Molly was made to laugh at his desperation to make amends; although she did think he had held her hand quite long enough. ‘We all have to hope for miracles,’ she told him, gently drawing her hand from his grasp. ‘I won’t ever stop believing that one day something will be done to help my Tom.’

‘O’ course, Molly!’ He was downhearted that she had felt the need to tuck her two hands beneath her shawl. If he were not careful, Molly would be up and away to bed, taking a golden opportunity with her. Oh, but not if he were cunning. Tread gently, Joe old pal, he told himself, or your chances of bedding this tasty creature will come to a sorry end. He could just imagine it! Milk-white skin, smooth and warm against his nakedness, open, inviting thighs waiting to draw him in, and soft round teats hardening beneath the tip of his tongue. Oh! It was all too much. How could he stop himself trembling? Why didn’t he take her here and now, against her will if needs be? No! No, he wouldn’t dare. Not with his mother in hearing distance. Besides, if he were wily, he might get far enough into Molly’s good favour that she’d want him to bed her on a regular basis. Now then, wouldn’t that be a fine thing, eh?

‘Joe… I haven’t really thanked you for letting me and the young ’uns stay under this roof so long,’ Molly said, shifting her position so that she was looking full into Joe’s face.

‘Aw, you’re very welcome, Molly,’ he replied, thinking how she’d be like an innocent child in his hands. ‘Besides, don’t forget… it ain’t really my roof. It’s me mam’s.’ He sidled closer. Molly’s eyes were so unusually lovely, so darkly entrancing.

‘I know, but it’s you who keeps the family and pays the rent. Tilly’s told me that often enough.’ Molly was well aware that one harsh word from Joe might have obliged Tilly to turn them out on the streets. Although, to be fair to Tilly, she did have a strong mind of her own, and could be infuriatingly stubborn when she wanted. Many was the time Molly had witnessed a real clash of wills between mother and son. But these two had a great deal of love and respect for each other. She had seen that also.

‘I’m not denying that I’m a good provider and a hardworking man,’ boasted Joe Watson, deciding to play along that particular line. He had an instinct that Molly would be most impressed by that, being as her husband was neither, and because of it, Molly and the young ’uns were the ones to suffer. ‘Oh, yes. To my mind, it’s a man’s duty to take care of his family.’ He kept his voice soft and his gaze gentle. ‘I’m not a fellow to shirk his duty, I can assure you of that!’ Oh, how he ached to grab her into his arms!