Quietly, he said, ‘It’s not a question of having to, I want to.’ And when she looked as though she was going to protest further, he held up his hand. ‘Davey would have expected me to see to you and the bairn, Rose. You know he would.’

She stood biting her lip but she couldn’t argue with what she knew was the truth. Instead she said, ‘There is one thing you could do, if you wouldn’t mind? His mam an’ da will need to be told and you know how things stand with them and me.’

Nathaniel nodded. ‘Of course.’

‘And – and thank you for coming with the foreman to break the news.’

‘He was my best pal, of course I’d come.’

The words were respectful and full of concern, but as she raised her head and met his eyes just for a moment she caught something in his gaze that made her freeze. She had seen it before on occasion when she’d caught him off guard, a hunger, an almost ravenous flash of something dark that made her feel as though he was stripping the clothes from her body where she stood and seeing her naked. It was gone in an instant as his lids veiled his eyes, and when he looked at her again the sapphire blue gaze was clear and friendly, but this time she was more sure than ever that she hadn’t imagined it. The very first time she had met him nearly two years ago she’d glimpsed it. It had been enough to unnerve and unsettle her even though he’d never put a foot wrong or said a word out of place. Suddenly she couldn’t wait to get him out of the house, her voice feverish as she muttered, ‘I must see to Betsy, she’s due a feed,’ as she walked past him and opened the back door.

‘I’ll see you later then and I’m sorry, I’m so sorry, Rose.’

He was still talking as she shut the door after he’d stepped into the yard, and for a moment she stood with her back to it, breathing deeply. And then the knowledge that Davey was dead, that their life together was gone and all the plans they’d made for the future were as nothing swept over her anew. She fell to her knees, clutching Betsy tightly against her breast, and as the tears choked her and Betsy began to cry it was as though an abyss had opened at her feet and she was falling into it.

Chapter Four

The funeral was over. It had been a good turnout, someone had said, considering it was Christmas Eve.