Bernadette said, without thinking, ‘Marcus said she ain’t bad looking for a ...’ She stopped speaking and the room went very quiet. ‘Oh, Kerry, I’m sorry.’

Kerry pulled herself upright, awake now.

‘For a what, Bernie? A blackie? A soot? What did the marvellous Marcus Dowling say then?’

Briony knelt up and put her hand on Kerry’s leg.

‘Come on, Kel, she never meant nothing by it. Let’s not let this ruin a nice evening. It’s bad enough we ain’t got our Eileen here. Let’s not have any rows. Not tonight anyway.’

Kerry made a moue. ‘Well!’ Then, her voice lowering, she said: ‘I’m shitting myself about having this baby, Bri, I don’t know if I’m strong enough to face what it’s going to bring.’

Bernadette leant forward in her chair and said firmly, ‘Don’t you worry, Kel, we’ll weather anything. That baby is going to be the best looked after kid this side of the water.’

Kerry smiled.

‘I wonder what I’ll have. And what Eileen will have. Mother’s over the moon about Eileen’s baby at least.’

Briony blew out her lips in a very unladylike way.

‘It’s your baby she should be pleased about, if anyone’s. Eileen won’t be able to cope.’

‘Mum wants it, don’t she?’

Briony laughed. ‘Well, Mum ain’t getting it! Eileen’s coming here. Once she’s delivered safely, we’ll see how the land lies. If she still ain’t all the ticket, she can go back to Sea View. I’ll have the child.’

Bernie and Kerry both heard the deep aching longing in her voice and exchanged glances.

‘You!’

Kerry’s voice was loud and Briony looked her full in the face. In the firelight Briony’s hair looked redder. than ever, her eyes for once a glittering black.

‘And why not? I’ll get a wet nurse in to do the business with the feeding, and I’ll oversee its upbringing. What’s so bloody strange about that?’

Kerry shrugged. ‘Well, ain’t you got enough on your plate? In a way I think Mum would be the best bet. Let’s face it, she’s sod all else to do all day.’

‘She’s also got Rosalee and her life with Abel, such as it is. She’s too old for a baby in the house. Not only that, I can give it more, give it a better start in life.’

Kerry sat back on the settee. ‘I suppose so. Bri?’

‘What?’

‘Can I ask you something, without you getting all aereated?’

Briony grinned. ‘Of course.’

‘You really miss Benedict, don’t you?’

Briony’s face dropped. She bit her lip before answering.