Esther gasped, ‘Aw, Ernie lad, come in, do. Ya look like a snowman!’ She laughed and pulled the boy into her warm kitchen. ‘Look at him, Matthew—’

‘I can’t stop, missus, me ma sent me to fetch mester . . .’

‘Who? Me?’ Matthew rose from table and came towards the boy. ‘What is it, lad? Summat wrong? Is it a shout?’ Mr Harris was a member of the lifeboat crew too and often the Harris children were sent running to the neighbouring houses, to the pub and to the farms to fetch the crew, and the horses from Tom Willoughby’s, when there was a launch.

The boy shook his head, scattering the snow over Esther’s floor, where it melted and lay in little puddles. ‘Naw, mester, ’tis Mrs Eland. Me mam’s with her . . .’

‘Beth? What’s the matter with Beth?’ Matthew’s voice was sharp with anxiety.

‘She’s come to her time an’ me mam says things aren’t straightfor’ard. She—’

‘What d’you mean – she’s come to her time?’ Matthew rapped out.

The boy gaped at him, his mouth falling open. ‘She’s havin’ her babby.’

‘Baby!’ Matthew’s voice was a strangled whisper. Beth – is – having a – baby?’

‘Oh, yes, didn’t ya know?’ The boy’s tone was matter-of-fact, but he was glancing nervously now from Matthew’s dark face to Esther’s, unable to understand the tension in the air.

The colour drained from Esther’s face as Matthew swung round towards her. ‘Did you know about this?’ he hissed at her accusingly.

She hesitated a moment too long. ‘No, no, I didn’t!’

Matthew’s hand shot out and his strong fingers gripped her chin, digging painfully into her cheeks. ‘You lying bitch, you did know! It’s mine, ain’t it? It’s got to be! Did you know before we was wed?’ He shook her roughly, hurting her neck. ‘Did you?’

‘No, no.’ Esther cried, but she was remembering Beth coming to the farm asking for Matthew at the time when Sam had been so ill, dying in fact. Twice Beth had come, looking pale and wretched, huddled into a shapeless shawl she must have worn to hide her growing belly. Esther remembered now the desperation in Beth’s eyes and how she had pleaded with Esther to tell her where she could find Matthew.

Esther should have guessed, but she had shut her mind – deliberately – to the obvious. She hadn’t wanted to know. Then again, after Matthew had married Esther, Beth’s hysterical outburst had been caused by much more than just her love for him. She had been pregnant – and desperate!

‘I – I swear I didn’t know, Matthew,’ Esther faltered. But her words sounded unconvincing, even to herself.

‘I don’t believe you,’ Matthew said, through gritted teeth.