‘If I see you and her before noon, then you’re after a few quid. Tell me what you want and let’s...’ The sentence was lost in a long loud yawn.

‘I came here this morning to tell you that Eileen’s getting married.’

Molly had the grim satisfaction of seeing Briony’s eyes widen. ‘There, I thought that would put a stop to your gallop! Joshua’s popped the question and she’s said yes. I thought me and you could have a little chat about the do. That’s all.’

‘The do?’ Briony’s voice was puzzled.

‘The reception! For the love of Mary, would you pay attention, girl! She’s getting married and I want it to be the biggest thing this side of the water. I want her to go off in style. The way you lot are going, she’ll be the only one of my daughters wedded and legal.’ Her voice became wheedling. ‘I want me eldest girl to have a good weddin’, Bri. I want her to be set up like a queen.’

‘Our Eileen getting married? Bloody hell! Who’d have thought it.’

Molly wiped Rosalie’s face with a hankie and said, ‘I’ll never marry off this one, will I? And you living over the broom, and our Bernie without a man in sight. As for Kerry, well, she would marry her voice if she could. I want our Eileen to have something special. After all that happened to her, and all her troubles...’

Briony put up her hand for silence.

‘Look, Mum, she can have whatever you like, so drop the sales pitch. You book it and I’ll pay for it. In fact, if you like we can have the reception here, I don’t mind. My garden’s huge, we could easily get fifty, sixty people here no trouble. Mrs H can do the food and Cissy can bring in a few girls to help serve. What do you think?’

Molly smiled smugly.

‘You’re a good girl, Briony, you’re a kind and decent girl. Only a saint would look after her sisters like you do.’

Briony drank the rest of the tea and poured herself another cup before she said, ‘Why do I get the feeling, Mother, that you’ve just mugged me off?’

Kerry was lying in bed with Evander, at the quiet stage after lovemaking. When the only thing needed, or indeed wanted, is to feel your lover’s heart beating with your own. He stroked her belly with soft fingers and Kerry groaned. The bedclothes had fallen to the floor and the remains of a bottle of wine and a platter of bread and cheese stood on the night table. They had yet to sleep, and were both dozing when they heard the sound of a key in the front door.