‘The child … Ben – it was me, wasn’t it?’

Tom nodded as the two stared at each other, neither of them quite knowing what to say or do. It was Tom who finally broke the silence when he muttered thickly, ‘I can’t think of anyone I would rather call my son. I’m right proud of you and right sorry that I didn’t know about any of this before. Can you forgive me?’

Ben reeled for a moment at the enormity of what Tom was telling him. He had a father! A father! It was hard to take in, but eventually he answered chokily, ‘There’s nothing to forgive. How could you be blamed for something you didn’t even know about? But … it’s nice to know now who my parents are – or in my mother’s case, were, God rest her soul. It were clearly very hard from what she says in this letter for her to leave me at the workhouse.’

‘Her father would never have allowed her to keep a child who was born the wrong side o’ the blanket,’ Tom tried to explain. ‘He was a good man but very God-fearing, and he would have died of shame if his only daughter had presented him with an illegitimate grandchild. But if only she had told me I would have stood by her and given you my name.’

‘And then you wouldn’t have married Sunday and you would never have been truly happy,’ Ben pointed out. ‘My mother understood that, and so she did what she thought was best. I wish I could have met her,’ he said wistfully. ‘She sounds as if she was a nice person.’

‘She was a lovely person,’ Tom agreed. ‘And I’m ashamed now to think I left her in such a predicament. I was so fond of her, but I could never love her, you see? Not the way Cecile deserved to be loved. It was always Sunday, but she was there and I was mourning Daisy, my sister who had died … and somehow we … Well, it just sort of happened. I suppose we were both looking for comfort.’

‘There’s no point in whipping yourself,’ Ben said, and Tom admired the maturity of his reaction. ‘You ended up bringing me up, after all, didn’t you? I’ve always looked on you as a father, so things needn’t change that much. But how does Sunday feel about all this? I mean, she makes no secret of the fact that she’s always wanted children of her own. It must be hard for her to know that you already have a son.’

‘I think she’s finding it strange,’ Tom admitted. ‘But she doesn’t blame you. She’s always loved you, since the day we fetched you from the workhouse. I think knowing that I have fathered a child is just making her feel rather inadequate but she’ll come to terms with it. As a matter of fact, it was Sunday herself who encouraged me to tell you about all this. So, all I can say now is … Welcome to the family, son. I’m going to make it all up to you, you just see if I don’t.’