All these years, Tilly had wanted to make amends for her terrible deed, yet was unable to. Helping Molly – who to her mind was another Emma in the making – had done a great deal to banish the nightmares that had haunted Tilly Watson.

Now Tilly revealed as much as she dared when she said, ‘It’s been grand having you here… hand on my heart, Molly, you’ve done me more good than you know.’

‘Bless you for that, Tilly,’ Molly leaned forward to squeeze the older woman’s shoulder, ‘but I know what a strain it’s been… all these little bodies underfoot and more mouths to feed. I don’t fool myself that the few shillings I earn here and there are anywhere near enough to fill their bellies.’

‘I won’t deny that there have been days when I’d be glad to see the back of you… when the buggers have been scrapping and my head’s felt like it’s been jumped on! But I’m not chucking you out on the streets. I’d rest easier in my bed of a night if I knew you had somewheres to go.’ She felt Molly move her hand away and she saw the forlorn look in her face. Eyeing her severely, she asked point-blank, ‘Have you?… Have you somewhere to go? Come on, the truth, now!’

‘No.’

‘So, you intend to leave here and take to the roads, is that it?’

‘We’ll be fine, Tilly. I’ll find a place for us now that I’ve got my strength back.’

‘Be buggered!’ Tilly snorted. ‘Have you looked at yourself lately, eh?… Thin as a poker and weak as a kitten! Oh, I’ve watched you… trying to put on an act. But the truth is you’re nowhere near fit… certainly not fit enough to be trudging about the streets in all weathers.’

Molly could see the other woman’s dilemma. On the one hand, she was obviously concerned that Molly and the children should be all right. On the other, she was secretly relieved at the thought of having her little house returned to the bosom of her own considerable brood. All Tilly wanted was a reassurance from Molly that there was nothing at all for her to reproach herself for. Without hesitation, Molly gave her that assurance. ‘You are not to worry yourself over us, Tilly!’ she told her firmly. ‘In spite of the fact that I’m still a little thin, I feel better than I’ve felt for a long time. You remember I was talking to the chimney sweep when he came to clean the flue last week?’

‘Aye… I thought the pair of you had a lot to say to each other. It took the bugger long enough to do a simple job and that’s a fact!’ replied Tilly good-naturedly.

‘Well, he told me how he’d heard there were these big hotels in London… crying out for chambermaids and kitchen hands.’

‘London!’ Tilly was horrified.

‘It’s a chance, don’t you see, Tilly? A chance for me and the young ’uns to make a fresh start.’ Molly had been quietly churning the idea over in her mind and now that it was out in the open, she was greatly enthused by it. Though she would not easily admit it, somewhere in the back of her mind were the last words spoken to her by Mick, before they parted. He had expressed his intention to leave these parts and, as far as she knew, he also had gone south. Perhaps as far as London. Who knows, she might even come across him there?