‘Mum, if you must know it was me that ended it. It … it isn’t his baby.’ There, it was said, and Kathy was glad it was out in the open at last. Not that she had any intention of telling Sunday who the father was – not ever. ‘So now you know, I repeat, do you want me to leave?’

Sunday’s shoulders sagged but she slowly shook her head. ‘No, but if the baby isn’t David’s then whose is it?’

‘I’m afraid I can’t tell you that.’

‘Is it some other doctor from the hospital? Or perhaps you’ve got yourself involved with a married man who can’t stand by you. Is that it?’

‘As I said, I can’t tell you.’

Sunday sat back for a moment trying to digest this news, but then she shrugged. ‘In that case we shall care for the baby,’ she said firmly. Kathy had been foolish, just as her mother before her had been, but Sunday loved her far too much to turn her back on her. As she thought back to the night Kathy had been born and her mother and twin brother had died, she prayed history wasn’t about to repeat itself.

‘You do realise that if I stay there will be gossip?’ Kathy warned.

‘So?’ Sunday’s eyes flashed. ‘You know what my mother always used to say, “While the gossips are talking about you, they’re leaving some other poor devil alone.” And after what’s happened to us recently, what do I care? I’ve no doubt they’ve had a field day, but it isn’t so bad living here, is it?’

In truth, things were working out far better than she had hoped. Mr Willerby was a true gentleman. He had even invited her to tea on a couple of occasions, but as yet she hadn’t been able to bring herself to enter what she still thought of as her home as a guest. The only thing that did trouble her was Livvy’s attitude towards Giles Willerby. She appeared to hate him – and his grandfather, come to that – with a vengeance, but then Sunday supposed she would have felt the same about anyone who had bought her former home. She was still angry at Ben too, which Sunday thought was pointless. What was done was done. There could be no going back so she just wished Livvy would try and get on with things and accept their new life. And now suddenly there was to be another little person joining their family and come what may Sunday was determined to make the best of it.

Cissie showed no surprise at all the next day when Sunday confided to her about Kathy’s forthcoming baby.