‘And mebbe some freshly cured bacon, eh, Mam?’ He licked his lips. Already he could smell the bacon sizzling.

As the old horse pulled the wagon into the field, another, younger animal came up behind. Cautiously its rider dismounted and tethered the horse to a tree. ‘I’ll be glad when this damned job is over,’ the man moaned. ‘I’m not used to this – cold nights and horses that need feeding. It’s too much like hard work.’

He dug into his leather side pack and drew out a small bag of hay which he tied to the horse’s nose. Then he dug out a smaller bundle and quickly devoured the bread and cheese it contained. ‘This is no way for a man to earn a living,’ he told the horse who took no notice as it contentedly munched its hay. ‘If it wasn’t for the handsome sum of money promised, I’d give it up here and now. I’m cold and miserable, and I never know where I’ll end up next. When I dare take my eyes off these two, I have to grab what food I can. I’ve even gone days without washing in case I lose track of ’em. Not as I’m bothered about that in particular.’

He crept towards the hedge and peered through. ‘There they go, warm and cosy in their wagon, and here’s me, so cold I can’t keep a limb still.’ In the last hour, with night setting in, a chilly wind had got up. ‘The minute this job’s done and I’ve got my wages safe in my pocket, I’ll be off to enjoy a night of brown ale and fleshy women.’ The thought of holding an eager woman in his arms sent a glow all over, and suddenly the job didn’t seem so bad after all.

At a discreet distance from the farm, Fanny drew the wagon to a halt beside a tall hedge. ‘You stay here and keep a lookout,’ she told Billy. ‘I’ll be back afore yer know it.’

He was used to the routine by now. ‘Here you are, Mam.’ He handed her a small earthenware jug from inside the wagon. ‘For the milk.’

‘I didn’t forget,’ she declared. ‘I were just about to look for it when yer beat me to it.’

They both knew she was fibbing. These days her mind was all over the place, mostly on Bridget and Ruthie, but also on Bill Norman. The truth was, she didn’t like being this far away from any of them.

‘Right, son.’ She pulled out a basket from beneath the seat, placed the jug inside it and scrambled down to the ground – straight into a newlaid cow pat. ‘Jesus, Mary and Joseph!’ she groaned. ‘Now I’ll have to wash me feet when I get back.’

She caught sight of Billy trying to suppress a smile, and burst into laughter. ‘Ssh!’ she warned. ‘If the farmer hears us, he’ll be after shooting us up the arse with his gun.’