Reggie indicated the family. ‘Roz, this is Lilith Haggarty, her son Callum and his daughter Susan …’ He stopped mid-sentence as the younger girl shot him a withering look.

‘It’s Suzie, not Susan!’ she snapped sullenly.

‘Sorry,’ said Reggie, his eyes flickering towards Roz briefly before correcting himself. ‘Suzie.’

Roz smiled doubtfully at the small ensemble. ‘Hello.’

Callum grunted a response as he locked eyes with her briefly before turning his attention outside.

The older woman scowled at Suzie, obviously willing the girl to converse, but Suzie clearly wasn’t interested in making small talk, and only said ‘hello’, after receiving a sharp nudge in the ribs from her grandmother.

Roz’s gut feeling cut in, and she was just opening her mouth to say that whilst she was grateful for the offer, she thought it would be better if she stayed at Dovercourt, when the grandmother started to speak.

‘My son and granddaughter are a little shy, but they’ll soon come out of their shells once they get to know you better.’ She gave Roz an encouraging smile. ‘We’re all very much looking forward to you coming to stay with us.’

Roz eyed Callum and Suzie with some uncertainty. They didn’t look shy, especially Suzie who hadn’t been afraid to correct Reggie when he got her name wrong, and if they were looking forward to Roz coming to stay, they were certainly hiding their feelings very well.

Lilith glanced briefly at Reggie before continuing. ‘Mr Jones says you’re eager to move to Liverpool because that’s where your folks are going?’

Roz nodded. ‘The Liver Building, have you heard of it?’

The woman’s grin broadened. ‘Heard of it? Why, we don’t live more than five minutes’ walk away.’

Reggie looked at her in surprise. ‘Really?’ He gave Roz a look of approval as he continued, ‘It’s very grand around there. I’ve only been to the city a few times myself, but I must say I’m very impressed.’ He eyed Callum quizzically. ‘I don’t remember you saying what you did for a living?’

Callum glanced at his mother, who gave him an approving nod. He turned to Reggie. ‘Coal.’

Reggie nodded slowly; perhaps that explained their rather unkempt appearance. He had encountered many people on his travels, and whilst some of the wealthier ones were impeccably turned out, wearing only the best, the more eccentric ones quite often looked as though they hadn’t two pennies to rub together. Obviously the Haggartys fell into the latter category.

‘My goodness,’ said Reggie. ‘They say where there’s muck there’s money, and that’s certainly true in the case of coal.’

Callum Haggarty pulled a pocket watch from his waistcoat, glanced at it then spoke directly to his mother. ‘We’d best be off if we’re to make the train.’

Lilith nodded. ‘So, are we agreed?’