As they drove back over the Yorkshire border towards home, Delia noticed the occasional little smiles on her friend’s face and the soft flush on her cheeks and was happy for her. I believe that life is going to change for Jenny, she thought. I think that she will become Arthur’s wife and be the new mistress of Holme Manor. She will be able to cope with Arthur and he will be pleased to let her organize him and the house. I think they’ll be content together. She gave a small sigh. I’ve never been envious, but although I don’t want riches it must be wonderful to have someone in your life who cares.
But then she reproached herself and looked across at Robin, who was falling asleep after an unusually late night, his head lolling on Giles’s arm, for he had been allowed to stay up for dinner. I’m so lucky. I have my son. Her gaze caught that of Giles, who was watching her and gave her a gentle smile. Her breath caught in her throat. Could I ever hope?
By the time they arrived in Hull and Jenny was taken home, it was too late for Robin to travel to Paull. Delia was due to start work at the theatre the next morning in her new role as under-manager, so Giles offered to take him.
‘I could travel by myself,’ Robin insisted. ‘I’d be all right.’
‘I’d rather you didn’t, just yet,’ Delia said. ‘And as Mr Dawson has offered …’
‘I’d like to,’ Giles told the boy. ‘I’d like to have another look at the estuary, and if we catch the early train we could perhaps walk to Paull and along the river bank before you go to school in the afternoon?’
‘Oh, yes, we could do that.’ Robin was eager at once. ‘If we walk past the Hedon Arms we could follow where the old haven used to be. Mother and I went that way when she first brought me to Paull. It was very dark and I couldn’t see where we were going.’
Delia had tucked him up in her bed and thought how lovely it would be to have him with her and cuddle up close. She went back downstairs and found that Giles had asked the landlady for a pot of tea for them both, and she had also brought a plate of biscuits and cheese.
‘I really appreciate that you have offered to take Robin tomorrow,’ she said, but Giles brushed aside her thanks.
‘You can hardly ask for time off on your first day as deputy manager,’ he smiled.
‘Perhaps not,’ she agreed. ‘I did think I might let Robin travel alone as he wanted to, but I would have felt nervous, and what would the Robinsons have thought?’
He shook his head in admonishment. ‘Delia,’ he reproached her, ‘you must stop worrying about what people think about you. I, for one, think that you have done splendidly to bring up a well-behaved, well-mannered child. I’m looking forward to getting to know him better, and tomorrow will be a good opportunity.’
‘Thank you.’ She lowered her head. ‘You’re a good friend.’ I wish, she thought, I wish … but no, it cannot be, so I mustn’t even think of it.
‘Come and sit down, Delia.’ He drew a chair out for her. ‘I’ll pour the tea.’
She laughed. ‘You’re a very unusual man. Most men would wait for the woman to pour.’
‘I’ve had ten years of pouring tea or coffee for myself,’ he said enigmatically. ‘It’s nice to be able to share with someone.’
‘Of course – sorry.’
‘You’re doing it again, Delia.’ He handed her a cup of steaming tea. ‘You don’t need to apologize.’
The next morning the three of them walked in the direction of the railway station and Delia showed Robin the theatre. When she said goodbye she hugged him and told him how wonderful it had been to have had the weekend with him.
‘It’s been lovely, Mother,’ Robin agreed. ‘I’ve really enjoyed it and I was so pleased to see Mr Arthur Crawshaw again, and I can’t wait to tell the girls and Granny Peg and Aaron all about the big house.’ His face creased into a big grin. ‘And sliding down the banister!’ Then he considered. ‘I wondered about asking Aaron if we might go out in his shrimp boat if there’s time later.’ He turned to Giles. ‘Maybe you could come too, Mr Dawson.’
‘I’d like that,’ Giles said. ‘But I understood you were going to school this afternoon?’
‘He is!’ Delia said. ‘You’re not on holiday yet. Off you go.’ She waved them goodbye before turning back to the theatre. She heard Giles telling Robin that he used to sail on the river Ouse when he was a boy and Robin asking what sort of boat he sailed and did he ever go fishing, and with a mixture of sadness and pleasure she realized that her boy could survive without her.
When the train pulled into Hedon station, Aaron was waiting with the horse and trap and if Robin felt any disappointment at not being able to walk to Paull, he didn’t show it.
Aaron shook hands with Giles and murmured that he thought Dorothy might have come, then corrected himself and said he meant Delia. When Giles explained about her starting at the theatre that morning, Aaron deliberated for a moment and then said quietly, ‘You’ll come home with us, will you? Have a bite to eat? We, erm, we need to get an urgent message to her.’
Giles raised his eyebrows in a query, but Aaron nodded towards Robin who was talking to the old horse. ‘Summat’s happened,’ Aaron muttered. ‘She might be required back here. But not a word in front of her lad.’
‘I’m not in a hurry to get back,’ Giles said. ‘I told Robin we’d have a walk by the estuary before he goes back to school this afternoon.’
‘Mmm, well mebbe not today,’ Aaron replied. ‘There’re things going on down by ’river bank. I’ll explain later.’
Robin greeted Peggy with
