‘We’ve to take care, as that man will do sommat to the young ’uns – I knaw him. And going to the police will only make Roford angrier.’

‘How did it come to this? How can one man bring such devastation down on us all?’

They sat in despair. The awful realization of her having a babby by that monster paled into nothing, compared with the fear for their young ’uns. And even though she knew they were safe in the small walled and gated patch of garden behind her ma’s house, Betsy went to the window to look out at them. Daisy and Florrie were playing happily, and Rosie was asleep on the sofa behind her. Betsy’s heart filled with love for them. Her hand went to her belly, and aye, though she knew this little one would bring trouble to their door, she knew she loved it already.

Her body shook with repulsion at how the little mite got inside her, but her heart ached to protect her loved ones. Once more she pleaded with God to forgive her for what she’d done.

Chapter Twenty-One

Susan froze. Harold had come back to the house earlier than she expected. His face was like thunder, and his whole countenance spoke of his seething anger. When he was in this mood, no one was safe. Most likely something hadn’t gone the way he’d wanted it to. And judging by the state of him, it was something big.

Staying where she was, unable to run to him as he liked her to, she waited. Harold’s bark at Barnard confirmed her suspicion. Her mind raced, but nothing occurred as to why he was in this mood.

The door to the withdrawing room opened, then slammed shut behind him.

‘She’s gone!’

‘What? Who?’

‘Mags! And possibly three bloody days ago, and Matron has only just found out! She said they hadn’t realized, until one of the other patients went into the office asking for her. Crying, saying that she hadn’t seen Mags for days. Then when they made enquiries, they found that it could have been up to three days earlier, when Mags disappeared. One of the night staff and one of the day staff usually involved in her case had been off sick, and were saying they had a bug of some sort. The management contacted them and they confirmed that Mags was there when they were last on duty. The cleaning and catering staff said they hadn’t seen her and thought it was three days since they had, but Matron told me they wouldn’t think anything was amiss, as it happens all the time. They aren’t informed which patients have been discharged or moved to a more secure unit. All excuses, if you ask me. An escape has never happened before, so they thought it never bloody could.’

‘Probably because the patients are all mentally ill and unable to think up plans to escape. Mags isn’t; she was just very distressed over what she believed you had done. She shouldn’t have been put in there, Harold.’