Beth disappeared for a moment and they heard the deep rumble of Jonathan’s voice, the outer door open and close, and Beth came back into the room, her worried eyes going immediately to the girl still writhing in agony on the bed.

‘He – he’s gone back to town to get someone to come.’

Kate saw the look that passed between her mother and Beth – a long look of shared memories from which Kate was excluded. ‘Least it’s not snowing this time,’ Esther murmured, and the two women smiled a little sadly at each other.

‘I don’t want it!’ Rosie was screaming. ‘I don’t want it!’

Kate, still standing beside the bed, bent over her. Something inside her snapped. “Course you want it. It’s Danny’s baby. Don’t you dare say you don’t want Danny’s baby, Rosie Eland!’ she yelled back at Rosie, while out the corner of her eye she saw her mother nodding her approval.

‘That’s it, lass, get her good and mad, then she might do a bit o’ work.’

Rosie’s screams were stilled in shock. She gazed up at Kate with big round eyes, her lips parted in a gasp of surprise.

‘That’s better,’ Esther encouraged. ‘Now, just try to calm down a bit, lass, and do as I tell you. Mebbe I bain’t a midwife, but I’ve brought plenty of calves and piglets into the world. A babby can’t be that different. Prop her up against the pillows, spread your legs open, Rosie. That’s it – now ya forming, lass.’

‘Oh – oh!’ Rosie gasped, and held out her hand to Kate. ‘Katie – it – hurts!’

‘It’s all right, Rosie,’ Kate said gently now. ‘Hang on to me, grip as hard as you like if it helps, but do what me mam tells you. Please, Rosie, for – for Danny.’

Rosie pressed her lips together and nodded. ‘I’ll try, Katie.’

‘Next time you feel a pain swelling, Rosie, try a little push,’ Esther said.

Rosie nodded. ‘Oh, it’s – starting again.’

‘Push, Rosie.’

Gripping Kate’s hand, Rosie pushed, and Kate found herself straining too.

Together they were going to bring Danny’s child into the world.

Thirty-Five

‘I wish that midwife would come,’ Esther murmured. ‘The head’s born, so the rest won’t be long.’

‘Oh – oh,’ squeaked Rosie as pain engulfed her once more.

‘Push, push,’ said Kate and her mother in unison.

‘I – am! Ooh . . .’

‘There!’ Esther was triumphant, as if she had done it all herself. ‘Beth, quick, come and see! Rosie, lass, you have a son.’

Rosie was weeping with relief now and Kate found that tears were coursing down her own face as she cradled Rosie’s head against her and wiped the strands of blonde hair, wet with sweat, from her forehead.

It was at that moment that the midwife walked through the door.