Little Herbert was Patricia Pelham's first living child. Or rather - her only living child.
She had had a stillborn daughter before that, as well as three late miscarriages. She and her husband had almost given up hope of children when little Herbert arrived.
...
Herbert was a very small baby. He was born almost two months too early and only weighed a little more than five pounds. "I'm certain the baby will live", the doctor said, but that was what made Patricia unable to believe he would. Why would the doctor say a thing like that if there was no danger?
No, Patricia didn't dare to believe the doctor. She was certain that they were going to lose little Herbert, just like they had lost all their other children.
She didn't think she would ever be allowed to see her son grow up. Perhaps it made her cooler to her baby son than she would otherwise have been. It took her almost a year to really understand that Bertie was actually going to stay with them.
...
Bertie was a child who didn't give up easily. He was very stubborn when he wanted something. But he was also very friendly. It was hard to say no to a child that just asked in a polite and friendly way, time and time again until his smiles and persistence had managed to overcome all resistance.
Patricia's husband thought she spoilt their son. And perhaps she did. "Spare the rod and spoil the child", they say. And Patricia had never ever hit her child, not with her hand, still less with a rod.
He was too precious to her. And she didn't want to hurt him.
...
Who could blame her for wanting the best for her son? Patricia thought.
But of course she knew who blamed her - Bertie himself did. He didn't blame her for wanting the best for him, he blamed her for thinking she knew better than him what was best for him.
That was what it all came down to, of course.
Edith.
How could an unmarried mother, a woman with a scandal that could be exposed to the world any moment, be the best for Bertie?
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