They ran back to the house ahead of her and were fighting over who would be first to pet the dog when she caught up with them. She shooed them upstairs to tell their mother that cousin Harriet was taking them on a jaunt and eased her Wellingtons off, massaging her foot to ease a painful cramp. She closeted herself in her bedroom, sitting on the edge of her bed to think carefully about what she was about to attempt. Her stomach contracted whenever she thought about what she was going to do, and then she reminded herself where Silas was, and where he might end up if she did not act. She would need to consider what outfit would best serve her needs.

She picked out a day dress in fawn-coloured satin, the high neckline trimmed with a thin collar of black braid that matched the seaming on the bodice and full skirt. The matching bonnet was wide-brimmed in the old style, the better to shield her face from prying eyes. At the mirror in the hallway, shouting to the boys to hurry, hurry, she threaded the red velvet ribbon Silas had bought for her into the bonnet and surveyed herself critically. Her outfit was simple, understated, serious, the treasured ribbon the only splash of colour. She was ready.

‘I’ll be back by teatime,’ she told Sadie, who had appeared at the end of the corridor that led to the kitchen. ‘Tell my aunt I’ll bring her back some of those sugar mice she loves.’

The boys were waiting for her in the porch, tumbling and yapping like puppies. The walk would do them good. Harriet stopped, tears springing to her eyes. Alice should be running to join her brothers, her pink calfskin boots thumping on the polished floorboards, Adam should be reaching for his little sister’s hand and bending to kiss the top of her head. Harriet felt her lips moved soundlessly, ‘Be careful not to slip, my love.’ She blinked her tears away and Alice’s apparition with them.

They walked to Penistone Road. From there, Harriet would take the horse-drawn omnibus into town.

Louisa nodded tersely at Harriet when she opened the door.

‘To what do I owe the honour?’ She cocked her head and raised a knowing eyebrow. So she knew about Silas.

Harriet smiled desperately. ‘News travels fast in this town. Please, Louisa, I had to bring the boys for an excuse to get out, but I can’t take them where I’m going. I’m not sure how long I’ll be. I’m going to try to help Silas.’

‘Tha’d better get theesen off then.’ The coolness in Louisa’s voice was wounding.

‘Louisa…’

‘He shouldn’t involve himsen wi’ people like thee. He’s likely to get trampled on.’

‘Louisa, none of this was my doing.’ She didn’t believe her own words. She could have prevented Silas from entering the house, if she had really wanted to. ‘I’ll do my best.’

Louisa softened. ‘That’s all tha can do, I suppose.’