‘When will it be born?’
‘It ought to be mid-May.’
Mary frowned. ‘You must be five months gone already then.’
‘Six months come Valentine’s Day.’ Bobby shot her an apologetic grimace. ‘I’m sorry, Mary. I ought to have told you all sooner.’ She glanced at Reg. ‘I hope you’re not angry.’
Reg remained silent, however.
‘It’s wonderful news,’ Lil said, beaming. ‘Isn’t it, Tony?’
‘Oh, aye,’ Tony said. ‘You’re leaving the mag then, are you, Bob?’
Lilian glared at him. ‘Really, that’s the first thing you think of to say?’
He shrugged. ‘Got to be a conversation about it, hasn’t there?’
George Parry shook Charlie’s hand, then pressed Bobby’s shoulder. ‘Heartiest congratulations to you both. I’m sure we can’t wait to welcome him or her.’
Mary gave Charlie a hug, then Bobby. ‘Aye, congratulations, you two. Although rightly I ought not to speak to either of you. You’ve left me barely any time to get some knitting done.’
‘Congratulations to you, Nana,’ Bobby whispered as Mary embraced her. ‘Please don’t be cross. I so wanted to tell you, but…’
‘I know.’ Mary brushed a tear from her cheek. ‘Don’t worry about Reg. I’ll talk him round.’
‘You guessed, didn’t you?’
‘Let’s say I had my suspicions.’ She held her back. ‘Now be sure you leave everything unlocked if you have the babby at home, back and front door and any other lock in the house. It’ll ease the birth. You must turn over your mirrors as well.’
Bobby smiled, accustomed to Mary’s store of old superstitions, and promised it would be attended to.
‘Bobby, will the baby like stories?’ Florrie demanded. Her eyes were glittering, already thinking about how many new tales she could add to her book before the baby’s arrival.
‘I’m certain of it,’ Bobby said.
‘Tha reminds me of another little lass, Florrie,’ Rob told her, getting up. ‘Always wi’ her it were stories, stories, stories.’
‘Who is she, Mr Bancroft?’ Florrie asked.
He smiled at Bobby. ‘Well, happen she’s a mite bigger now. You remember, Bob? They were always about little girls with brown hair and twin sisters and their heads full of books, cracking spy rings and whatnot.’
‘I remember,’ Bobby said softly.
She had been worried that her dad, too, might be resentful she hadn’t shared her news sooner, but since he had been nursing a secret of his own for months, he had less cause to take the moral high ground than Reg and Mary. Anyhow, he didn’t look angry. He was smiling as he pressed her shoulder, although there was a sad, tender expression in his eyes.
Bobby waited for his congratulations, but he didn’t offer any.
‘Come over to t’ cow house when you’ve done here, lass,’ he said. ‘Summat to give thee.’
‘All right.’
After shaking hands with Charlie, Rob disappeared.
Bobby turned to Reg, who had remained silent in his chair while the rest of the family fussed about. ‘Um, can I talk to you in the parlour?’
‘Aye.’ Reg blinked a few times, then reached for his stick. ‘Aye, let’s get it over with.’
He followed her to the parlour, which felt oddly bare without their desks. Reg’s wolfhound Barney, who had been banished here with his sister while the family ate, sidled up to Bobby’s legs and she tickled him absently between the ears.
