And Nicola was pregnant. Just. She had not yet told Matthew because she wanted to be a little further on before she did so. So far she had managed to contain the throwing-up to times when he was not around but it had not worked so well at work and Barbara had guessed – rightly this time – and offered her congratulations, although she was sworn to silence as yet. Damn it, she never meant to tell the woman before she told her husband but she could hardly deny it when she asked outright and she was being very considerate, bringing her a packet of ginger biscuits next day: Barbara’s remedy for morning sickness. She would tell Gerry Gilbert in due time and of course it would be no surprise whatsoever to him for hadn’t he been willing a pregnancy on her for ages now? She could not keep the secret much longer from her mother, who was eyeing her up closely whenever she saw her, but Matthew should be the first to know. How could she have ever thought that she did not want children?
