Emma, always swift to recover, said, “Her full name is Ed—Edwina.” She almost faltered, then went on with more steadiness, “Laura Shane—”

“Shane!” Blackie exclaimed, his surprise obvious.

“After you, my dearest friend. I can’t call her Patrick or Desmond, now can I? And ‘Blackie’ would be odd, most certainly.” She managed to force a smile onto her face.

Blackie had to laugh and he was relieved she was more like herself. “That’s true, very true. And I am flattered, Emma, but let us now commence.”

He dipped his fingers in the bowl of water, and with a bit of a flourish he made the Sign of the Cross on the baby’s forehead.

“Please, Blackie, stop!” Emma exclaimed, her eyes wide and staring. “I’m not a Roman Catholic, and neither is the baby. In the Church of England, the Vicar just sprinkles water on in little drips. He doesn’t make a cross on the baby’s forehead. We must do it properly. We must start again, please.”

Blackie did his best to stifle the laughter bubbling up in him. For a so-called atheist, she was being mighty particular. “Sure and I will, Emma; I understand.”

He wiped the water off the baby’s brow, dipped his large fingers in the bowl and sprinkled a few drops on the baby’s brow. The baby stared up at him unblinkingly.

“I christen thee Edwina Laura Shane Harte. In the name of God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.” Blackie crossed himself and then bent over the baby and kissed her.

“There you are; it’s all done. But I have a question for ye, Emma. Whose name will be on the birth certificate?”

Emma’s expression of happiness evaporated at once. “I haven’t quite worked that out yet,” she admitted a little dolefully.

“Then I shall do that for ye. It can’t be left blank. That would be terrible. So ye will put my name on it. I want that.… I would be more than proud to be listed as Edwina’s father.”

“Oh, Blackie, I can’t! I mustn’t saddle ye with that.… It’s a responsibility!” Emma cried, shaking her head with some vehemence.

“Yes, you will do it! I want it, and I just christened her. I will always be there for her, and I will protect her as if she were mine. We will go and see the registrar in Leeds next week. And that’s that.”

Emma recognized that obdurate look on his face and knew she had no choice. “Thank you, Blackie, you’re so kind, my best friend, and I appreciate what you did today, and are doing.”

She stared into the fire. “Laura must never see it.”

Blackie leaned forward and asked, “What was that?”

“I don’t want Laura to be hurt. She would be, if she saw your name on the certificate. She might believe you really were the father.”