When I mentioned Miss Lister’s suggestion of a visit to Doctor Belcome to Mrs Priestley, she tells me he is brother to Mrs Lawton; Miss Lister’s friend Mariana. The way she said her name made me think Miss Lister was very close to her. Mrs Priestley is innocent of Miss Lister’s real desires, so would think nothing of it – but I feel a pang of jealousy. Who was Mrs Lawton to her?

I attend the usual family gatherings over Christmas but whilst there think about the Listers and wish I was with them at Shibden. I bravely smile and dance and have enough wine to keep my spirits up and face my family, all gossiping about my new friend, asking when am I to be wed and what the Listers are like? Elizabeth and the children come down from Scotland, which brings such relief and company for me, but he is with them too. He gets drunk and offends Mr Priestley and looks at me with leering eyes. I hide in the drawing room with Elizabeth and the children until his dominating presence appears and claims her, and I am left with warm wine and sleeping children in my arms. The rest of the house is filled with laughter and merriment and all I want is to be with Miss Lister. Thankfully she says she will come over on New Year’s Eve and keep me company once this annual family pother is over with.

Miss Lister

On New Year’s Eve, despite the cold outside and the cold creeping around my heart, I find myself wishing my family a happy New Year early and take the carriage over to Crow Nest as I promised her I would. I’m not sure why I am bothering. My beloved Moss House has been a single-person dwelling these last few weeks.

However, not long after my arrival when we are ensconced in her living room, her servants forget their role to knock on the door and announce guests, and so our dear friend, Mrs Priestley, who has come to offer good tidings for the New Year, swans straight in and catches us in each other’s arms.

I jump up by the fire, but Miss Walker is red. None of us know what to say and I am not sure how long she has been stood there, watching. After a few moments of silence, Mrs Priestley turns and leaves.