‘If you see the young man that thinks he knows me, could you point him out?’ Charity said it casually but her heart was pounding.
Maureen glanced at her and nodded. Charity had been very quiet all morning.
As they approached the field, the men downed their tools and approached them. It was hard working in the hot sun and they were all ready for a break.
Luca saw Charity almost at once and hung back. But at the same instant Charity spotted him and a lump rose to her throat. They stared at each other for a moment before Luca moved forward.
‘Hello, Charity . . . You’re looking well.’
She nodded. ‘So are you.’
‘I hear you’re going to be a mother,’ he said next, and she nodded again. He looked so handsome she could hardly bear to look at him.
‘Then I hope all goes well for you. The farmer is a good man.’
She could hardly believe what she was hearing. She was carrying his child and yet he seemed not to care. But then why would he? He had made his choice. Scarlet was probably waiting in their trailer for him even as he spoke. But why was he here and not travelling with the circus? It was all very strange.
‘Thanks, yes, he is. And how is Scarlet?’
He looked surprised. ‘She was fine the last I saw of her.’
‘Good. Well, I must get on.’ She turned to hurry away, unable to look at him for a moment longer. She knew if she did, she would break down and make a fool of herself.
Maureen was watching them curiously and as Charity passed her, she saw that she was upset. She frowned. There was something strange going on here and she intended to get to the bottom of it. She waited until Luca approached her for his sandwiches before asking, ‘You do know Charity then?’
He nodded but she saw that he looked troubled. ‘Yes, I do.’ And without another word he went to sit in the shade of the hedgerow.
When Maureen got back to the kitchen, she saw instantly that Charity had been crying. She didn’t immediately comment but instead filled the kettle to make a cup of tea.
‘Is everything all right?’ she asked after a time.
‘Yes, fine.’ Without another word, Charity lifted an empty basket and went to gather the eggs in.
Late that evening, when Eddie and the children had retired to bed, Maureen glanced at Charity. They were enjoying a last hot drink before retiring themselves. ‘Is that young man, the one you spoke to today, the baby’s father?’ she asked bluntly.
Charity almost choked on her cocoa. For a moment Maureen thought she wasn’t going to answer her.
But then Charity nodded miserably. ‘Yes, he is.’
‘I thought as much. And from the way he looked at you he still loves you.’
‘So why is he with Scarlet and not me then?’ A hint of angry colour had crept into Charity’s cheeks. It always did when she thought of Luca’s betrayal.
Seeing that she had upset her, Maureen said no more.
The next morning, before the family and Charity were up, Maureen walked to the bottom field. She stared at Luca’s trailer. His old horse was cropping the grass outside and all was quiet. She waited patiently and soon after he appeared, knuckling the sleep from his eyes. As he spotted her, he looked mildly surprised.
‘Good morning,’ she greeted him. ‘I thought I’d come out a little early and gather some mushrooms for breakfast. I don’t suppose you’d care to join us?’
He shook his head. ‘Thank you, but I don’t think Charity and her husband would be too keen on seeing me there.’
Maureen feigned innocent surprise. ‘Charity’s husband? But she doesn’t have one.’
He looked confused. ‘But I thought she was married to Eddie, the farmer.’
Maureen shook her head. ‘Oh no, Charity just works for him.’
Luca scratched his head. ‘But the baby?’
