Edie nodded. ‘You’d better tell me all the truth then,’ she said quietly. ‘At a guess I’d say she never married the Da Silva boy or, if she did, he didn’t father the child. Not that she’ll need to say that exactly . . .’

‘She didn’t marry anyone, because Mario was married already, but she had a fling with him some time ago which resulted in her condition,’ Albert said delicately. ‘She shouldn’t mention him by name, of course, because once the authorities can put a name to the father they will pursue him for maintenance. It’s best if she says she had a holiday romance and doesn’t know anything about the man, save that he’s an American.’

‘If she sticks to that story we should be all right,’ Edie said, giving Albert an inquisitive look. ‘It’s essentially true, isn’t it? Except of course that she knows Mario’s name and address. But she wouldn’t want to ruin his marriage by letting his wife know he had been unfaithful.’

‘If I’m honest, my dear, I think Janine would like nothing better than to make trouble for him. He seems to have lied to her right from the start,’ Albert said, just as the door opened and Janine slipped quietly into the shop.

‘Good morning, everyone,’ she said in a very subdued voice. ‘I’m ready, Dad. I’m dreading the whole business, but I’ve brought my passport and my birth certificate like you said . . . Oh, dear, if only I had a pal who’d be willing to come with me!’ She looked up at her father and he saw that once more she wore no make-up and was pale and wan, with dark circles under her eyes.

‘I don’t think I’d be much good, queen,’ Albert said gently. ‘But Edie here knows how to deal with officialdom and has offered to go with you. It’s up to you, of course . . .’

Albert had had his doubts about how Edie’s offer would be received, but he need not have worried. His daughter might be – indeed was – jealous of the other woman, she might dislike or even mistrust her, but as Albert repeated Edie’s offer he saw the brittle smile on Janine’s face become full of delight and relief and was not surprised when Janine almost fell into the older woman’s arms. ‘Oh, thank you, Mrs Williams, you are good,’ she gabbled. ‘It’ll make all the difference to have another woman sticking up for me. Can we go at once, please? I’d really like to get it over with, and then I mean to rest on my bed for an hour or so . . .’

‘That’s right, you take care of yourself and my little grandchild,’ Albert said expansively as Edie took off her shop overall and put on her coat. ‘I’ll hold the fort here with Mitch and Elsie, but I doubt there’ll be many customers, or not until the snow eases up at any rate.’