“You must come over and we can talk some more.” Monica stood up. “Give me a call soon.”

“I will.” Paula was excited. A myriad of possibilities whirled around in her head. The conversation with Monica had set her mind racing. She didn’t feel the slightest bit tired but she did have a dry throat. She stood up and looked around for Dan, wondering where he’d got to with the drink he’d gone to buy.

“Hello, Paula.”

Paula turned slowly and wished Dan was here now. “Hello, Katherine.”

Dan’s ex-girlfriend looked as attractive as ever. Her long blonde hair was swept up onto her head and she wore a golden-yellow top under her black leather jacket. Paula had to admit she admired Katherine’s taste in clothes. Then Paula smiled, she couldn’t help it. After all, Katherine also had good taste in men.

“My, aren’t you blooming.” Katherine waved her fingers with nails coated in sparkling black polish in the direction of Paula’s stomach. “You must be one of those women who pregnancy agrees with.”

“Thank you.” Paula kept the smile on her face and hoped Dan would appear and take her home.

“Dan certainly didn’t waste any time. No doubt he is hoping for a boy to carry on the family name.”

“I don’t think he minds.”

“I suppose you know the sex already anyway. Everyone seems to these days.”

Katherine was standing very close. Paula put a defensive hand on her stomach. “Farms can be run by women, or you could have a brood of boys and none of them may want to be farmers. Besides, Dan and I decided we want to be surprised.”

“He may say that but trust me,” Katherine leaned even closer and patted Paula’s arm, “farmers are conservative and traditional. They like to have a male heir to carry on the family name and business.”

Paula breathed in Katherine’s spicy perfume. From the corner of her eye, she caught sight of the springing tiger on the table. She glanced back at Katherine’s smiling face. Despite the size of the hall, it was warm, and even though there was no smoking inside, a fetid smell pervaded the air. Suddenly Paula felt a wave of nausea. She hadn’t felt it this strongly since her embarrassing time at the doctors. Frantically she looked around.

“Are you all right?” Katherine’s face was close.

Paula put a hand to her mouth as a warm swirling threatened to rise higher in her throat.

“Here you are, Paula.” Dan’s hand slipped under her elbow. “Hello, Katherine.”

“I don’t think she’s well, Dan. We were talking and all the colour’s gone from her face. You shouldn’t keep her out this late.”