The Bell Makers — Jean Chapman

A romance set in the Midlands in the 19th century. Leah is forced to take on her pedlar grandfather's tally round to save her family from starvation. She makes a disastrous trip as peddler of the surplus knitted garments from the family's stockinger's shop. She is unprepared for the prejudices of her own sex and the outrageous discrimination of the men. In the village of Soston prejudice, superstition and the unbridled lust of a squire's son threaten the proud and beautiful girl and those she loves.