No sooner had this thought died in her than the door was flung open. ‘Eeh, our Ciss, what’s to do . . . Naw. Not Ma?’

Ciss could only nod. ‘She’s gone, our Betsy. She’s gone.’

Rising, Betsy took the sobbing Ciss into her arms. ‘Eeh, naw . . . naw.’ And as she said the words, she knew that nothing – no matter what it was – could hurt her more than this. Her beloved ma, gone.

‘I’ll come along. I’ll put Rosie down with you, Bill. The young ’uns’ll be in soon. There’s a fresh-baked loaf; tell Daisy to cut some chunks off it and spread it with that jam as Cook gave us. That’ll do for your teas. I’ll be back when I can.’

In the front room of her ma’s small cottage, a beam of sunlight fell across Ma’s face. In that moment she looked like an angel, and peace settled in Betsy.

‘Will you look at her, our Ciss? Have you ever seen owt so beautiful? Has doctor been sent for?’

‘Aye. He—’

‘I’m here. Now, ladies, I’m sorry for your loss, as I can see before I examine her that your ma’s gone.’

Dr Lange stepped further into the room. ‘Hello, Betsy. I’ll see to the sad business I’m on, then I’d like a word with you, if you feel up to it.’

The doctor and Betsy stood in the small back yard. Betsy was shivering with shock, trying to pull her cardigan around her.

‘Now, Betsy, I heard what happened. It was a bad business. I know you have a lot on your plate, but whatever possessed you to behave as you did?’

‘So, you believe what he told you, without hearing my side then? Well, he’s a liar, and rotten to the core. But I’ll never convince the likes of you, will I? Aye, and it’s that as makes me think as me fate is a foregone conclusion. ’Cause they’ll all be of your standing as sit in judgement of me.’

‘What do you mean – judgement?’

‘He’s suing me. That swine as you would rather believe has me up in Preston County Court on the twenty-ninth of April.’

‘But that’s ridiculous. What does he hope to achieve, as you can’t pay any compensation?’

‘Naw, but I can still be judged as having to pay it; and when I can’t, I can be brought before the debtors’ court and could then go to prison. And all for a pack of lies.’

‘Are you saying that Roford did rape you?’

‘Aye, he did. But I don’t care about that any more. I care about Mags and her father. They’re the ones that are important. Please help them, Doctor. He’s done this on purpose. He planned from the start to get all they had. Well, as I see it, he did. I reckon as he saw the main chance fall into his lap when I answered the bell. You see, he had a go at me afore, and Mags knew of it.’