Next, three pairs of britches, his undershirts and vests.

He could not stay in the same town that contained Harriet, knowing she had agreed to marry the man who was responsible for the scars that covered his back. He couldn’t face her betrayal.

A purse, bulging with coins, many more than would be required to refill the housekeeping jar he’d raided all that time ago when he stole away as the sun rose behind him. He tossed this into the top of the valise for easy access. He had a train fare to pay, would need coins for the coach ride at the other end, and didn’t want to be fishing around inside the bag. Silas then closed the valise, picked it up, and left the room without a backward glance.

He was travelling light, if he didn’t count his heart.

Chapter 44

Mr Boothby arrived with a trunk for Harriet to pack her clothes into. He produced, with a flourish, a purse of coins for Adam who was leaving within the hour for boarding school and packets of sweets for the younger boys, who were to pass into Sadie’s care when she was promoted to housekeeper and moved into Harriet’s room, at Mr Boothby’s expense, an offer he had qualified with ‘for now’. He consoled Harriet as she wept on the doorstep, waving an equally tearful Adam off, promising they would all be together again at Christmas. He patted her waist and said he hoped she would be growing him a son by then. Harriet hoped for this, too, and said so. She told herself it was a boon that they both wanted children. This shared goal was enough of a basis for a marriage, for her transition from one secure life to another. She would honour and obey, and perhaps love would grow over time. Her feelings for Silas were girlish, romantic nonsense. She had recently celebrated her twenty-fourth birthday and should act like the grown woman she was. This is what she told herself.

‘That went off very well,’ he said, rubbing his hands. ‘I shall not see you for supper tonight, Harriet.’ He handed her the newspaper that had just been delivered. ‘However, I do have a little job for you.’

‘A job?’ She felt her spirits lift. ‘I thoroughly enjoyed my time at the town hall. I believe I have an aptitude for…’

‘Hmm? I’d like you to peruse the entertainments column of this publication.’

‘Entertainments?’

‘Select an event I might take a prospective new business partner.’

‘New business partner?’

‘Must you echo everything I say?’

She followed him into the kitchen where Sadie was building the fire.

‘Sadie, a pot of tea and a round of sandwiches if you please,’ he said.

Sadie bobbed. ‘Yes, sir.’

Harriet stared at her. Had Sadie really just curtsied? She spread the newspaper on the kitchen table, wondering what a new business partner meant for the future of Boothby, Simpson and Sons, and whether her brother, who held Walter’s interest, knew about this. James had recently written to Polly to inform her he was now in a strong enough financial position to support a family of his own and had found a fiancée. He had assured Polly he would honour his obligations to Walter’s widow and dependents. Unspoken was the assumption that Harriet would soon be another man’s responsibility. Should she tell him about Albert’s plan to bring someone else into the business? She was sure she would be scolded for interfering in the business affairs of men.