‘I want you, Rose. And I will have you, make no mistake about that. I won’t let anyone or anything stand in my way.’

Part of her couldn’t believe this was happening; the other part was saying she had always known there was something fundamentally wrong with him, something deep and dangerous. She believed him when he said he could have any number of lassies. Davey had always said they flocked round Nat like bees to a honeypot, so why was he so determined to have her? She didn’t believe he loved her; love didn’t threaten and intimidate the object of its affections or try to use force.

Betsy’s cries had reached a new pitch and now she said, ‘I want to see to my daughter, Nat, and I’ll ask you again, please leave.’

‘All right, I’ll go.’ He stood facing her, tall and handsome and still amazingly sure of himself as he said, ‘But I’ll be back and in the meantime think about what I’ve said because I mean every word. We’re young, we’ve got the whole of the rest of our lives before us and I can love you as you’ve never been loved. We’ll move down South away from here and everyone who knows us and make a new life – no one need know Betsy isn’t mine. We can be a family and when more bairns come she’ll have brothers and sisters to play with.’

Rose felt her stomach pulling itself tight as if away from something unclean. ‘Davey will always be Betsy’s da.’

The blue eyes flickered but all he said was, ‘We’ll see.’

She watched him as he walked to the door but remained quite still, and when he opened it he turned, saying, ‘The path’s all mapped out, Rose, and if you know what’s good for you, you won’t try and fight me and make me angry again. Most women would be down on their bended knees thanking me for what I’m offering you, think on that.’

When the door shut she watched him from the window and once the tall figure had turned into the back lane she dropped the knife into the sink and flew to the door, locking and bolting it with shaking hands before hurrying across to Betsy and lifting her out of the highchair. The baby’s face was red and wet with her tears, and as she cradled the little body against her, Rose began to pray. ‘Help me, God, help me, show me what to do. Please, please, show me what to do . . .’

Chapter Six