Molly’s voice was stiff. She was still upset about what Briony had said to her, and wasn’t sure how to approach her daughter now. Briony turning on her had shocked her more than she cared to admit. Molly liked to think that everything was fine, that the horrors her daughters had experienced were now relegated to the back of their mind, as they were to hers, but Briony had brought them all back. She had reminded Molly that in her own way she had played an integral part in their unhappiness, that in effect she had condoned what her husband had set out to do. Molly lost no sleep any more over Paddy’s demise. In fact, since then she had experienced a measure of freedom which would have been unheard of had he still been alive. Now she had to try and ingratiate herself once more with this powerful daughter.

‘I think I’ll get another quack in to our Eileen in the morning, Mum. There’s a bloke from up West, Scottish name, treats Lord Palmer’s son for shell shock. He’s the best in his field for mental illness.’

Molly nodded but kept her peace. Only rich people could afford nerves and mental illness. She believed still that the devil made work for idle hands. In Molly’s eyes a good day’s work looking after a few kids and a husband and house was more than sufficient to keep a woman from thinking. Thinking was a bad thing. Too much time for thought and you started sickening.

‘I’ve asked around and about. It seems Joshua has an uncle in Islington, I’m going there later. Kevin Carter’s out now with a couple of others tracking him down. If he’s there we’ll find him. I’ve got to shut his trap up in some way. But the main thing at the moment is our Eileen. Getting her better if we can. Though I think, eventually, she’ll have to go away.’

Molly nodded again.

‘Oh, for fuck’s sake, Mum, have a go at me, fight me, but don’t keep being so bloody passive, it don’t suit you. If you’ve anything to say, any thoughts on all this, say them! I can’t stand you quiet, it’s unnatural!’

Molly opened her eyes wide and nodded once more, infuriating Briony even further.

‘God give me strength!’

‘Oh, he’s given you that, Bri. He’s given you enough already for ten men.’

Briony laughed gently.

‘Oh, it can speak then?’

‘I can. It’s whether or not you’re interested in what I have to say?’ There was a semblance of Molly’s old spirit as she spoke and Briony was pleased.

‘Mum, think about this. When did any of us ever listen to you anyway? That never shut you up before, did it?’