Ben was focused on Alice. He felt sick with fear for her. Both for now, that she might faint again, and for the time that was to come. But what could he have done? At least she was financially secure, more so than any of his other children. In the long run, it was for the better. And still he looked grim.

He was momentarily pulled out of his pondering, when he heard Benny speak up and turned. How dared that twat. He opened his mouth, but before he could say something, Rose slapped the young man across the face.