‘And you mustn’t tell them – please promise me, Philip! Promise me you won’t tell them, please!’ she begged, her tone verging on hysteria. The thought of looking her parents in the eye if they knew this about her was enough to again invite the rise of nausea as her stomach gripped with fear.

‘All right, forget it – don’t tell Mum and Dad then. But honestly,’ he said, holding up his hands, ‘you need to try and stay calm or they’re going to want to know what all the fuss is about. I promise you I won’t tell them. I won’t tell anyone.’

Bessie’s heart rate settled a little at his words, knowing that, unlike Lawrence, her brother would keep his word.

‘You could have an abortion,’ he said matter-of-factly, the word so awful and alien to her sixteen-year-old ears.

How might she be judged for this? Did it hurt? And could she actually bring herself to end the life of this baby? It would, however, make the problem go away . . . Her conflicting thoughts raged and were more than she could wrestle with right now.

She shook her head. ‘I don’t think I could do that.’

‘Or you can have the baby and get it adopted. There are so many people desperate for babies.’

Her breath came in shallow pants. Every single one of the options he had laid out sounded ludicrous to her ears – how – how – was she having to face this? She felt winded as again the reality of her situation landed hard.

‘Are there any other choices?’ Her voice was small.

‘Not that I can think of right now. You know Carmen is adopted?’

‘I didn’t.’

‘Yeah. There are places you can go and have the baby and they sort it all out. I think it might have been done through the Church.’

‘I considered becoming a nun once.’ A reminder that she had been pure with a rosy future . . .

Philip laughed and, in spite of her terrible situation, she laughed too.

‘I think, Bessie, that ship has definitely sailed.’

‘I don’t think I could have an abortion. I don’t think I could go through with it.’

‘First, you need to have your pregnancy confirmed – this might all be a whole lot of worry for nothing. And second, if you are, don’t try to figure out what to do immediately – take your time and be certain.’

‘I’m so scared, Philip,’ she whispered.

‘Well, if it’s any consolation, I’m scared too.’ He swallowed, and she welcomed this moment of warmth between them. It made her feel less alone. ‘But I’ll help you however I can, I promise. You won’t have to go through anything on your own.’