‘I keep telling you. It takes two to make a baby, Bobby, and I’m as much to blame as he is.’
‘You are not. He’s had a reputation for years, oiling his way around the pubs looking for women to pick up.’
‘Was my reputation so very spotless?’
‘You liked to have fun, but you weren’t irresponsible.’
‘And yet here we are,’ Lil said, resting a hand on her stomach.
Bobby sighed as she sat down on the bed. ‘Perhaps it is anger making me see it that way. I never thought Tony was a real danger, until… well, until he proved he was.’
Lilian sat down beside her and gave her a hug.
‘You really mustn’t worry about us,’ she whispered. ‘What’s done is done. I think we can be content, once we get to know one another better. We’ll have the baby to unite us soon.’
‘Is that going to be enough?’ Bobby held her back. ‘I saw how you were when I came in. Not speaking, looking so miserable.’
‘We weren’t really miserable. It’s all happened so suddenly that it’s left us both a little shell-shocked. Tony’s still learninghow to behave like a husband, and I’m… I suppose I’ve been letting myself brood too much on what might have been instead of resigning myself to what is. It’ll come right.’
‘Do you truly believe that?’
‘I have to,’ she said quietly. ‘What was the favour Tony wanted to ask?’
‘He wants me to talk to Don on his behalf,’ Bobby said. ‘See if he can put a word in with Pete Clarke at theCourierthat’ll help him get his old job back.’
‘Oh, I do hope he can! Liverpool feels so far away, and so frightening. I know Tony needs to work, but it feels sinful to take a baby right to where the bombs are falling.’
‘You could come to us in Silverdale. Evacuate to the countryside for the duration.’
‘Hmm. I’m not sure leaving Tony alone in a big city is the best idea, are you?’ Lilian said with a dry smile. ‘For all that he says he’s turned over a new leaf, I think he’s better for being under someone’s watchful eye. Besides, I don’t really want to be apart so early in the marriage. We’re starting off on such shaky ground, we need to make sure we’re putting down firm foundations.’
‘It would be far better if you could both stay here,’ Bobby said. ‘I will talk to Don but I can’t guarantee anything, Lil. Tony’s burnt a lot of bridges in this town. He’s got a reputation for laziness and shirking that too many people are aware of, and Clarky’s seen it first-hand.’ She gave her sister a squeeze. ‘But for you, I’ll do what I can.’
‘I suppose I ought to fly indignantly to his defence when I hear people running him down as feckless,’ Lilian said with a sigh. ‘He is about to be my husband. That’ll come, I guess, once he’s proved himself to me.’
‘He says he loves you,’ Bobby said quietly.
Lilian smiled. ‘He’d like to believe he does, but that’s just talk to ease a guilty conscience. He does have a guilty conscience though, and that’s something. Plenty of men would turn their backs.’
‘He’s not entirely hopeless,’ Bobby agreed. She rubbed her sister’s shoulder. ‘But however real or otherwise his feelings might be, you don’t love him, Lil.’
‘I’m carrying his baby. And for love of that little unhatched life, I’m prepared to throw in my lot with Tony Scott.’ She sighed again. ‘But I did have such dreams about the man I’d marry.’
‘I remember,’ Bobby said, smiling. ‘You had your wedding day all planned out when we couldn’t have been more than seven.’
‘Your toff friend has got a big wedding planned, I suppose,’ Lilian said wistfully.
‘As far as anyone can with a war on. Topsy’s well-off family and friends have chipped in with money and clothing coupons to help it go off with a bang.’
‘When is it to be?’
‘It was supposed to be at the end of this month, but Teddy petitioned to move it to April so they could do it when the days are longer. It’s arranged for the fourth.’
‘I always imagined what a joyful thing it would be to marry someone I loved,’ Lilian said. ‘Dad giving me away, looking so proud. You my maid of honour. I never dreamed of something like this. Something shameful to be got out of the way as soon as possible, that I’d rather everyone I cared about stayed away from.’
Suddenly she burst into tears – silent, racking sobs that convulsed her whole body. Bobby put her arms around her sister and held her tightly until she was calm again.
‘Lil, I’m so sorry,’ she whispered.
