A weak giggle came from Betsy.

As Mags wiped the baby’s face, she had the feeling again of ‘like father, like son’, as the baby’s expression showed his likeness to his father. His brow was furrowed, and his mouth was open, as if in protest that this entry into the world wasn’t going his way. But the likeness didn’t end there, as he had his father’s features and his black hair and eyes.

Mags could feel a repulsion growing inside her, but she didn’t want to feel that; she wanted to feel love for this precious new life. Wrapping the still-yelling Billy in a warm blanket, she handed him to Betsy. The baby immediately settled and snuggled into his mother. At this, a feeling of warmth did enter Mags, although it was tempered by the thought that now that he had what he wanted, Billy – like his father – had changed into a little charmer.

I must stop thinking like this. It’s unfair of me to compare this baby, only minutes into life, with his monster of a father.

Seeing the lovely picture of mother and son helped her. Everything would turn out well, of this Mags felt sure. Billy would have the influence of Betsy, herself and, above all, Montel, to shape him. Thinking like this gave Mags a yearning she had felt for months now – to find herself pregnant with Montel’s child. Montel was a born father. He’d become just that to Daisy, Florrie, Rosie and Sibbie, and now she knew he would take on Billy, too.

Oh, my darling Montel, the day I met you was the day I began to live – really live – and now I want to make you a father for real. But can I? Her mind reminded her how nothing had happened when Harold stopped taking care not to make her pregnant, and yet he had proven he could father children. Please God, don’t let it be that I am barren.

But no, she wouldn’t think like that. She would throw herself into making a magical Christmas for her lovely family, as that’s what they were: Betsy and her four, Sibbie, and the wonderful Montel and herself – family. Afterwards, she would devote all she could to building a family business and supporting Montel in the art world. Whatever the outcome for herself – her own children or not – she would be fulfilled.

PART FOUR

Portpatrick and Blackburn, 1924–25

Mags and Montel

A Broken Heart – A Glimmer of Hope

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Since opening Charvet’s Art and Craft Products two years earlier – the name was chosen to honour Montel and to emphasize the huge part that his work played – the business had gone from strength to strength. The summer season takings were enough to show a profit on the year and that was boosted by trade coming to them from those taking a winter break, especially the rich among the Irish people who sailed across in their yachts whenever the weather permitted. His portraits were proving so popular that those booking them sometimes had to return on a second visit to be able to fit in an appointment. Mags was so proud of him and rejoiced in the self-worth it had given Montel as the main breadwinner of his family.