This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously.

THE SECRETS OF MIDWIVES.
Copyright Â© 2015 by Sally Hepworth. All rights reserved. For information, address St. Martin's Press, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10010.

www.stmartins.com

Cover designed by Michael Storrings

Cover photographs: woman Â© Thomas Szadziuk/Trevillion Images; girl with ballon Â© Stefan Cioata/Getty Images; boys Â© Imgorthand/Getty Images; background image Â© Louise Fahy/Arcangel Images

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The Library of Congress has cataloged the print edition as follows:

Hepworth, Sally.

Â Â Â Â The secrets of midwives / Sally Hepworth.Â â 1st. ed.

Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â p. cm.

Â Â Â Â ISBN 978-1-250-05189-9 (hardcover)

Â Â Â Â ISBN 978-1-4668-5263-1 (e-book)

Â Â 1.Â Â MidwivesâFiction.Â Â 2.Â Â Family secretsâFiction. I. Title.

Â Â Â Â PR9619.4.H48S48 2015

Â Â Â Â 823'.92âdc23

2014033628

e-ISBN 9781466852631

First Edition: February 2015