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house, Mr Arbuthnot faced up to a red-faced and furious Trigg.
    Sarah clutched Nettie’s hand even tighter. ‘Don’t let him take me.’
    â€˜Over my dead body,’ Nettie said firmly.
    Cook clutched at the area railings, fanning herself vigorously. ‘Run and fetch a constable, Dorcas. The fellow should be taken to the watch house and locked up.’
    Dorcas seemed frozen to the spot and despite a hearty shove from Cook she remained where she was, staring open-mouthed.
    â€˜You’ll give the child back, sir,’ Trigg shouted, fisting his hands. ‘You’ve cheated me out of five pounds and I’ve got to answer to the governors for my actions.’
    â€˜You were quick enough to grab the money, workhouse master. We had an agreement and I’m holding you to it.’ Mr Arbuthnot stood his ground. ‘I’ll be the one to report to the governors and it won’t be favourable, I can tell you that.’
    â€˜I couldn’t say anything in front of the other mill owners, but you took the child and it weren’t legal.’ Trigg took a step towards him. ‘Give me the girl and we’ll say no more about it.’
    Sarah uttered a strangled cry and hid behind Nettie. ‘I’m not going back to that place. I’d rather die.’
    Mr Arbuthnot turned his head as if realising for the first time that he had an audience. ‘Take the child indoors, Cook. She’s going nowhere with this abominable bully.’
    â€˜Bully?’ Trigg roared. ‘I’ll have you know I’m acting within my rights. That child is the property of the workhouse. It was an honest mistake when I allowed her to leave with you. It’s kidnap, sir. Pure and simple.’
    â€˜Choose your words carefully, Trigg. I could have you for slander.’
    Trigg made a strange gobbling sound deep in his throat. ‘Hand her over, or pay me the five pounds as recompense for my loss.’
    â€˜That’s blackmail.’ Mr Arbuthnot turned to Dorcas. ‘Fetch a constable. Run quickly.’
    She danced up and down, wringing her hands. ‘I dunno where to find one, sir. Me legs have turned to jelly.’
    At that moment the front door of the house opened and Mrs Arbuthnot rushed out into the street. ‘Don’t touch my husband, you brute,’ she cried, placing herself between them with her arms outstretched. ‘You’ll have to knock me down first.’
    Mr Arbuthnot lifted her bodily and placed her behind him. ‘Thank you, my dear, but I can handle this.’
    Taking the opportunity provided by Mrs Arbuthnot’s dramatic intervention, Trigg lunged at Nettie, pushing her aside and grabbing Sarah by the arm. ‘You’re coming with me.’
    â€˜I don’t think so.’ A huge fist landed on Trigg’s jaw sending him spinning onto the cobblestones.
    Dazed and terrified, Sarah gazed up at her saviour.
    â€˜You are safe, Liebchen.’ A burly, fair-haired young man with startlingly blue eyes smiled at her and ruffled her hair.
    â€˜Franz.’ Dorcas uttered his name with a sigh of relief. ‘You was so brave.’
    He smiled modestly. ‘It was nothing. I cannot let the master down.’ He stood over Trigg, folding his arms. ‘You want to argue, mein Herr?’
    Mr Arbuthnot slapped him on the shoulder. ‘Thank you, Franz. That was good timing.’
    â€˜Yes, boss. I think you had trouble here. Shall I hit him again?’
    â€˜Take him away,’ Mrs Arbuthnot cried, clutching her husband’s arm. ‘Take the fellow away before my husband does him some harm.’
    Mr Arbuthnot patted her hand. ‘I’m not a violent man, as you very well know, Sophia. I don’t think we’ll have any more trouble with the workhouse master, but he hasn’t heard the last of this.’
    Keeping a wary eye on Franz, Trigg scrambled to his feet. ‘I’ll sue you for assault, you Kraut