For she had gone off without another word and had not looked back.

Chapter 43

Charlotte dusted breadcrumbs from her fingers and rose from the table to pour his coffee. He knew her so well he could tell simply from the way she looped her hair behind her ear that she was out of sorts.

‘What’s wrong?’

‘I know this does not interest you, John, but Christmas is three weeks off and I am not prepared. I forgot to order the bird.’

Gunson patted her arm. ‘Silly goose.’

Charlotte didn’t return his smile. She set the coffee pot down with a sigh. ‘I’m afraid you can’t have sugar in your coffee this morning. I have ordered a packet to be delivered with today’s groceries.’

‘I don’t mind. I can take it without sugar.’ He waited until she sat. ‘What’s really the matter?’

‘I should think it obvious,’ she said tartly. ‘Silas has made his choice. I wish it were a different one.’

‘You’ve enjoyed having a boy in the house again.’

‘I have. He’s a sweet boy.’

‘He steals all the sugar, I’m not surprised.’

This won him a faint smile.

‘I’m driving him to the station. Would you like to come along? We’re collecting his dog from Millicent’s place.’

‘Yes, I will come. Oh John, I hope he’ll keep in touch. He promised to write to us.’

‘Then I’m sure he will. He’s a boy of his word.’

‘I’ve enjoyed teaching him so much more than I expected I would. He’s a fast learner. Won’t you will be sorry to see him go?’

‘Yes, of course,’ said Gunson. ‘I thought he might make a fine engineer. But, as you say, he’s made his choice. I like the boy, he reminds me of our Thomas at the same age. He’s a hard worker, and he has a knack for numbers.’

Numbers. His fevered mind printed them on the bedroom ceiling during the dark sleepless hours. The cost of rebuilding Dale Dyke; it would by financial necessity be a smaller dam. The number of the claims made against the company; six thousand. The number of lives lost, and the age in days of the youngest, a number that haunted him.

‘He has had his heart broken, I think. Poor boy.’

‘Hmm.’

His dam had not been defective. He could keep telling himself he was not at fault, but his nightmares told him otherwise. ‘Well, time for me to leave for work, dear. I’ll return later this morning to collect you both. Where is he?’

‘Upstairs. Packing.’

She tilted her head for a kiss on the cheek as Gunson rose from his chair.

‘Millicent tells me he might have stayed if he thought he had a chance with that Harriet Wragg,’ said Charlotte.

‘What does Silas say to you about it?’ Gunson was suddenly curious.

‘We talk of other things, of his old life and his mother and father and what he might expect when he returns.’

‘He doesn’t talk of her?’