‘Bobby hasn’t lied to you,’ Lilian said quietly. ‘She didn’t know a thing about it until a few weeks ago when she saw us in Skipton, and she took your part right away, Tony. That’s why I ended things – not that there were things to end, really. You’re right, it was wrong of me to hide things from you. But in spite of how it must look, George and I were never more than good friends.’
Tony snorted. ‘A friend who takes you out to the pictures and gives you fur coats. Men who give gifts like that always expect to get paid, Lil – that’s if he hasn’t been paid already.’
‘You don’t believe me?’
‘Any reason I should, after all the other lies?’
Lilian sighed, looking suddenly weary. ‘No, I suppose not. But it’s true, all the same.’
Tony stood there, looking at her with a helpless expression. Then he burst into tears. Bobby and Lilian stared at him, neither knowing what they ought to do.
‘Why though?’ Tony asked after a moment, when he had got his outburst under control. ‘I’ve been good to you, haven’t I? I don’t get roaring drunk or beat you or run around with women. I work hard to get you and the baby what you need. I never complained when you insisted on having your dad live here with us. Never questioned it when you told me Annie was mine, though I knew you’d had plenty of other boyfriends.’ Tony’s voice broke. ‘I’ve done everything for you, Lil. Everything. I’ve loved you more than I thought I could love someone. And you pay me back with this.’
‘I know,’ Lil murmured. ‘And for what it’s worth, I’m sorry, Tony. The last thing I wanted was for you to get hurt.’
‘Aye, but you didn’t go out of your way to prevent it, did you? Why did you do it? Can you just tell me that?’
‘I told you, I didn’tdoanything. There was no affair. Just… companionship. Conversation.’
‘Why with him? Why not with me? I’m your husband.’
‘Because… because…’
‘…because you don’t love me,’ he finished for her. ‘Do you?’
Lilian bowed her head. ‘I’m sorry. I tried, really I did, but…’ She trailed off in a sigh.
‘Do you love him?’
‘I… I honestly don’t know. I admire him a lot. I respect him.’
‘You respect him but you don’t respect me.’
‘I didn’t say that.’ She met his eyes. ‘You’re my husband, Tony. I accept that. I won’t be so foolish again, I promise.’
He snorted. ‘Youacceptit?’
‘What more do you want me to say?’
‘I want you to say you’re happy about it. That I’m the one you’d choose.’
‘I can’t. I’m sorry. I wish I could, but I just… can’t.’
‘Why not?’ he demanded in a choked voice.
‘I want to love you, Tony. I even try to. I suppose I just can’t forget how things began for us. The way you exploited the information you had on my dad to get to me.’ She turned away sadly. ‘I know there’s a good man in you somewhere. I know you love me and I know you adore the baby. But… I’m sorry, but I can’t quite manage to forgive you for the way we ended up here.’
There was the sound of manly footsteps striding down the track, and two squeals of ‘Dad!’ from the Parry sisters outside.
‘Right,’ Tony muttered to himself. ‘Right.’ He turned and strode out of the door.
Bobby frowned at Lilian. ‘Where’s he going?’
‘I can guess. Put Annie in her pram and come on.’
Lilian ran out after her husband. Bobby put the whimpering baby down and followed.
George Parry was hurrying down the track to his daughters, but Tony sprinted up to him and blocked his way.
