‘Then she’s in good company, isn’t she? Because, quite frankly, give me a good whore any day of the week to a hypocritical old woman who jumps into bed with the man next-door. He won’t even marry you, Abel. And why should he, eh? Talk about having your cake and eating it! He’s got his mother running round like a blue-arsed fly after him in one house and you on your fucking back in the other! I don’t think you’ve got much room to talk. You was at it with him before the old man was cold!’

Molly laughed nastily.

‘At least he’s white. I didn’t drop me drawers for the first eejity blackie I laid me eyes on.’

‘You know I have to laugh at you at times, Mother. As Irish Catholics we’re the lowest of the low round here, always have been. Old shawlies shouting in the street - your own mother was one. Men who drink hard and work as and when it suits them. Evander Dorsey was a talented man, an intelligent man. Kerry’s only mistake was falling for someone like herself, a kindred spirit. I can see that, so why can’t you? I got rid of him before I knew what the full score was. I knew she was going to come a cropper, Mum. I knew that because there are far too many small-minded people like you around. Christ, you make me laugh. You was up in arms last year because Jenny O’Leary was marrying a Protestant, a ranter. You hated him and he had blond hair and blue eyes! Your prejudice knows no bounds, woman. That little child is the innocent party in all this. It’s your grandchild!’

Molly grabbed at her daughter’s hair, tearing at it as she pulled her across the room, her great bulk giving her added strength. Briony elbowed her mother hard in the stomach, making her double over in pain as she gasped for breath.

‘You... you bitch.! That child is nothing to me! Do you hear me? Nothing. It should be dead, I hope it’s born dead. I hope she loses it now, while there’s still time. I never want to clap eyes on it! If that whore has it, me and her are finished for good. And I mean that. She’ll not drag this family’s name through the dirt. No way. I’ll disown the bastard first.’

Briony started laughing, a high vicious sound.