He had hammered on the door again before she could unlock it, and as she opened it he pushed past her so roughly he almost unbalanced her in the process. ‘What the hell is this?’ He brandished a card in her face. ‘What do you think you’re playing at? Are you trying to make me mad or what?’

She stared in shock. The handsome face was puce with rage and he was shaking.

‘Well?’ He glared at her. ‘Answer me.’

She was totally taken aback but her body was like a ramrod now at his tone. She took the card from him without speaking and saw it was one of the advertisements she’d placed in the shop windows. Her voice cold, she said, ‘I would have thought it is quite obvious what this is.’

‘Don’t take that tack with me.’

Now she was glaring back but aware of Betsy in her highchair she kept her voice low as she said, ‘Would you please leave, Nat.’

‘The hell I will.’ He grabbed the card from her and tore it in two, throwing it on the floor. ‘A lodger!’ He spat the word. ‘You alone in this house with a lodger, you must be mad.’

‘I am not mad and as it happens I intend to have four lodgers.’ She was trembling inside and hoped it didn’t sound in her voice. ‘How else do you think I am going to maintain this house and feed us both?’

‘Not by prostituting yourself.’

‘What did you say?’ Her nails were digging into the palms of her hands and her breath hissed through her teeth as she said, ‘How dare you.’

‘Oh, I dare, Rose. I dare, and I tell you something else, there is no way another man is coming over this threshold and into your bed, let alone four of the beggars.’

He must be deranged. The thought came and it actually moderated her reply as she said, ‘I am talking about taking in four lodgers who will be sleeping in the front room and Betsy’s old room, and that is all. Betsy and I will be in my room.’

‘Don’t be so naive. Looking like you do they’ll eat you alive.’

‘Lots of folk take in a lodger or two—’

‘You’re not lots of folk.’ He took a deep breath, visibly attempting to gain control. ‘Look, I’ve already told you I’ll look after you and the bairn, haven’t I?’

‘You can’t, you must see that? You’ve been very kind since Davey died, but I have to find some way of paying the rent and making ends meet.’

‘I’ll see to all that.’

Again she said, ‘You can’t. You’ve got your own life to live and—’