Kate scrambled up and began to back away from him. Her heart was pounding and at once she was poised on her toes ready for flight. But the man’s tone was friendly. ‘Don’t be afraid. I won’t harm you – or be angry. I just wondered – I mean – are you all right? Shouldn’t you be going home?’

‘Yes,’ Kate replied firmly, although he could not fully understand the meaning behind her words. ‘That’s exactly where I should be – home!’

‘Then why . . .?’

‘I dun’t know which way it is. At least – I know I need to go east, towards the . . .’ she stopped. She had been going to say ‘towards the sea’, but perhaps the old man would question that. It was a long way to the sea. Kate took a deep breath and said, ‘I came to Evensong,’ which was the truth but not the whole truth,’ and when I came out, I didn’t know which way to go. So, I was waiting for the stars to come out so I could see the North Star and then I’d know.’

The old man chuckled. ‘You seem a very knowledgeable young lady. Finding your way by the stars, eh? Well, well, I never did.’

‘Danny,’ the very mention of his name brought a lump to her throat, ‘he’s my friend – he taught me.’

‘Did he indeed?’ The elderly man glanced upwards into the darkening sky. ‘Well, my dear, it’s very cloudy tonight. It looks like rain. I don’t think you’re going to see the stars at all tonight.’

Kate tipped her head backwards, feeling the jagged edges of her newly cropped hair against her neck. She sighed. He was right – there would be neither moon nor stars this night.

She looked back again at the old man. ‘Do you know which way is east?’ she ventured.

The man nodded. ‘Yes, my dear. In fact I’ll take you and set you on your way. Once on the road, you just keep straight on.’

They fell into step together and he continued, ‘All the main roads which lead into Lincoln were originally built by the Romans and they all lead straight and true towards the cathedral. Now here we are, this will lead you to Wragby Road.’ He glanced down at her. ‘Is that the one you want?’

Kate hesitated, not wanting to tell the old gentleman a deliberate lie. ‘I’m trying to get to Suddaby . . .’

‘Suddaby? Why that’s miles away . . .’

Kate knew a moment’s fear. She’d made a mistake, but she’d had to take the risk to find out the right road.

‘Me grandad lives there, he’ll be meeting me,’ she told him, silently begging forgiveness for the small lie.

‘But you have no coat. I really don’t like to think of a young girl like you walking all that way alone and in the dark. Won’t you . . .?’