Belinda stood up and moved across to the old lady to give her a gentle hug. ‘Thank you for talking to me and reaching out to people to find out about my father. I sincerely hope I haven’t tired you out. Can I get you anything before you retire?’

‘No thank you. Fern always makes sure I have water in my bedroom and I have a book. Goodnight and see you again soon, I hope.’

‘I’ll take the supper tray through to the kitchen and close the front door behind me when I leave,’ Belinda said.

Closing the auberge door behind her and reeling from the things Anouk had told her, Belinda pressed the key fob to open the car doors and sank down into the driver’s seat. It was five minutes before she’d pulled herself together sufficiently to drive the short distance to the campsite.

As Belinda parked her car, Alain was coming out of the cottage with BB.

‘Late-night patrol? May I come?’

‘Of course. How did it go this evening? Did Anouk know anything?’ Alain asked when Belinda rejoined him, having grabbed a jacket as well as changing her shoes.

‘Yes. She’d taken the trouble to make some phone calls too. She knew the whole story bang up to date.’

As they walked, Belinda told Alain everything Anouk had told her, including the fact that her dad was still alive, if very ill.

‘The thing I can’t get my head around though is, did he ever tell Mum about Helena and the fact he was married? And did she convince herself she didn’t want to get married because there was no chance of it happening. Or did the two of them decide together that they didn’t need a marriage certificate? Mum always said they were a couple of hippies.’ Belinda stopped. ‘Actually, I don’t think she did know. I still remember the way she flipped the day she dragged me away. Totally out of character for her.’ Belinda shook her head. ‘So much I don’t understand and probably never will now.’

She stopped walking suddenly and turned to face Alain.

‘How old are you exactly?’

‘Fifty-five.’

‘Two years older than me, so you would have been nineteen when the so-called “Belrose” scandal erupted,’ Belinda said thoughtfully. ‘Did you hear about it at the time?’

Alain shook his head. ‘At the time, non. I am away in Rennes studying. Besides, I’m a young man and more interested in le football and les girls.’ He paused and looked at her. ‘Mais, my parents knew about it when I asked them today. I think they knew your mama.’

Belinda started walking again, her thoughts in turmoil.

‘Do you want to go and see your father?’ Alain asked quietly.

Belinda didn’t answer him straight away and he didn’t push her.