‘So he’s from your neck of the woods, Mr Leather,’ said the chairman. ‘And Mr Gunson is a clever gentleman with a modest disposition, there is no doubt. But did he make a mistake, as the coroner claims? Is he still making them? You are aware that the town wants this company and will look for any excuse. The damned council think they can run all this better than we do. We have to protect our shareholders. Have you seen the share price? It’s plummeted.’ There was a beat of silence. ‘And the people. We are for the people too, of course. I must show you our plans for the public baths. We’ll be subsidising that, offering exceptionally generous terms…’

Gunson rapped gently on the door.

‘Yes, who’s there? Come in.’

He entered and carefully closed the door behind him. Both men were standing by the window, silhouettes against the light behind and he couldn’t make out the expressions on their shadowed faces.

He remained by the door. ‘Gentlemen. No mistakes were made in the creation of Dale Dyke. The design was not defective nor were the engineering principles unsound.’ He waited for Mr Leather’s nod of assent. ‘The collapse was not due to bad workmanship and I would—’

The chairman interrupted. ‘The future of our company depends upon convincing the jury that we are not culpable in this terrible disaster.’

‘Yes,’ said Gunson patiently. ‘And to that end I wish to be recalled. I have some new evidence. I believe it will exonerate us from blame.’

Chapter 22

Harriet hopped down from Mr Boothby’s curricle and hurried inside, happily unaccompanied. It had been pouring with rain when they crossed Lady’s Bridge, the deserted workings barely visible. There were few pedestrians and none of them showed the unnamed youth’s face.

‘Are the works to repair the bridge almost complete?’ she had asked lightly.

‘I believe so,’ said Mr Boothby absently. ‘It is a small job only.’ He chuckled. ‘I can tell you that business is booming for Boothby, Simpson and Sons. We did a grand job flattening all those ruined cottages in Malin Bridge and I have men all over the town now, building new dwellings. There’s a great demand, and not just from the flood. The town is growing quickly, and so are we. Here we are. I’ll return at five, Miss Wragg.’ He paused. ‘I wonder whether you and your uncle will agree to dine with me tonight?’

Harriet forced the corners of her mouth down in a show of disappointment. ‘I should not leave my aunt alone so soon. I’m sure Uncle Walter will be agreeable.’

Her uncle, she thought, would be glad to escape the house. We must not wallow in our grief, he had told her the day before when he came across her sobbing over a piece of Alice’s sewing and the heartbreakingly messy stitches. We must forge on, he’d scolded. Her uncle’s mood was the mood of the town. Foreigners from the surrounding counties and even as far away as London continued to trickle in to visit the site of the disaster and marvel over the charm of the rugged hills that encircled the town. They also complained about the stink of the smoke-filled basin and the rabbit warren of streets. The locals shrugged. Industry equalled money and money put food on the table and clothes on their backs. ‘We must put it behind us.’ Walter coughed.