The back door of the Elands’ cottage had opened to Kate’s knock. Beth stood there, her eyes red and swollen. Kate threw herself against the older woman, her arms clasped around Beth’s thickening waist, and buried her head against the comforting bosom. She could feel Beth trembling.

‘Oh Katie, Katie, can you ever forgive me?’

Kate lifted her head and looked into the older woman’s face. She didn’t know what to say.

Gently, Beth steered Kate towards the range. She sat down in the chair while Kate sank down on to the rug, her head resting against the older woman’s knees. For a long moment Beth stared into the flames and then, in her soft voice, she began, haltingly, to explain. As the memories, both happy and sad, came flooding back, her voice became stronger.

‘I loved Matthew,’ Beth began simply, ‘I think I always had – right from a child . . .’

Like me and Danny, Kate thought bitterly, but she remained silent.

‘ . . . Even though he was a bit of a flirt . . .’ A fond smile curved Beth’s mouth. It was a kinder judgment than Robert Eland had given to Danny, and despite all the unhappiness that flirting had caused, Beth still loved Matthew enough to forgive him.

‘When Esther arrived at Sam Brumby’s farm – well – it was in his nature to try his luck with her. She was a very pretty girl and so fiery, she was a challenge to him. He could never resist a challenge.’

Kate looked up. ‘How d’you mean?’

‘For a time, Esther would have none of him, but the more she held him off, the more he wanted her.’ Beth’s voice dropped to a whisper as she admitted, ‘That’s where I made my mistake . . .’

Kate pressed her cheek closer to Beth’s knee but could think of nothing to say.

‘She wouldn’t give in to him, told him she wouldn’t give in to him – nor to any man – till she was wed.’

Kate was silent, knowing all this must have been true. It was her mother’s strict code of life – it still was! ‘Ya don’t give ya’sen to a man till you’ve a wedding ring on ya finger, girl,’ she’d told Kate repeatedly. ‘Dun’t ever bring a bastard into the world!’

Beth was sighing softly, but continuing. ‘Then Sam Brumby died and – to be fair – I don’t think ya mam had anywhere else to go.’

‘What about me grandad? Why couldn’t she go to him?’

Beth looked down at Kate’s upturned face. ‘Ya’ll have to ask ya mam about that, lovey . . .’

‘She won’t tell me anything.’

‘Well, perhaps ya grandad, then. Maybe – maybe he’s the one to ask.’

Yes, Kate thought grimly, she would certainly have some questions to ask her grandfather. Intuitively she knew that there was more to all this than even Beth Eland was telling her.