It was the last word that did it. With a sound like a snarl Nathaniel had his hands round the youth’s throat, squeezing for all he was worth. They fell to the ground, the lad squirming and trying to claw at the hands strangling the life out of him, but Nathaniel was tall and strong with muscles like steel and the rage that had him in its grip made him twice as powerful.

It was over in a couple of minutes and as everything became still the morning was full of birdsong. Nathaniel sat back on his heels, staring at the lad’s bulging eyes and protruding tongue. Part of him was aware that it was Rose he had been throttling but at the same time he hadn’t been able to bear hearing her spoken about in that way. This scum had deserved all he’d got.

The red mist before his eyes was gone now and with it the roaring in his ears. He glanced about him, self-preservation kicking in. Who knew he had been coming here today? He hadn’t mentioned it to anyone at the inn last night, had he? He cast his mind back, thinking about the meal and drinks he’d had before he’d gone to bed. No, he’d had a bit of banter with the barmaid when she’d served his meat pie but that was all. There was the old fellow he’d spoken to who’d told him about the mill but he was a couple of miles away and as deaf as a post; he’d had to shout his head off to make the old man understand.

He stood up slowly, his brain racing. He had to hide the body somewhere it wouldn’t be found for a good while, if ever. Young lads were always taking off for pastures new and by the sound of it this one had lost his job at the mill.

He could let the river take him? No, what if the body caught in weeds or debris not far from here? He’d have to move it somewhere and bury it in a hole deep enough for animals not to dig it out.

Striding into the mill, he looked about him but there was no spade or fork to hand. Exiting quickly, he glanced towards the house some distance away and, running now, he sped towards it. When he reached the building he found the front door was locked but glancing across the yard he saw, to his great relief, a couple of old spades leaning against the wall of the brick-built privy which had probably been used to clear the muck from inside to take it elsewhere.

Panting, he grabbed the better spade and ran back to the mill. The lad had said that the constable would be coming back at some point and the last thing he needed was to come face to face with the law.