She had suspected it was something to do with Joe, judging from the way her father had spoken about her brother before leaving. "I'd never do owt to disappoint ye, ma," Kate tried to comfort her mother. But she was guiltily aware of the fact that she might have done just that. For if this concerned Joe and a girl, she was complicit. "I'm sure Joe doesn't mean to be bad either." Although he had been bad. Even John and Ruth hadn't appeared before the Magistrate.