‘Silas, you’re getting soaked! Come under the umbrella. I took the omnibus here and a smelly old fellow fell fast asleep beside me. I had to keep nudging him away. Like this.’

She elbowed him, laughing, and then offered the umbrella. He took hold of the smooth curved handle that reminded him of a shepherd’s crook. The crow-black shade enveloped them.

Harriet continued to chatter, but Silas was aware only of the electric pressure of her fingers curled in the crook of his elbow, all his other senses overcome. Her pale cheeks were flushed with colour, and he wondered if he was having the same effect on her that she had on him. He hoped so.

‘… and I’m not sure my uncle would approve of me meeting you, and at the King’s Arms of all places…’

‘Aye, well, that’s why I waited outside for thee.’

‘… but I have told him that I occasionally visit with Louisa in her cottage off Penistone Road and if I happen to stumble into a friend en route, well I could argue that’s better than being abroad alone, couldn’t I?’

‘He dun’t like me, does he?’

‘It’s not that.’ Now it was her turn to frown. She spoke the next words carefully. ‘He’s embarrassed that you caught him in a lie… and he thinks it wrong for a… for someone of your… for you to develop a friendship with me.’

‘A friendship? Is that all?’

‘He thinks you have designs on me.’ She was blushing.

‘He’s right about that. I do have designs,’ said Silas. ‘I am smitten.’ He laughed to lessen the import of his words and struck his chest. ‘Smitten right ’ere.’

‘Are you really?’

‘Smitten?’ He smiled. ‘Yep.’

‘I like that.’

It took a few more steps along the road before he could screw up his courage to ask, ‘What about me? D’you like me, an’ all?’

‘You’re very forward, aren’t you?’

He basked in the glow of her smile. ‘Do you, though?’

‘A lady never tells.’

But she cut her eyes at him and his heart soared.

‘So this friend we’re visitin’, tell us about her.’

‘Well, she was our maid, but she got caught in the flood and is still recuperating. She lives with her mother, who’s called Millicent, and is a housekeeper for a gentleman in town, but has moved out to look after Lou. Is that enough information?’

‘Aye, I suppose. Is she a looker like thee, this Lou?’

‘Silas!’

She steered him off the main road where a water pump sat at the top of a long, sloping lane between two rows of terraced cottages.

‘They’re about halfway down,’ said Harriet. ‘Oh!’ She tightened her grip on his arm. ‘These cobbles. I wish the rain would stop.’

‘Hope Lou’s got the kettle on.’

When they reached the low doorframe of the cottage, Harriet didn’t knock, but simply lifted the latch and walked in. Silas folded the umbrella, squared his shoulders and ducked inside, knowing he’d be in for some scrutiny from this friend of Harriet’s. He had a moment to register the warmth of the room and the sour smell of coalsmoke, and then, in a blur of movement, a black and white bundle of fur and teeth leapt at him.