‘I don’t know.’ But just talking it through with Fanny made her feel much better. ‘What would you do?’

‘I’d tell my old man it was his.’

‘I can’t do that.’

‘Why can’t yer?’

‘Because Tom and I have been wanting a baby ever since we were wed, and it’s not happened. Tom’s like his brother, d’you see? He can’t make babies. It’s just the way it is. Tom knows that, and it drives him crazy.’

‘He might be wrong.’

Bridget shook her head. ‘No. We’ve tried so hard to make a baby. But it never happened, and Tom says it never will.’

‘If yer tell him, he’ll think he’s struck lucky at long last.’

‘I could never lie to him like that, not without him knowing. He’d be suspicious, I just know he would, and anyway, I couldn’t live with it. I couldn’t let him think he was the father when he wasn’t. It would drive me insane, every day, every minute, seeing them together, knowing how I’d deceived him.’ Bowing her head, she murmured, ‘Tom can be difficult at times, but so can anyone. But he’s always been good to me, and he’s such a proud man. He doesn’t deserve to be treated like that.’

‘You’ve too much of a bloody conscience, that’s the trouble.’

‘Maybe.’

‘Me, I’d let him think what the devil he liked, as long as it saved my skin. But I do see what yer mean, gal. And when all’s said an’ done, happen yer right after all.’

Bridget looked up with sorry eyes. ‘I hope so, but whichever way I go, it means trouble.’

‘Well now, it seems to me you’ve two choices left.’

‘Go on.’ Advice was what she had come for, and here it was.

‘You either pack yer bags and leave him. Or yer tell him the truth.’ She took Bridget’s hand in hers and said kindly, ‘Whichever way, even if he kicks yer arse out the door, yer allus welcome to move in with me, gal, yer know that, don’t yer?’

‘I know. You’re a good friend.’

‘So. What’s it to be?’

Bridget’s mind was made up. ‘I have to tell Tom the truth. It’s the only way I can sleep at night.’ Her heart fluttered with fear.

‘So. When am I to make yer bed up?’ Fanny asked in her blunt way. The look on Bridget’s face made her bite her tongue. ‘You’re sure about this, gal?’ she asked more gently.

‘There’s no other way, I know that now.’ She felt relieved and afraid all at the same time. ‘I think I’ve known it all along.’ She looked at the mantelpiece clock. ‘I’ll have to get back now.’ She rose from her chair and Fanny walked her out to the hallway.

‘I’m here if yer need me, allus remember that. Yer a brave little bugger, I’ll give yer that. Braver than I am, that’s for sure.’

‘I’m not brave,’ Bridget confessed. ‘I’m frightened sick.’

‘Go on. Off with yer, me beauty, and if he gives yer trouble, get yer arse over ’ere.’