First of all, what business was it of hers? More worrying still, why had she even thought of it? It implied that her subconscious mind, at least, had been keeping score. But before she could even begin to explore the reasons behind that unnerving thought, Duncan was already leaning in towards her, his green eyes flashing fire.

‘Yes, it has been a long engagement, hasn’t it?’ he gritted. ‘And have you really never asked yourself why I’m in no damned hurry to walk down the aisle?’

This time, when Trudy opened her mouth, no sound came out. For a moment she simply stared at him, feeling totally nonplussed. Then, as she saw him smile with real satisfaction at the way he’d flummoxed her, she struggled to rally.

‘It’s really none of my business,’ she managed to snap. And turning away from him, she put her hand on the door handle of the café’s front door.

‘Isn’t it, Trudy?’ Duncan snarled, just before she slipped inside.

Chapter 23

Once back inside the warm café, Trudy became aware of just how fast her heart was beating. She suspected her face was also flushed, and she hoped that Vincent Ryder would put her high colour down to the rapid change of temperature from freezing to warm.

She made her way back to the table, firmly keeping her gaze averted from the window and the world outside. But she had no need to worry, Duncan Gillingham had stomped away the moment he’d shot his last bolt.

It might have comforted her to know that he was as angry with himself as with her – or it might not. Right then, she was feeling distinctly flustered.

She thanked Vincent mildly for the slices of buttered malt loaf that were already being brought to the table by their attentive waitress, and sat down with a sigh.

‘So,’ she said briskly, forcing her mind to the matter at hand. ‘Was Geoffrey Thorpe where he said he was, New Year’s Eve?’

‘Yes, he was,’ Vincent said flatly. He had been looking forward to regaling her with how clever he’d been to get that information, but right now, he couldn’t care less. ‘That man, Gillingham,’ he said, very casually instead. ‘Known him long, have you?’

‘Too long,’ Trudy said wryly. ‘As a police officer we have to put up with pains in the bum like him all the time.’

Although she sounded genuinely put out, Vincent hadn’t liked the intensity of that little scene he’d just witnessed outside, nor the flush on her cheeks and the sparkle in her eye when she’d come back to the table.

Did his father know about this reporter bloke, he wondered? One thing was for sure – as soon as Clement got back from his office, Vincent was going to find out all he could about him.