As she leant her head against the warm flank of the beast and began to pull with easy rhythmic movements, she could almost hear her aunt’s shrill voice: ‘Not like that, girl, you’ll ’eve ’er tits as sore as ’ell,’ and, obediently, Esther’s fingers were gentle on the cow’s udders.

Just as she was finishing milking the two cows, a shadow fell across the straw near the pail and Esther twisted her head slightly to look over her shoulder, although her hands never slowed or faltered in their task.

A girl stood there, though Esther could not see her features for the light was behind her, casting her face in shadow, but outlining her rounded form. She stood uncertainly in the doorway, one hand resting on the rough wood of the door jamb.

‘Is Mr Brumby about?’ she asked, her voice low and husky.

‘’Fraid not. He’s up Top End – wherever that is,’ Esther told her, the milk still squirting steadily into the pail.

‘It’s yon side the Point,’ the girl said. ‘I must have missed him somehow – I’ve just come from there.’

Esther stood up and placed the full pail of milk away from the cow’s restless hooves and then moved out of the cowshed and into the light so she could get a better look at the newcomer. Long hair – black, now that she could see it properly in the morning light – straight yet sleek and shining. A grey, knitted shawl covered the girl’s shoulders and she hugged it about her, folding her arms across her already womanly breast. She was smaller than Esther but her body was rounded and buxom. Her eyes were dark brown with long black lashes. Her face was childishly plump, yet her high cheekbones and smooth brow hinted at the promise of beauty as she grew and matured.

She seemed to hesitate as if uncertain what to do next.

‘Are you working here?’ The dark eyes regarded Esther steadily. ‘Matthew told me he thought Mr Brumby needed more help about the place, so – I’ve come up to see him . . .’

Esther felt her heart lurch. Somehow she would have to give this girl the impression that the job was taken. Esther adopted her forthright pose: hands on hips, feet planted apart, a stance that refuted opposition. But deliberately she smiled, as if to take some of the sting out of her words. ‘I heard that too. Sorry – it looks like I’ve beaten you to it!’

The dark-haired girl shrugged. ‘Oh, well, never mind then. It was worth a try.’ She smiled in return. ‘I reckon he’d have frightened me to death, anyway. I hope you get on all right.’

Esther was taken aback by her friendliness. The girl was not in the least resentful that Esther had taken what might have been her job.

‘What’s your name?’ she asked as the girl half-turned to go.