“Though it is a stay rather than a reprieve, I am glad to hear it.” Anne smiled.

“It gladdens my heart to know of your concern, Miss Anne, but you have no need to worry on my account. When I was a child, my father was a man to be feared, but now I am a man grown, and he knows it. He will bluster and bully me, but he can beat me no longer without expecting such an attack to be returned in kind, though I would never willingly hurt him, and he knows that.”

“You are indeed a very fine young man,” Emily said, casting her younger sister a long sideways glance. “Liston, will it be well for us to look at the room once again and to ask you, and perhaps Bess, some other questions about that time? We are doing our best to try to identify the child in the hopes that we might be able to find a family to mourn them, or at least a name to add to the headstone.”

“Of course, Miss Emily. I will do anything I can to help you and Miss Anne,” Liston said eagerly. “I expect you remember the way to my mother’s room, but let me guide you anyway. That way we may avoid the creaking board and stuck doors that may wake my father from his slumber, for though I have nothing to fear from him, I do not wish you to have to bear witness to his foul demeanour.”

They followed Liston to that old disused part of the house, falling silently into step behind him as they navigated through shadows and dust-buried memories to find their way back to the shuttered room. Once outside Liston hesitated, suddenly looking very young and vulnerable, as a great sadness settled over him rather like a cloak. Emily supposed that he must have felt very alone in the world without even a sister or brother to lean on.

“Miss Emily, Miss Anne,” he said, his voice low and quiet, “if it is well with you, I would rather not see that sad room again.” He lowered his chin so that his shock of black hair fell over his eyes. “I’m sure you think me very foolish for taking on so, but I cannot face it.”

“Of course we do not,” Anne said before Emily could reply. “Everything you say makes perfect sense.”

“Take this candle, and I will return shortly to collect you, then,” Liston said, bowing rather awkwardly before leaving at the pace of a man who didn’t want to be caught in a moment of emotion.

“I believe you are rather taken with young Mr. Bradshaw,” Emily said, raising an eyebrow. “Have a care, Anne.”