Jenny smiled and raised a quizzical eyebrow; was Delia coming back to something like normality? ‘He is,’ she agreed. ‘Do you know anything about him, his background, his credentials?’
Delia looked astonished and it showed in her voice. ‘No!’ she exclaimed. ‘I don’t. Why would I ask?’
Jenny gave a little shrug. ‘Just wondered; assessing his worth, you know.’
‘With what intention? As a suitor, do you mean?’ Delia’s voice dropped to a breath.
‘Possibly,’ Jenny teased. Really, Delia was so innocent; so guileless.
‘So, do you – erm – that is, do you like him? Do you think that you and he …?’
‘Oh, not for me, you darling girl,’ Jenny exclaimed. ‘I’m a dyed-in-the-wool spinster. For you, of course!’
Delia was very envious of Jenny’s rooms in Pearson Park. She had a lovely living room with a view over the park, a separate bedroom, and a bathroom just along the landing, and everything was in pristine condition.
‘It’s a new house,’ Jenny explained. ‘They all are, and all built to a certain standard. Zachariah Pearson bestowed the land on the people of Hull so that they could have a park to walk in and enjoy the trees and flowers and have picnics on the grass. Don’t you recall hearing about it?’
Delia nodded. ‘Vaguely.’ She sighed. ‘It’s over ten years since I was last here and I didn’t stay very long. I made our escape to London as soon as I was given the chance. I didn’t want anyone to find me.’ She gave a bitter grimace. ‘But I don’t think that anyone was looking!’
‘That’s behind you now,’ Jenny said briskly. ‘Now, this is what I suggest.’
She outlined her proposal of telling her mother everything but not until after Christmas when Jack and his wife and daughters had moved out to their new house.
Delia was unsure about it and again wondered if she would be believed. After a long discussion, they finally agreed that Peggy would simply be told that Delia had borne Robin out of wedlock and she needed a home for him for a short time until she found regular employment.
I don’t know if it will work, Jenny thought. Delia is so afraid of rejection again. But my mother isn’t stupid; nobody can pull the wool over her eyes, and if she guesses Jack’s the father I don’t know if she will agree not to tell Da, but I won’t tell Delia that. Let her just remain confident that Robin is being well looked after, which is what she really wants.
They ate sandwiches and cake with a pot of tea, and as the day drew on and the sky began to darken they strolled across the park to the main road where Delia would catch the omnibus back to town.
‘You see how convenient it is,’ Jenny said. ‘I can get into town easily on this side of the park or on the other. I love it. And it’s really rather grand living in such an impressive house, even though only in part of it.’
They said their goodbyes as a horse tram arrived and Delia climbed aboard. ‘Don’t worry,’ Jenny called after her. ‘Everything will work out well.’ She immediately thought of another plan that she wouldn’t tell Delia about, and added, ‘I’ll try to call in to see you at your lodgings next Saturday.’
‘What?’ Delia called back as the vehicle moved off, but Jenny just waved her hand.
The following Friday after school Jenny hurried to the railway station to catch a train to Hedon. She hadn’t written to say she was coming in case she changed her mind, having thought about the visit, and wondered if she might be acting hastily, but having decided that she would go she’d written a note to Delia asking her to meet her for lunch at the Maritime the next day.
Dusk had fallen as she arrived in Hedon and she knew she’d have to walk quickly if she were to get home before the skies completely darkened. She left the station and saw one of her cousins stepping into a trap.
‘Richard!’ she called. ‘Are you going home? Can I beg a lift to Thorn? I made a last-minute decision to come home for the weekend!’
‘Course you can. I’ve just come to put a parcel on board the train. How are you? It’s nice to see you. Will you be coming for Christmas?’
‘It’s nice to see you too, but I won’t be able to come at Christmas.’ Her cousin glanced at her curiously.
‘Can’t abide the interrogation, is that it?’ he asked. ‘I know the feeling. I’m always being quizzed about my business plans.’ He shook the reins and they moved off. ‘We’ll be doing the usual rounds of visiting, I expect. It’s quite exhausting, and I sometimes think I’d like to stay at home by my own fireside, but my mother would be upset. Has your mother still got that young lad staying with them? He and Ben have been hitting it off at school; they’ve become good pals. Ben said he makes all ’other bairns laugh.’
‘Does he? Yes, I think he’s still there. You know my ma, she loves having children to stay. Did you hear that Jack and Susan are moving out after Christmas?’ she said to change the subject. ‘Ma will miss having the girls there.’
‘But they’re keeping Molly with them, I understand? Susan told us she’s a handful to deal with.’
Jenny prickled. ‘No she’s not! But she needs someone firm who understands her, and Susan plainly doesn’t.’
‘Ooh, touched a nerve there, did I?’
‘Yes, actually you did. Molly needs a chance, just the same as any other child. She’s very bright and
