‘What makes yer say that?’

‘I don’t know really. Just a feeling. Bob often talks of his mother – she passed on some years ago apparently, before he and his father moved to Blackburn. But he never talks of his father. Bob’s an only child, and his father is a very wealthy and important man, part of the committee that runs Blackburn Corporation. Old Joe Tidy told me that, not Bob. According to the gossip, whatever decision is made at the corporation, Bob’s father has the last word on it. But he’s not an easy man, and he’s not well liked. In fact, according to Joe he’s made a lot of enemies.’

‘He sounds like a nasty piece of work to me, but it doesn’t mean to say he’s taken a dislike to you. You’ve never met the man, have yer?’

‘Never been asked. And, if what Joe says is true, I’m not sure I want to meet him.’

‘Course yer do. Happen Bob’s just waiting for yer to say yes afore he brings the two of you together.’

‘Maybe. But why does Bob never talk about him? When you come right down to it, I don’t know all that much about Bob himself, except that he works from morning till night, and has a reputation for being fair and honest. The farmers hereabouts like him a lot, and he’s built up a round that fetches a handsome profit. I also know he still lives at home with his father.’

‘That’s enough to be going on with.’

‘But why is he so secretive about his father? And if he’s serious about us getting wed, why hasn’t he invited me to his home? He’s been here often enough. I’ve got nothing to hide.’

‘There could be all manner o’ reasons, gal. If yer ask me, I think you’re worrying over nothing at all. He’ll ask you round to his father’s house when you agree to be his wife. There’s no point in taking yer home afore then, is there?’

Bridget laughed. ‘Everything is always black or white with you.’

‘Don’t cross yer bridges afore yer get to ’em, that’s my motto. Now then, gal, yer said there were two things bothering yer.’

Hesitantly, Bridget told her. ‘It’s to do with Harry.’ A slow, pink flush spread over her face. ‘When I was having Ruthie, I really thought I might die. If it hadn’t been for Bob, I daren’t think what might have happened. He was the one who saved me and Ruthie. Nelly told me what he did – brought a doctor and paid for him out of his own pocket. And I can’t even talk to him about it, can you understand that?’ She wanted to, but somehow there was never a right time. ‘I’m in his debt and it worries me.’

Fanny was staring at her intently. ‘I can understand how yer might be bothered about that, gal.’

‘And I told him about me and Harry, and how Harry was Ruth’s father, not Tom. I’ve never mentioned it since, and neither has Bob. It’s just that I don’t know what he thinks of me, knowing I had another man’s bairn.’ Shame engulfed her. ‘I would never have told him if I hadn’t thought I were dying. Later, when Tom killed himself, how much did Bob think it was because of me?’