‘Hmm?’ Tony’s attention seemed to have wandered as he gazed out over the beck. ‘Pretty here this time of year, isn’t it?’
‘Um, yes. Are you all right?’ she asked again. ‘You look… strange.’
‘Fine. Fine.’
‘Have you been somewhere?’
‘Bradford. Man I needed to see there about summat. Been to see your sister, have you?’
‘No, I was taking Florrie home. I found her wandering in the graveyard, all upset.’
‘What’s she upset about?’
Bobby sighed. ‘The captain’s moving them back to London. You know, because of… well, you know. I tried talking to him, but I couldn’t get him to reconsider.’
‘Taking them to London?’ Tony said, frowning.
‘Yes. It’ll break Mary’s heart if they go.’
‘Lil’s too, I reckon. She loves them kids nearly as much as she loves her own.’
‘We’d all miss them. They’re part of the family.’ Bobby looked at him. ‘I don’t suppose you’d consider talking to George and trying to smooth things over, would you?’
‘Huh. I’d make it worse. He don’t think much of me.’
‘You could try.’
‘Aye, I could.’ Tony fell silent for a moment. ‘Parry was never the cause of the thing, I know that now. He was only ever a symptom. Mind, I’m not going to apologise about his nose. He deserved it.’
‘That’s what he says too. But you might be able to find some way to move on from this, for the family’s sake.’
Tony went to the edge of the bridge and leaned on it as he looked out over the beck. It was chattering merrily after a heavy fall of spring rain, and there was a fresh, mossy smell in the air.
‘Sorry I shouted at you that night, Bob,’ he said. ‘You know I’ve always thought you were all right. I’m even fond of you, in a way.’
‘Never mind about me. I’m not important.’
‘Funny you still talking to me,’ he murmured without looking at her. ‘Never thought you’d look at me again after what happened.’
‘I wasn’t sure I would either.’ Bobby went to stand by him, inhaling the scents of early spring.
‘It really was an accident.’
‘It was an accident that didn’t need to happen.’ She shook her head. ‘I never thought you could’ve been so rough with someone you claim to love. I could have forgiven the rest of it, but that…’
‘I was always disgusted at the sort of man who could hit a woman,’ he said quietly. ‘Lil don’t look at me the same now. Happen I don’t deserve her to.’ His face took on a determined expression. ‘But I’ll be a better man from now on, I swear it.’
‘I’ve heard that before, Tony.’
‘I know, and I tried. I did try, Bob, after I found out about the baby. If I’d only been able to make Lil love me, maybe I could’ve stuck it.’
‘What made you fall in love with her? I’ve always wondered.’
He shrugged. ‘Well, there was a baby coming, wasn’t there?’
‘I didn’t ask what made you marry her. I asked what made you fall for her. You two are so different.’
Tony watched the beck in thoughtful silence.
