‘By, lass, you didn’t let the grass grow under your feet, I’ll say that for you.’

‘Ha! It’s not like that; well, it might be. He is fond of me, and I am becoming fond of him, but at the moment he is just the kind of friend everyone needs in times of trouble. Please say you will come. I – I, well, I’m frightened for you.’

‘Aye, you need to be. Roford’s been at me again.’ Betsy showed Mags her arm. ‘He’s convinced I knaw sommat. He says he has information that a woman at the hospital met up with a woman who knew you. He knaws I was involved. I kept telling him it wasn’t me, but he says he’ll be back – only it will be at night, and he won’t stop at just giving me a beating. I told him that my sister was here at night and she’d go for the police, naw matter what. So then he said by the time he was finished with her, she wouldn’t be able to leave the house. He’s like a madman. It’s as if he is possessed. I’m scared out of me wits.’

‘He knows about Iris?’

‘From what he says, he only knaws of her. I don’t think she has been named.’

‘At least that’s something. Maybe that Michael has a conscience after all, as it sounds as though he has been talking. Look, Betsy, I want you to pack some cases – yours and the children’s, and one for Ciss. You’re not stopping here another night. You are right about Harold. He is possessed of an evil streak that I don’t think he can control. I’ll be back later to collect you. I just need to make a few arrangements first.’

When Mags had gone, Betsy set about packing some of their stuff into two brown paper bags. She didn’t have any cases, but Mags wouldn’t know that. Eeh, please let our Ciss agree to come with me. But then nerves of a different kind attacked Betsy. London? Eeh, it’ll be like I’m in a foreign country. Still, nervous as she was of the big city, it had to be better than staying here and facing the wrath of Roford.

Chapter Twenty-Five

Betsy looked across the kitchen table at her sister. They sat, one at each end, staring at each other. Betsy knew that expression on Ciss’s face and had a sinking feeling that this was one argument she wasn’t going to win.

‘Naw, Betsy, I’m not going. I’ve promised meself to Patrick. He’s given up the drink and he’s been given a farmer’s cottage. He moves out of Farmer Dilly’s barn tomorrow. Look, there’s sommat as I haven’t told you, but Farmer Dilly’s wife said that when I’m ready, I can move in with her till me and Pat marry. She wants a hand, as she’s expanding the dairy and will teach me to make cheese and the like. I’ve done a bit of the work already and I love it. Only I didn’t want to leave you on your own.’