‘I what?’ I stood over him and last night’s fury welled up again. ‘You expect me to forgive you for the way you blackmailed me? I was at my weakest, most vulnerable ever, and you used that absolutely to your advantage.’

With a huge shudder, I remembered his visits to my father’s house, my dad grateful for Charlie’s apparent concern while he’d actually muttered in my ear about drugs and prostitutes and millionaires’ sons – but mostly about how I’d let him down.

‘You knew I was delirious from shock and painkillers, and you made me feel so cheap, so worthless I wanted to practically kill myself.’ I winced as I saw myself in that hospital bed; in my old bedroom at my father’s when I would wake sweating, convinced I was trapped in that coach again. Winced as I remembered praying Alex would come and make it all all right again, only he never did.

‘You twisted things so I was terrified my dad would find out – and that’s the only reason I agreed to your stupid deal. I hadn’t really done anything wrong. I was just in a mess.’ I slammed the chair under the table angrily. ‘So I lost myself for a bit, so what? I’m better now.’ I stared down at him. ‘And d’you know what else?’ The pub held its collective breath. Charlie smoothed his bouffant hair back nervously.

‘You can take your stupid show and stick it up Renee’s arse, that’s what.’ The barmaid’s eyes were round with astonishment. ‘You’ll forgive me if I don’t invite you back for coffee.’

Peter Trevenna from the farm across the lane nearly fell off his stool with excitement as I crossed the snug, Digby skittering on the flagstones behind me. Slamming out into the crisp December air, I muttered all the way home, crunching up the drive to Pendarlin, and when I was inside I locked all the doors behind me.

‘Good riddance to bad rubbish,’ I said, shooting the final bolt home. ‘Hey, Dig?’ For once I knew I’d done the right thing.

Chapter Forty-One

Chapter Forty-One