When, a full hour and a half later, he had finished eating and drinking, she pushed the crockery to one side. ‘Now then, Tom, what have you got to tell me?’

‘Ah!’ Leaning back in his chair, he sighed with satisfaction. ‘That was a meal for any man.’ He patted his round stomach. ‘D’you know, Bridget, last night when I rolled you beneath me, it seemed to me you were more of an armful than I remember.’ Laughingly, he teased, ‘You’ve been eating too much apple pie behind my back, is that it?’

Bridget could only look at him in horror. She had been wondering when he would notice her swelling stomach, and now that he had and she was presented with the chance to explain herself, she was utterly speechless.

Blissfully oblivious, he chattered on, ‘Not that I mind. You needed a bit more meat on you. I’ve told you before, a man likes a woman with curves to fill his arms.’

‘Tom.’

‘Yes, my beauty?’

‘You had something to tell me.’

‘Ah! Now then!’ Getting out of his chair, he began pacing the room. ‘I think we’ve been here long enough. We’ve had very little good fortune in this house.’ Swinging round he looked her in the eye. ‘So I’ve decided it’s time to leave it all behind us.’

‘What are you saying?’ He had mentioned this before, but she hadn’t believed he was serious. They had always been happy enough here.

‘It’s decided.’ His words were clipped with anger. ‘I have no intention of explaining my reasons to you or anyone else. While I’m head of this household, you’ll do as I wish.’

‘But why?’ It didn’t make any sense to her. ‘We’ve always been comfortable here.’

‘We’re leaving, and that’s an end to it. I want us to make a new start somewhere else.’ His tone softened. ‘Look, Bridget, I realise it will be a terrible upheaval, but nothing worthwhile is ever easy. And besides, it’s what I need, something new and challenging to occupy my mind. And don’t talk about the quarry, or my work, because I’ll find other work easy enough, and so will you. Leaving here will be good for us, Bridget. We could even take a little holiday before we settle down.’

Shocked into silence, Bridget stared at him, at his shining blue eyes and the boyish way he was grinning at her. She had never seen him so excited. She was intrigued, and then she felt angry. How dare he make decisions like this without talking it over with her first?

Suddenly, like a slap across the face, she remembered her own shameful secret, and the anger turned to fear. This was the time to tell him about her and Harry, and the child that had been made out of wedlock. The moment was right and she must seize it with both hands.

Taking a deep breath, she said, ‘Sit down, Tom. I have something to say.’

‘Oh aye! I’m sure you have.’ He didn’t see the worried glint in her eyes or hear the tremor in her voice. ‘But I’m warning you, Bridget, my mind’s made up and you won’t change it, whatever argument you come up with. I’ve been through them all, and there is nothing to keep me here.’ Except a child, he thought. Only that. Nothing else.