‘Anyway, seems that Tommy Lane went to Victoria Park and caused all sorts! I heard this morning that Ronnie Olds is dead, Micky Campbell, Marcenello and Willy Bolger! Though no one’s gonna miss him! Cut Ronnie Olds up right under his brothers’ noses they did. The Old Bill has been crawling around like maggots on a bit of rancid bacon. Well, they ain’t gonna find out nothing, are they? No one’s gonna put their face in the frame for the likes of them, I ask you. That Briony Cavanagh was there by all accounts, with the big Swede Jurgens. Now there’s two women I wouldn’t fancy...’

His voice trailed off and Joshua wiped his tongue around his teeth before saying: ‘Go on, Billy. Finish what you was going to say.’

Billy was terrified - not of Joshua, he had known Joshua for years. He was terrified of the fact Joshua was soon to be a part of that set-up too. He was marrying Briony’s sister.

‘Say what you was going to say, Billy, I ain’t going to have a go nor nothing. I want to know what you was going to say.’

Billy was as red as a beetroot, even his neck was flushed. ‘I never meant nothing by it, Joshua, everyone knows Eileen’s a good kid. I mean, she can’t help her stock, can she? Can any of us?’

This was a veiled reference to Joshua’s father and he digested the words before he said: ‘In future, Billy, think before you open your mouth. I’m a peaceable man but my wife’s family is soon to be my family and I can’t listen to anyone bad-mouthing them, can I?’

Billy shook his great head furiously. ‘No, Josh ... You’re right, I was out of order.’

Joshua smiled and carried on eating his food.

But he was worried. Eileen’s sisters had not really played a part in his life, not yet anyway. But all he had heard this morning was how Briony and Tommy Lane had taken on the hard men and won. It was just occurring to him that his sweet-faced Eileen, with her angelic face and compliant nature, might be more trouble than she was worth.

Bernadette and Kerry were sorting through a pile of clothes together. They’d had a truce since Kerry had made it plain she would brook no trouble. Bernie for her part was frightened of her sister now. Besides being her employer, she was Bernie’s ticket out of the East End. Evander was not discussed by mutual consent and they played a game that everything was as it had been, though both knew that to regain their old easy footing would be impossible now. They walked around each other carefully, weighing up their words and phrases. It was exhausting for them both.