Come the Fear (32 page)

For many years I've considered
Lucy Wan
(also known as
Lizie Wan
, number 51 in Professor Francis Child's
English and Scottish Popular Ballads
) to be one of the most fearful folk songs. It's a tale of incest and death. When Lizie (also known as Lizzy or Lucy Wan) tells her brother that she's having his child, he kills her by beheading her with his sword and cutting her body into three pieces before walking away. His mother drags the truth from him and he decides to leave, saying he'll only return ‘when the sun and moon meet on yon hill' – in other words, never.

The words have been honed and worn over the centuries to make it into a work of art, powerful and deadly. It's a song that's stayed with me since I first heard the great Martin Carthy sing it and I've always wanted to use it. Now I've had the chance.

For my knowledge of Leeds in 1733,
The Illustrated History of Leeds
by Steven Burt and Kevin Brady (Breedon Books, 1994) has been invaluable, as have
Leeds: The Story of a City
by David Thornton (Fort, 2002),
The Municipal History of Leeds
by James Wardell (Longman Brown & Co, 1846),
Leeds Describ'd: Eyewitness Accounts of Leeds 1534 – 1905
by Ann Heap & Peter Brears (Breedon Books, 1993) and
The Memoranda Book of John Lucas 1712 – 1750
(Thoresby Society, 2006). Other publications by the Thoresby Society, the excellent Leeds historical association, were helpful on other points.

Simon Heywood was a vital resource on superstition regarding harelips. Penny read the manuscript thoughtfully, correcting errors and offering wonderful suggestions and love. Thom Atkinson, a great friend and excellent writer himself, gave much of his time, applied the yellow highlight and helped to drastically improve the book, as he's done so often before, and he has my eternal gratitude. Please, seek out his books.Thanks, too, to my agent Tina Betts, who patiently reads the bits of books I send her and is always perfectly honest in her assessments. Lynne Patrick, to whom I owe a huge debt, is a wonderful editor, and I'm grateful to Kate Lyall Grant for believing in this book. Leeds Libraries and Leeds Book Club have been great supporters of this series and I value that more than they know. Candace Robb is an inspiration who's become a friend and her wonderful words about these books are a treasured gift. Much of this writing has been fuelled by the excellent baked goods from Botham's of Whitby, whose brack is a joy for the senses. Last, but not least, the supportive friends from all over the world on Facebook and Twitter who cheer me daily. Thank you, all of you.