He found the perfect spot after a while, a crystal clear stream bordered by thick grass verges where the only company was the twittering of the birds in the trees overhead. He had a long drink of the icy cold water first and once his thirst was sated he stripped off all his clothes, washing himself from his head to his feet and then seeing to his boots. Once they were clean he brushed any debris from his clothes and pulled on his shirt and trousers, leaving his jacket and cap with his boots which were drying.

The sun was still hot and the grass was warm and scented with a hundred flowers, and as he lay stretched out the only thought in his head was how he was going to find Rose and Betsy now. But find them he would. However long it took, he would keep looking. She’d done the dirty on him with the miller and she had to pay for that, but after he’d taken it out of her hide and she was crawling at his feet, he’d make an honest woman of her. She didn’t deserve it and some might say he was barmy, but he had to have her. Until he had her where he wanted her he’d know no rest.

It was thick twilight when he awoke and for a moment he wondered where he was before the events of the day came flooding back. He sat up, reaching for his jacket and cap and then pulling his now dry boots on. He felt no remorse about the miller’s lad, nor would he.

Standing up, he realized he was hungry. He’d go back to the inn and have a meal and spend another night there, he decided, and he knew he wouldn’t be sleeping alone. The barmaid had made it plain the night before that he only had to lift his little finger and she would oblige, and she’d been a pert piece. Aye, he’d have his fill of her tonight and then head for home in the morning and get back to work, but that didn’t mean he’d given up. Far from it. Rose was still here in the North East somewhere, he felt it in his bones. Sooner or later he would come across her. He might even get a bit of money behind him and travel round looking for her – he could work his way when he had to. He was young and strong and Sunderland held nothing for him.