Mrs Horlock shrugged her shoulders. ‘There’s always the possibility of death, Mrs Cavanagh. Even if she went through with the birth. But Dr Carlton has been used by the richest in London. We’re not talking about a filthy back room and an ignorant old woman.’

Molly nodded. ‘I suppose you’re right, but it seems so brutal somehow. Briony’s only a child herself.’

Mrs Horlock smiled slightly.

‘And a very lovely child she is too. She’s a credit to you, Mrs Cavanagh.’

Molly took this compliment with a nod of her head.

‘It was her father who brought her here, you know. And my Eileen. I was against it from the start... When I think of my poor Eileen, how she’s suffered ...’

Mrs Horlock put a hand on her arm, and squeezed it gently. ‘Would you like a drop of the hard? I keep some down here for emergencies.’

She got up and, taking a bottle of whisky from the pantry, made two strong hot toddies. Molly watched her spooning in sugar generously and decided she could like the older woman, given more time.

‘So I’ll talk to the master tonight then?’ Mrs Horlock’s voice broke into her thoughts.

Molly sipped her drink. ‘Yes. Do you think I should take her home with me?’

Mrs Horlock shook her head.

‘No. Definitely not. The master needs to be reminded of his obligations, if you get my drift. I wouldn’t advise taking the child from under his nose just yet.’

Molly and the older woman found once more they were in accord and, raising their glasses, pledged a silent toast.

Henry looked down at the child in the bed and felt a sickness in his stomach. Suddenly, her little elfin face had taken on harsh lines and her abundant red hair seemed vulgar in the extreme. His father-in-law was right in one thing he had said earlier: these children would turn the head of a saint. Now, with all the annoyance from Isabel too, he was faced with this. It took all his willpower not to raise his fist and strike the girl in the bed, venting his frustration on her for all his troubles, real and imagined. Instead he forced himself to take the tiny hand in his and smile at the child. He saw the swelling of her breasts and shuddered inwardly. In his eyes she was a woman now, and women had never been of interest to him.

‘Dr Carlton is coming tomorrow to look at you, Briony, and then all your troubles will be over.’

She stared at him with a puzzled expression.

‘What’s gonna happen, Henry?’

He gritted his teeth at the use of his Christian name. Out of bed he was Mr Dumas. This really was a liberty! But he overlooked it this time, afraid of upsetting the apple cart.