‘Look at me, Bridget!’ Now he was angry as well as disappointed.

Startled, Bridget looked at him, praying he could not read her thoughts, or the guilt on her face.

‘Did you hear what I said?’

‘No, Tom, I’m sorry.’ She gave him a feeble smile. ‘I wasn’t listening. Like I say, I don’t feel well, but if you really want me to come, I will.’ She knew from experience that if she was to get her way and stay behind, the idea must come from him. Experience also told her she had to be wily. ‘If I get worse, we can always leave early.’

Regarding her over his mug, he observed worriedly, ‘I must admit, angel, you do look washed out.’

An endearment! Bridget was heartened. ‘Don’t worry, Tom,’ she answered cagily. ‘I’ll be all right, as long as we can leave early.’

‘We can’t do that, Bridget,’ he protested. ‘Leaving early would be worse than if we didn’t go at all.’

‘Then we’ll stay until the end. Whatever you say, Tom.’ For effect, she gave a deep, withering sigh that brought him swiftly to her side.

With his arm about her shoulders, he looked at her with concern. ‘What a pig I am! Here’s you, feeling unwell, then there’s me wanting to drag you out on a cold March day to get your death.’

‘I’ll be fine,’ Bridget insisted. ‘Give me ten minutes and I’ll be ready for off.’ She made to rise from the chair but he held her there.

‘The only place you’re going, my girl, is your bed.’ He put the palm of his hand on her forehead. ‘If you were to ask me, Bridget, I reckon you’ve got a temperature.’ His mind was made up, albeit reluctantly. ‘That’s it! You’re not leaving this house tonight, and neither am I.’

‘But what about Freddy Derngate’s party?’ Bridget asked. ‘You just said all the quarrymen were going. Won’t it look bad if you don’t turn up?’

‘Bugger Freddy Derngate, and bugger the party! You come first.’

‘No.’ Bridget looked suitably concerned. ‘I won’t have them saying you couldn’t go and see a mate off. I’ll come with you, and no more argument.’ With that, she got up and went towards the stairs.

In two strides he was there. ‘All right. This is what we’ll do. You go to your bed, and I’ll show my face at the party. On one condition though.’

‘Oh?’ Just then, with it all going her way, Bridget dared not say too much.

‘Before I leave, I mean to fetch Nelly Potts from next door. She’s worth her weight in gold, is Nelly. There’s nothing she doesn’t know about women’s upsets, if you know what I mean.’ Lowering his gaze, he looked embarrassed. ‘I’ll only feel right if I know she’s here keeping an eye on you.’

This was an unexpected development and not one which Bridget welcomed. But she had to play along. ‘All right,’ she conceded, ‘if it puts your mind at rest.’