The poorer a girl was, the more likely she was to learn the facts of life at a young age – especially if she came from a big family. It was hard to avoid if you were growing up in a two-up-two-down terrace, sharing a bedroom with older siblings and even, sometimes, with parents. This could lead to a very wobbly understanding of what reproduction involved if it came without any explanation from elders, however. Bobby was thankful thather own mother, a progressive woman for her age and class, had never been shy about such things. Nelly Bancroft had made sure her daughters knew all they needed to prepare them for adult life.
Female naivety was taken for granted, yet men, too, were kept ignorant of things they ought to know about. Why? Why had Bobby and Lil been warned never to mention their monthlies in the presence of their father and brothers, or any man? To spare those poor fragile males embarrassment, or disgust? Men might not experience monthly bleeding but they would be husbands and perhaps fathers to those who did, yet girls were taught to cover up their natural functions like something shameful. It seemed to Bobby that if men were to fulfil their role in the creation of new life – and all of them seemed eager enough to be involved in that part of it – then they should be aware of all it entailed.
She wondered how Charlie would be about these things. It wasn’t something that had cropped up in their married life so far. For the first few months, they had been separated by their respective roles in the RAF. By the time they began sharing a home, Marmaduke had put in an appearance and Bobby’s monthly bleeding was temporarily no longer an issue. She liked to think her husband wasn’t the sort of man to react with revulsion to matters of nature, although he might be a little embarrassed, perhaps. If Marmaduke turned out to be a girl, she would want Charlie to be better prepared than George Parry had been for what his daughter’s future held.
Chapter 5
Bobby found Charlie and her father sitting by the fire, smoking companionably. Her dad often called on them when he had finished work in the patch of woodland where Bobby’s friend Topsy employed him as gamekeeper.
Bobby greeted Charlie with a kiss, then went to plant another on her dad’s bald crown.
‘It’s nice to see you here,’ she said. ‘Have you had a cup of tea?’
Rob smiled complacently at her. ‘Aye, your young man were good enough to brew up. Quite domesticated now, isn’t he?’
Charlie smiled at the good-natured teasing, but it looked rather forced. Rob noticed this too.
‘Oh, no offence meant, son,’ he said, standing up and clapping Charlie on the shoulder. ‘No one knows better than me what a beggar it is to get work when a war spits you out.’
‘None taken, Rob.’ Charlie stood too. ‘Come again, eh? Next time, I won’t neglect my duties as househusband by failing to have some beer in the pantry.’
‘Aye, a half pint wouldn’t go amiss after work. You’re a good lad.’ Rob shouldered his shotgun, which was resting on the fireplace. ‘Tell you what, Charlie. If you want to earn yourself a few bob, come out with me Monday afternoon and help me lay some stoat traps. I could use a big, strong lad.’
Charlie hesitated, glancing at his leg.
‘Don’t worry about that,’ Rob said. ‘I’m none so quick on my feet nowadays either. We’ll walk nice and slow.’
‘You don’t need to do me any favours.’
‘I’m talking about you doing me a favour. Not as young as I used to be. I ought to speak to Her Ladyship about hiring a lad tohelp, I suppose, but I don’t want her to think the work’s getting beyond me.’
‘Well… all right. If you really think I can be useful.’
‘Good man.’ Rob turned to Bobby. ‘How was work then, daughter o’ mine?’
‘Rather good actually,’ Bobby said. ‘Reg told me he’s promoting me to deputy editor. Mary’s persuaded him to take a step back from the mag, so I’ll have a lot more creative control in future. He’s moving me and Tony into new premises near the Parrys’ place.’
Rob put his arm around her shoulders. ‘Well done, lass. Your mam always said you’d do great things wi’ that writing brain of thine.’
‘Thanks, Dad.’
Charlie raised an eyebrow. ‘Reggie’s promoting you to deputy editor?’
Bobby laughed. ‘You sound surprised.’
‘I am, but not because I don’t know what a clever, talented wife I’ve got. I’m just amazed my brother’s letting someone else take control of his precious magazine.’
‘I know, I didn’t see it coming either. It’ll mean a few shillings more in my pay packet too.’ She pulled a face. ‘I just hope Tony isn’t going to make life difficult. He was sulking all morning about having to play second fiddle to a woman.’
‘Hurt pride, that’s all,’ Rob said. ‘Thinks too much of his pride, that lad. Your sister’ll sort him out.’
Charlie nodded to a letter on the coffee table. ‘That came for you, Bob. It’s addressed to Athy Atherton.’
‘That’ll be from Scarlet then,’ she said, smiling. ‘Was that all?’
‘Yes. Why, were you expecting something?’
‘Thought I might hear from our Jake. His letter writing’s been shocking lately.’ She turned to her father. ‘Have you or Lil had anything?’
