confusing Cookson yet again (spoilers)

This story is typical Cookson - underprivileged person makes good. Her heroines always end up marrying well in the end. Why though would this woman ignore her employers regular beating up of his bed ridden wife? Why did nobody in the house notice a woman heaving herself down the stairs and back up with a pie in her mitt, why bother leaving food outside the door of a bedbound woman? Why did nobody wonder how her door was locked if she was bedbound? Why did he not tell the villagers about Con's condition when the man was first accused? Why would she hide money outside when she knew her "man" was building walls? Why would Emily trust a total stranger with such a valuable object? The implausibilities are rife. If people in the North East are as horrendous as Cookson consistently describes, then remind me never to go there!!