Suddenly Ivy was putty in his hands again and hating herself for ever having doubted him.

‘Well, you’re back now so how about I go home and get changed and then we can go out for a bit of supper?’ she suggested brightly.

His face became solemn as he shook his head. ‘I’d absolutely love to,’ he told her. ‘But the boss has just got word to me about a story breaking in Brighton and the thing is …’ He hung his head and looked embarrassed. ‘When I arrived home I realised that I’d left my wallet back at Mother’s so do you think you could see your way clear to lending me a few bob?’

Ivy pursed her lips as she thought of the pay packet she had just collected. She had intended to use it to settle up her half of the month’s bills with Holly. She already owed her some because Jeremy hadn’t paid back the last amount he’d borrowed from her. But then when he looked at her so beseechingly like that, with the smile that made him look like a little boy desperate to please, she felt her resolve not to give him any more money begin to waver. How could she refuse him under the circumstances? He must have been so afraid when his mother took ill.

She withdrew her wage packet asking resignedly, ‘So how much do you need this time?’

Taking it from her he tipped most of it into his hand before handing a measly amount of coins left back to her.

‘That should keep me ticking over nicely. And don’t worry, sweetheart. I’ll pay you back just as soon as ever I can. But now I really must be off if I’m going to get the train to Brighton. I’ll see you as soon as I get back, have a good weekend.’ And then he was off, without even a goodbye kiss, striding through the crowds and she sighed as she watched him go. Ivy was falling more and more in love with Jeremy by the day, but every so often she couldn’t help thinking that he didn’t feel the same. She shook the thought away. Of course he loved her, but he was going through a difficult time at the moment so wasn’t able to pay her as much attention as she would have liked. She just needed to be patient.

Jeremy meanwhile had a spring in his step as he headed to a gentlemen’s club in Soho. There was going to be a big card game there tonight and now that he had money in his pocket he intended to be a part of it. His latest lover, unfortunately, wasn’t as generous as some he’d had before but thankfully Ivy never let him down. He was fully aware that she’d give him her last penny if he asked so he was more than happy to keep her dangling, the silly little cow!