But people will gossip, and when Dora entered the village shop late in the afternoon, a hush fell, and the two customers there suddenly had nothing to say. Dora waited her turn behind Mrs Slater and Miss Birch, who usually had an opinion about everything and everyone.

When they had left, Mrs Fowler and Sally were the only ones there.

‘I heard about your trouble, Dora, love,’ said Mrs Fowler quietly, leaning over the counter. ‘You know you can allus turn to me if you need to – you and Ellen both.’

‘Thank you, Renee. That’s kind.’

‘It’s all round the village, I’m afraid. Philip’s been telling anyone who’ll listen, bad-mouthing you and the girls, calling you all sorts of disgusting names. Ranting like a madman, he was, I’m sorry to say.’

‘Oh …’ Tears sprang to Dora’s eyes. ‘That’s so unfair,’ she lowered her voice even though no other customers were there, ‘after all we’ve put up with. We had to escape for our own safety. Why must it be the women who always get punished?’

‘Well, you won’t be punished by me and Jack,’ said Renee Fowler stoutly, ‘and I reckon no one’s listening to Philip. Everyone likes you, Dora, and no one thinks badly of you here. It’s him that’s come out wearing the dirt he’s been chucking. Think on it, love: who are they going to believe, you or him? When did he ever do anything for the village or for his neighbours? Can anyone in Little Grindle name one single act of kindness with his name on it? I don’t think so.’

‘It’s true, Mrs Arnold,’ Sally joined in. ‘Folk in Little Grindle look out for their friends, and you and Nell have plenty of friends here.’

‘You’ll not be alone, love,’ said Mrs Fowler. ‘I gather you’re staying at the Hall, but if you need to find somewhere else, you’ll soon learn there’s plenty of us happy to have you.’

‘Thank you, Renee … Sally,’ said Dora, wiping her eyes. ‘That’s right good of you. I don’t know what’s going to happen ’cos I’m still married to Philip, but I don’t want to have to move from here to get right away from him.’

‘Nor should you have to, love. It’s him that’s the bad ’un, and if anyone’s going it should be him. Anyway, if you’re out and need someone to walk back with and see you safely home, me and our Jack will be happy to do that.’

Sally laughed. ‘Aye, Fred Hardcastle was saying the same thing earlier. He said if he saw that Mr Philip Arnold threatening you in any way, he’d beat him with his skillet – and I’m amazed Mr Hardcastle can even lift his skillet, he’s that skinny. But he looked like he meant it.’