Rose nodded. ‘My husband met with an accident and I decided to move to Consett for a new start. I – I intend to have a market stall once I’m settled. I’m – I’m a cook.’ This last was pushing the truth a little but Mr Hartley didn’t look too impressed by her. ‘I have enough money to pay for however many weeks you want in advance,’ she added hastily, ‘and Mr Croft said to tell you he would vouch for me. I wouldn’t leave owing you anything and—’

‘Hold your horses, lass.’ He smiled kindly now. ‘I take it Wilbur told you what them blighters did? Me own fault, though. I didn’t take to ’em from the start and I should have trusted me instincts. This’ – he tapped the side of his rather large nose – ‘never lets me down.’

Rose didn’t know what to say but then as he looked down at Betsy and said, ‘And what’s your name, hinny?’ the little girl buried her face in her mother’s skirt. ‘This is Betsy and I’m Rose, Rose O’Leary.’

‘Well, Mrs O’Leary, the house in question is in Park Street, two-up, two-down and the rent’s three bob a week. Dare say I could show you it later if you’ve a mind? The wife’s out at her sister’s now but she won’t be long. Shall we say twelve o’clock?’

She remembered Park Street was close to the market that she and Amy had stopped at the day before. Her voice eager, she said, ‘Thank you. Thank you very much, Mr Hartley.’

‘Don’t thank me yet, lass. It might not suit.’ He reached into a glass jar on the counter and pulled out a small rainbow-coloured lollipop. ‘Here, hinny.’ Bending over the counter, he passed it to Betsy, who took it with a shy ‘Thank you’.