightly against him, whilst Esther stood watching them. She heard Beth give a gulp and saw her pull away from Matthew. Beth turned, her head bowed, as if to walk away, but with a final fury that shuddered through her body, she turned on Esther and came close to her, shaking her fist in her face.

‘You’ll suffer for this, Esther Everatt, you’ll—’

‘Esther Hilton now, Beth,’ Esther corrected her with brutal calmness.