Kate watched as Beth’s eyes widened, but understanding immediately, the woman nodded. ‘In the other room . . .’ She nodded to the door leading out of the kitchen to the only other downstairs room in the cottage. ‘Rosie sleeps in there. We—’ She hesitated and then corrected herself. ‘I – sleep in the little room upstairs.’ So fresh was Beth’s widowhood that she still sometimes forgot.

‘Kate – run and tell yar dad to fetch either the doctor or the midwife. It dun’t matter which, but I want one of ’em to take a look at her. She’s had a bad shock and with all this crying, she could be going into labour. I aren’t as practised as Grannie Harris – I could use a little advice.’

Kate was off and running, and, having delivered her breathless message, was soon sprinting back towards the row of cottages at the Point.

Esther had got Rosie into the other room and had made her lie on the bed by the time Kate arrived back, just in time to hear the girl give another scream, her eyes wide with fear.

‘Oh – it hurts. I dun’t want it, if it’s going to hurt like this.’

‘There’s not a lot ya can do about it now, lass. Ya can’t leave it in there for ever,’ Esther said briskly, but not unkindly. She turned to look at Kate hovering uncertainly in the doorway. ‘Wash yar hands well, Kate, and come and help, will ya? Beth, get the kettle going. I could use a cup ‘o tea, if nothing else.’

Kate hesitated for a fraction of a second, recoiling at the irony of the situation. She had hated Rosie for marrying Danny and now here she was being forced to help her bring his child into the world. Really, she thought, scrubbing her hands under the pump over the sink, life isn’t fair!

When she went back into the bedroom, Rosie was rolling from side to side on the bed, clutching her stomach and squealing.

Kate went to stand beside her, feeling helpless and inadequate.

‘Let’s get her clothes off and get her into her nightdress before the doc or the nurse comes,’ Esther said.

‘No – leave me alone,’ Rosie said petulantly. ‘I want Danny!’ and she began wailing again.

Gradually, by alternately coaxing and being firm with her, Esther and Kate got her undressed.

‘Mam, the bed’s all wet.’

‘Oh heck, ’er waters have broken. Go an’ tell Beth . . .’

But at that moment Beth opened the door. ‘Esther, Jonathan’s here. He says the doctor’s out on his rounds and the nurse is with a woman and can’t leave her for about an hour . . .’

‘Well, someone’ll have to come, ’er waters have broken.’