Once home again and with the door locked and bolted, she had sat feeling totally spent, her thoughts racing. She had no doubts about leaving the town. Vera’s visit had only strengthened her determination to put as much distance between Nathaniel and herself and Davey’s family as she could, but it was the sequence of events she had to get clear in her mind. Mr Todd was coming to the house at eight o’clock in the morning on the day they’d arranged, and he was bringing his horse and cart and an assistant. She needed to be packed and ready to leave, for the sooner she could catch the train into Gateshead and find somewhere to stay, the better. Once he had paid her she could leave the key with him and go; he could drop it in to Mrs McKenzie as he left. One thing was for sure, Nathaniel mustn’t find out what she was about to do.

He came just after six o’clock. She had fed Betsy, who was now sitting in her highchair playing with her rattle, but had been unable to eat anything herself, her stomach feeling out of sorts. As she opened the door he smiled his charming, boyish smile and it crossed her mind that no one would believe her if she told them how he’d been with her the night before.

‘Here.’ He handed her a box of chocolates tied with a pretty ribbon. ‘A peace offering.’

She forced a smile. ‘You didn’t have to do that.’ She had been rehearsing what to say but now he was here it was harder to follow through.

‘I wanted to. I like buying you things.’ His smile widened. He hadn’t known what to expect tonight but she was more reasonable than he’d hoped. He’d admitted to himself that he hadn’t handled things well the day before but she had provoked him with this ridiculous notion of taking in lodgers. He’d had to make it clear he wouldn’t tolerate it. ‘Can I come in?’

‘Of course.’ She stood aside and watched him as he sauntered across to Betsy, his hand resting on the baby’s downy hair for a moment before he turned to face her. Everything in her wanted to snatch Betsy up so he couldn’t touch her again, but she kept her face smiling and her voice calm as she said, ‘About yesterday?’

Before she could continue he held his hands up, palms facing her. ‘I didn’t want to get angry with you, Rose. Do you understand that? But you must see that men coming into this house isn’t an option? Like I said, if you feel you want a lodger I’ll move in and we’ll sort something out, but regardless of that I’m not going to let you and Betsy starve, now am I?’