‘Aye, they said they are going to use grappling irons to fetch any more up.’

‘It is simply too awful. But now there is an errand I must attend to this afternoon. Call me a carriage, will you, as soon as possible. And Mrs Baxter, ask Miss Graham to keep the children occupied until I return.’

‘Do you need to be accompanied? You’re not usually out on a Sunday afternoon.’

‘No, Baxter, I shall be fine alone.’ Ann saw Mrs Baxter raise an eyebrow at her husband as she turned and headed for the stairs.

* * *

‘Lochee? Where about?’ The driver stood at the carriage door, his cap in hand.

‘Just drive towards Lochee Road. I shall tell you when to stop.’

‘Are you sure it’s Lochee you want to go? Not a usual place for a lady.’

‘That is where I wish you to take me. Now drive on!’

Ann sat back and arranged her moss-green cloak. She wore a modest black felt hat; nothing fancy was required for this outing. Pulling back the curtain, she peered out through the frosted glass. They turned left onto Perth Road then right along the Hawkhill. Though a mere ten minutes’ drive from her splendid house, the tenement buildings here were some of the worst in the city. Those with two storeys still had rickety outside stairs leading to the top floor. The newer tenements were taller, with dark inner staircases and dingy passages that were filthy.

The carriage turned a corner and trundled along West Henderson Wynd. On the right was a jute mill, then another, and then Ann could see her husband’s mill. Built in creamy grey stone from the Angus quarries, there was a hint of red in it when the sun shone. The snow-capped roofs were peaked and the windows long and rectangular. She shivered as she passed it, thinking of the last time she had been up this road, only a couple of months ago, when that poor mill worker was killed. Robert had insisted she accompany him to inform the girl’s parents. When she protested, he had told her that his manager, Alfred Johnston, was off that day burying his mother and that he expected her, as his wife, to attend to her charitable duties.