He was the first to speak. ‘I have a house in Bedford, and another by the sea. I’ve money enough to give you whatever you want.’

‘I don’t want anything from you!’ she cried. But her eyes and heart told a different story.

He smiled. ‘Oh yes, you do,’ he said huskily. ‘You want me, every bit as much as I want you.’

The moment was shattered by Lottie’s frantic voice. ‘Mam!’ Already halfway down the stairs, she had the child by the scruff of the neck. ‘Eddie’s messed himself!’

Ignoring the interruption, Jack said intensely, ‘I came here to take you away with me, but if you really don’t want to come, it’s all right.’

He was playing a game and she knew it well. ‘I’ll stay a week. That’s all the time I can spare, even for you, Amy.’ Knowing she wanted him to, he kissed her again. ‘I’m staying at the Darwen Hotel in Blackburn,’ he confided, ‘but I’m out of a night-time, seeing old friends and catching up on the news. Most nights I’m to be found in the Sun public house, top of King Street.’ Preparing to leave he reminded her again, ‘One week. After that I’ll be heading back south and I’m telling you now, Amy: I won’t be coming this way again. Ever!’

‘Goodbye, Jack.’ In spite of the turmoil inside her, Amy decided that least said was soonest mended.

Turning her gently, he fondled her breast. ‘Like I said, we belong together, you and me. But I can’t force you, Amy. It’s got to be your choice.’

‘I can’t! Desperately unhappy with the life she had, Amy was torn in two by his offer. ‘The children… everything! Surely you can see how it is?’

Grabbing her to him, he shook her hard. ‘I can see you’re a bloody drudge! I can see you’re shackled to six kids and another on the way – used by a man who doesn’t give a toss about you. That’s what I can see, Amy. And I want you out of it!’

Eddie’s loud cries as Lottie smacked and berated him on the stairs smothered Jack’s closing words. ‘For God’s sake, Amy, leave it all behind,’ he urged. ‘Trust me – I’ll look after you. The kids won’t want for anything. I’ll make you an allowance so you can send them whatever they need.’

‘And what about this one?’ Stroking her swollen midriff, she looked him in the eye.

‘That’s up to you. Give it away – leave it for him to look after. I don’t care, so long as I never have to clap eyes on it.’ When he felt her shrink from him, he reminded her, ‘No kids, Amy, that’s the deal. I’m no good with kids. I never was.’

Before she could open her mouth, he was gone, down the passage and out of the house.

When the door closed behind him, she stood there for a while, her lips aching from his kiss and her breast tingling from the touch of his fingers. ‘You’re a heartless sod, Jack Mason,’ she whispered. All the same, he had brought her hope, even if there was a price to pay.