They passed a market on the way to Steel Street and Rose stopped at one stall to buy some teacakes to take to Daisy’s, and a big round oat biscuit for Betsy to eat as they walked. The child had a couple of mouthfuls and then handed most of the biscuit to her mother, frowning as she said, ‘Don’t like.’

It was unusual for Betsy to refuse anything and Rose took a tentative bite herself, only to grimace in disgust. Amy tried it and shook her head. ‘They’ve added too much chalk.’

‘Chalk?’

‘Oh aye, add some chalk to the flour and it goes further. What are the teacakes like?’

Rose broke one in half, giving some to Amy and popping a morsel in her own mouth. They were nothing like the teacakes she made.

‘Not too bad,’ said Amy, ‘not like the biscuit.’

‘I think they’re awful.’ Rose looked down at the bag. ‘Do you think Daisy will want them?’

‘Oh aye, with three little’uns. The thing is, you can never be sure what you’re getting at the market. Some of the stallholders take shortcuts if you know what I mean, ’cause their stuff has to be cheaper than the shops. Gives ’em more profit.’

‘But not if folk don’t go back to them. I wouldn’t go back to that stall, would you?’

Amy shrugged. ‘Depends how hungry folk are, I suppose.’

‘Just because they can’t afford shop prices they shouldn’t get poor quality.’

Amy giggled. ‘Hark at you, beating the drum. Perhaps you ought to set up a stall, lass, eh?’

It was meant as a joke, but as Amy spoke it was as though a light had gone on in Rose’s mind. Davey had always gone on about how good her food was and that she knew how to cook a piece of brisket so it tasted like best steak and how to make delicious broths and stews with mediocre ingredients. Her cakes and scones and gingerbread were a patch above, too, if she did say so herself. She had money sitting in the bank, she could use some of that to set herself up but of course she would have to find somewhere to rent first so she had the use of a kitchen. But she could do this, she knew she could.

For the first time in a long while she felt a frisson of excitement quicken her breath, and her emotion must have shown on her face because Amy said, ‘What? What is it?’

‘What you just said, I think I could do that, Amy, if I found somewhere to rent so I could cook the food and take it to a stall. It would mean I could prepare everything at home and have Betsy with me and then come to the market with her. It’s perfect.’