‘We won’t tell Brendan,’ Isobel said. ‘That’s what we’ll do—we won’t tell him. I’ll have to speak to Jack Bellamy and ask him not to say anything to Bren, either.’
‘I would like to help you, Isobel,’ Esther said. She folded her arms under her stomach, still aching a little. ‘The bed you made for me—well, it won’t do for much longer. I’m getting bigger now and I can’t rest so easily on it. Might we buy a frame and a mattress?’
‘Those things are expensive.’
‘But, still.’
‘What about Bren? Rent is one thing, and no one can complain about the better food. But a new bed? He’ll have something to say about that.’
Esther felt a small flame of anger; that she should sleep on a box to protect her brother-in-law’s pride! But there was Isobel. ‘Tell him …’ Esther cast about the room. She spotted
