“There always are with a settlement this large.” Virginia liked the word “large.” “But we may still have a problem or two.” She didn’t care so much for “problem or two.” “We’ve agreed on a settlement of one million dollars, along with a maintenance order of ten thousand a month for the child’s upbringing and education.”

Virginia gasped. Not in her wildest dreams … “How can that possibly be a problem?” she asked.

“You must agree not to reveal the identity of the father to anyone, and that means anyone.”

“I’m happy to agree to that.”

“You and the child will never be allowed to set foot in Louisiana, and if either of you ever decide to travel to the United States, Grant’s lawyers must be informed at least a month in advance.”

“I’ve only been to the States once in my life,” said Virginia, “and I have no plans to return.”

“The child’s surname must be Fenwick,” continued Trend, “and Mr. Grant has to approve the Christian names you select.”

“What’s he worried about?”

“He wants to make sure that if it’s a boy, you don’t call him Cyrus T. Grant IV.”

Virginia laughed. “I’ve already selected the name if it’s a boy.”

“And if any of these conditions are broken at any time, all payments will immediately cease.”

“That’s quite an incentive to keep to the agreement,” said Virginia.

“All payments will automatically cease in 1995, by which date it is assumed the child will have completed his or her full-time education.”

“I’ll be nearly seventy by then.”

“And finally, Mr. Grant’s attorneys will be sending a doctor and a nurse to England to witness the birth.”

Virginia was glad Trend couldn’t see her face. Once she’d put the phone down, she immediately rang Desmond Mellor to ask him how they could possibly get around that seemingly intractable problem. When the phone rang again at 7:45 the following morning, Desmond had come up with a solution.

“But won’t Dr. Norris object?” asked Virginia.

“Not while there’s a chance he might have to explain to his wife and children why he’s been struck off the medical register.”

*   *   *

Virginia waited until she heard the siren before she called her lawyer in Baton Rouge.

“The baby’s going to be born prematurely,” she screamed down the phone. “I’m on my way to the hospital now!”

“I’ll inform Grant’s attorneys immediately.”