The three of them sat down, and Nathaniel launched into his explanation of wronged husband once more. ‘I had no idea that Rose was going to take it into her head to run off,’ he finished after a minute or two. ‘You can imagine my shock when I came home from work to find her gone without a note or anything to explain. I was beside myself.’

He had taken off his cap and ran his hand through his thick fair hair in a gesture of frustration, his blue eyes holding Beattie’s. She swallowed and nodded sympathetically.

‘All I want to do is to find her and my child and bring them home so we can put all this behind us. I want to make her happy, Mrs Harper. Can you understand that?’

Hubert thought his sister was going to swoon.

‘But of course I have to find her first and I wondered if there was anything at all you could tell me that would help?’

‘I would if I could, Mr Alridge, but Mary – Rose – didn’t say where she was bound for, merely that it was in the country. How far away I don’t know, but I wouldn’t think it would be too many miles because the miller came to pick up her things in a horse and cart.’

‘The miller?’ said Nathaniel quietly, his heart beating faster. ‘She was going to work for a miller?’

‘Yes, that’s right. For a miller and his elderly parents I understood, as their housekeeper. The mother was getting too old to keep house and they needed help. From what I saw of the miller he was no spring chicken so I dare say his parents would have been in their seventies, perhaps older.’

How many mills could there be in this neck of the woods? Nathaniel thought, his spirits soaring. However many there were, it wasn’t like residential properties. He’d find her, no doubt about that. It might take some time but he’d find her. He rose to his feet, smiling as he said, ‘Thank you, Mrs Harper. You’ve been a great help and I won’t keep you any longer.’

Beattie was all smiles as she saw them out, and once in the street Nathaniel turned to Hubert. ‘Thanks again for your help. It’s narrowed down the search somewhat. I don’t suppose you know of any mills not far from here?’