She grabbed hold of him. ‘Sit here with me, Joe. Tell me again what Ruthie said before she ran off. Think hard, remember every word, no matter how silly it might seem to you.’

Joe sat down on the sofa beside her. ‘She’s a right little chatterbox an’ no mistake,’ he said with a smile. ‘Well now, let me think.’ He scratched his head and screwed up his eyes. ‘Well now, she told me she were off to find Billy.’

‘You already told me that, Joe.’

‘Oh, aye, and summat else while I think about it. She asked after the nice man.’ He chuckled. ‘She were talking about Harry. I tell you, Bridget, she seems to have taken a real liking to him. He were bigger than me, she said, with lovely brown eyes.’

‘Did she mention anybody else?’

‘Only Billy.’

‘She does like Harry,’ Bridget mused. ‘Did she ask where he lived?’

‘No, but I’ve a feeling I did say as how he were a tailor from Ainsworth Street. D’you reckon she might have gone to Harry’s house? Is that what you’re thinking, lass?’

‘Will you take me there, Joe? I know it’s early of a morning, but I have to know.’

‘Think what you’re saying, lass. If she’d gone to Harry’s, he would have brought her straight round.’

‘Happen he doesn’t even know she’s there. She might have sneaked into the cellar or got inside the house without him being aware of it. Happen she’s waiting her chance to talk to him. You said yourself she’s taken a liking to him. Harry listens to her, you see.’ Her voice softened. ‘I’ve seen them together and they get on so well, she might feel she can trust him enough to confide what she won’t confide in me.’

‘But the lass said as she were going to find Billy. If that were true, why would she want to talk to Harry?’

‘Maybe she thinks he could help her find him, or maybe she wasn’t going to find Billy at all. I don’t know, Joe, but if there’s the slightest chance she could be at Harry’s house, I have to go.’

‘Course you do, lass,’ Joe agreed. ‘Come on then, and wrap up warm. It strikes cold outside this time of a morning.’

A few minutes later, Bridget and the old man were on their way, and ten minutes after that they were outside Harry’s house. ‘Well, I never.’ Joe pointed to the lighted window downstairs. ‘Look at that, lass. There were me, concerned about getting him out of his bed so soon, and I’m damned if the bugger ain’t already up and working.’ He manoeuvred the horse and cart closer to the road edge. ‘You stay here a minute, lass, while I go and knock on the door.’

‘No, don’t do that.’ Bridget jumped down from the cart. ‘His old mam’s bedridden. We wouldn’t want to disturb her if we can help it.’ Hurrying across the pavement, she tapped on the window. When he looked up, startled, she pointed to the front door. ‘Let me in, Harry,’ she mouthed, and he was on his feet immediately.