‘But I am sure you have allowed yourself at least the pleasure of Mr Dickens’ works, in Household Words? The chapters are not of any great duration, taken one at a time.’

‘No indeed. I prefer to keep my hands busy.’ And she gave a rueful little smile.

‘My wife could expend whole days with her nose in a book or paper,’ said William.

‘We like stories,’ said Kitty. ‘Don’t we, Molls?’

Molly, who had her mouth full, only nodded.

‘You are right,’ Alice addressed the girls. ‘Stories are one of life’s greatest joys.’

‘And being useful one of life’s greatest purposes,’ said William.

Alice, although she found Mrs Lockwood a dull creature, was touched by her husband’s kindness to his friend’s children and full of happiness that the house was soon to become home to their own family. How fortunate their child would be, to have such a father! Under the care and supervision of Dr Nolan, she allowed herself to hope that the child would be delivered safe and well. William had shown concern that she should no longer be attended by the family doctor, old Dr Aldham at Broadway, but she had prevailed: Nolan was abreast of all the latest medical developments and would look after her and the baby handsomely. Nolan had advised her to rest in the prone position – the feet must be elevated – during the afternoons but to be otherwise as active as ever she was. A daily walk each morning could do her nothing but good. Also at his suggestion, she took a glass of stout before dinner in the evenings, for strength.

The announcement of William’s investiture came late in spring, when Alice was in perhaps her seventh month. The ceremony was to take place in the open air, at Hyde Park; the date was set for the 26th of June. It was Dr Nolan’s opinion that this would likely coincide with the time of Alice’s confinement and that it would therefore be unwise for her to travel to town.

‘You must not fret concerning me,’ she said to her husband. ‘I am well attended by Nolan. Take Caroline with you and your Ma and Pa, then I shall have plenty of accounts of the great glory of it all, which I shall enjoy almost as much as I would have had I seen you receive the medal with my own eyes.’

‘I only hope that the child does not arrive in my absence,’ said William.

‘The likelihood is that it will not,’ she said. ‘After all, you will only be gone for a day or two.’