Charlotte ignored her, and within a moment, Anne knew why. Mr. Nicholls emerged from Papa’s study, smoothing down his wild hair and straightening his cravat. Ever so slowly Anne leant back on the sofa, better to covertly observe her sister and the curate through the narrow gap in the door.

“Charlotte, I know what you must think of me,” Mr. Nicholls said. “I promise you I would not have let your father come to harm.”

“I know you would not.”

Anne’s eyebrows rose as she watched her sister take a step closer to Not-Her-Mr.-Nicholls.

“Sir, you need not apologise for being a man of peace and a good man. We visited with the Sladden sisters just this past hour, and I learnt from Miss Rose Sladden of your great kindness, compassion and discretion towards them. I wanted to thank you for bringing those women into the parish, despite their difficulties.”

“It is no more or less than any of the people of this parish deserve,” Mr. Nicholls said, his voice a little raw, as if he had been caught off guard by emotion. Perhaps there were hidden depths to Arthur after all.

“Mr. Nicholls,” Anne heard Charlotte say, “will you fetch my brother, bring him home and stay close to us? We will need you both to swell our number this night if we are to find Joseph safe and well.”

“I would do anything for you,” Mr. Nicholls said, “and for your family, of course, Miss Brontë.”

“Thank you, sir,” Charlotte said.

There was one more moment when Anne could not precisely see, but she suspected it was filled with Mr. Nicholls’s longing gaze.

“Well, you’d better be off, then.”

A moment later the front door closed, and Charlotte came in and took a seat at the table, followed by Emily.

“Right, to the matter in hand,” Emily said, catching a little late the way Anne was looking at Charlotte.

“What has happened?” Emily asked Anne. “Has Charlotte fallen in love again?”

“We are dealing with a most serious matter; a life hangs in the balance, and you and Anne wish to behave like foolish girls?” Charlotte said crossly.

“Charlotte is quite right,” Anne said, full of reproach. “Nothing happened, Emily, save for Charlotte sharing a rather tender moment with her Mr. Nicholls.”

“He is not . . .”

“To the matter in hand,” Emily said. “For Charlotte is right, we must find Joseph tonight.”

“Emily, you told the crowd that we had proof and that we knew who held Joseph,” Anne said, “but the only proof we have is that the monster both harmed the Top Withens child and took Joseph. We still cannot be sure who it is.”