Confident that the tea was safe to drink, Frank carried the cup back to his chair and watched through the net curtain as the Transit van was driven away and the caravan was pushed out of sight down the side of the house.

When Irena headed back inside a short time later, and Karel and the other men disappeared from view, Frank gazed out over the barren landscape and wondered how the hell he was going to get through this. The idea of marrying Irena and making a new will in her favour was ludicrous, and he couldn’t believe that Karel thought it was going to be that easy. But they knew damn well that he would do anything to protect his children, so there was nothing he could do to stop them.

‘Yet.’

The word slipped out from Frank’s lips and took him by surprise, but it reminded him that all was not yet lost. It took time to organize a wedding – even one where there would be no genuine guests to cater for. They would have to apply for a licence and book a slot at the registry office. And, while they waited, they would have to keep him alive – which would give him time to find a way out of this.

21

Frank was still at the window when the Transit van came back two hours later, and he sat forward in his seat when it reversed onto the drive. Nick walked into view and opened its back doors, and Frank’s eyebrows rose when four young women climbed out and looked around as if they had no idea where they were.

Karel strolled out from the porch, and Frank saw that he was grinning as he approached the group. One of the girls smiled back at him, and Frank guessed she was trying to impress him when she flicked her long black hair over her shoulders and straightened her back.

Irena had obviously noticed, too, because she marched over to the group with a tense expression on her face and quickly ushered the girls inside.

Curious to know what was going on, Frank rushed to the door and pressed his ear against the wood.

Downstairs, Irena had lined the girls up in the hallway.

‘Why are we here?’ one of them asked, gazing around in confusion. ‘This is not what I was promise.’

Nick walked in before Irena could answer, and said, ‘OK, ladies, hand your shit over, then Reeny’ll get you settled in.’

‘I need to call my mother and let her know I have arrive,’ another girl said, clutching the holdall she was carrying to her stomach.

‘Don’t worry, we’ll let your folks know you got here safe and sound,’ Nick said, holding out his hand. ‘Come on . . . give it up.’

‘I think there is mistake,’ the first girl piped up. ‘Alexander promise me apartment in city, so I am not stay here.’