Bill flashed a smile slightly more genuine when she praised him. Aye, he did feel he hadn't done badly, given where he had come from. Or at least he had felt that way until his offspring had started getting themselves into trouble, making him wonder where he had gone wrong and whether he had passed on bad blood.

But Jane's next remark did not land well. He looked up defensively. "Lottie's the best woman in all of England! She's kind an' sweet an' smart an' 'ardworkin', and she knows 'ow to keep a house and raise bairns. She makes us 'appy! I couldn't 'ave married a better woman!" He eyes rested on her darkly as if daring her to disagree with him.