‘Cares? About me?’

It was Tom who answered when he said, ‘You women can be blind as bats sometimes, I swear. If you care for him at all, go after him and tell him afore you miss your chance.’

Lifting her skirt, Maggie did just that, finally finding Ben leaning heavily on the edge of the deep stone sink in the kitchen. Suddenly shy she stuttered, ‘Ben … I didn’t mean to push you away up there. I just thought that—’

‘I know what you thought.’ His voice was laced with bitterness. ‘You didn’t want me to get the wrong idea and think that you might be interested in me! Why would you be, with me looking like this?’

Taking his arm in a firm grip, she swung him about with a strength she hadn’t realised she had, and now her eyes sparked fire as she said, ‘Isn’t it time you stopped feeling sorry for yourself? You’re home all in one piece and even with your scars you’re still the most handsome man I’ve ever seen whereas I’m …’ She flushed and her anger died. ‘I’m just a plain Jane.’

Now it was his turn to look stunned. ‘You plain? Never! Why, you’re bonny inside and out. I’ve watched you looking after Kitty, running around doing whatever you can to make her more comfortable, and I’ve found myself feeling jealous of her.’ He couldn’t believe he had said that! ‘Aye, I have.’

Suddenly they smiled at each other.

‘Do you know what,’ Maggie said timidly. ‘I don’t think now is really the time for this while Kitty is going through so much, but if you still feel the same when it’s all over …’

Taking her hand he said huskily, ‘You’re on, lass.’

Upstairs, Tom and Sunday were still waiting for news of Kitty when the bedroom door opened and the midwife stuck her head around it to tell them, ‘There’s another baby coming. Pray to God that this one survives.’ With that she closed the door again as Tom and Sunday stared at each other in amazement. No wonder Kitty had been so enormous; she had been carrying twins! Soon after they spotted Maggie and Ben coming back up the stairs to join them and Sunday was pleased to see the way they kept glancing at each other. There’s two that will be all right from now, she found herself thinking. Now I just have to worry about Kitty!

It wasn’t long before a thin wail pierced the air and Sunday’s eyes lit up. The second baby had been born and if the noise it was making was anything to go by, this one was healthy. The midwife bustled out with the tiny child wrapped in some of the warm bedding and she thrust the bundle towards Sunday. ‘Can you see that she gets a bath?’ she asked. ‘I need to be in there with the doctor doing what we can for the mother. And yes, it’s a little lass by the way, small but she seems healthy enough, she’s certainly got a good pair of lungs on her.’ Then her eyes solemn she said, ‘I ought to warn you, it’s not looking good for the mother.’ Then she was gone as Sunday stared after her with stricken eyes.