‘I really can’t say. Your mother thinks it will be the making of her, but in truth I’m not so sure. Your sister is physically very weak, has to be forced to eat. We have a nun here, Sister Mary Magdalene, who seems to be the only person your sister will do anything for. They have a very close friendship. Sister Mary is a very kind girl, only twenty, with a very deep vocation. She loves Eileen dearly. I think maybe she could see her through this pregnancy, but we have no facilities here for children. I’m afraid you’ll have to make alternative arrangements. We’ll keep her here until she’s ready to give birth, then she’ll have to leave. Once she’s delivered of the child, if you can get someone to care for it, Eileen can come back. We all feel she’s doing very well.’

Briony sighed. ‘But not well enough to look after her own child?’

‘Good God, no! I would be very surprised if Eileen ever went back into the real world. I think your mother will probably take on the child. At least that’s the impression I got anyway...’

Briony interrupted him.

‘Over my dead body! She ain’t getting her hands on it, or my Eileen. She’ll drive the girl stark staring mad, as if she ain’t doolally enough as it is! I wish you hadn’t told her, Dr McLawson, she is a very determined woman.’

Andrew McLawson smiled once more.

‘I think it runs in your family, Miss Cavanagh.’

Molly was making a large loaf. Her huge arms were stretching and pulling the dough into shape, kneading it to give it a nice crisp lightness as it cooked. Her front door opening was nothing to her, she didn’t even bother to look round.

‘Come away in, woman, and make yourself a cup of tea.’

She expected to hear Mother Jones’ voice. Instead she was surprised to hear Bernadette’s.

‘Hello, Mum.’

Molly swung around to face her. ‘Well, if it’s not one of me daughters. What do you want?’ Her floury hands on her ample hips, she looked formidable. Bernadette swallowed hard.

‘I’ve come for Rosalee.’ She smiled at her sister as she spoke.

‘Oh, you have, have you? Well, maybe I might not let her go today. It’s very cold out.’

Bernadette raised her eyes to the ceiling. ‘Don’t start, Mum. Our Briony’s expecting her, and you’d better not cause any hag. Marcus is keeping the engine running, so I’ve got to go.’

‘How is Marcus? When am I going to meet him properly?’ All her animosity was forgotten at the thought of Bernadette’s beau. She was ecstatic at the thought of one of her daughters having a man, a decent man.

‘He’s fine, Mum, now can I please take Rosalee?’