‘I’m telling you, Evander, you’re in over your head, boy. From what I have been told, her dear sister, our employer, is now some kind of gang boss here. Her and that Tommy wasted four men the other night! They’re bad people to mess with, and you’re sleeping with her kid sister.’

Glennford’s face was covered with a thin sheen of sweat. Since hearing the talk about Briony and Tommy he had become very worried for his friend, and not a little concerned for himself and the other members of his band. Mud tended to stick in his experience, and the mud would be flying in all directions if Evander’s association with Kerry Cavanagh came to light.

‘I’ll sort it out, don’t worry.’ Evander’s voice was low. His athletic body moved away with speed and easy grace. Glennford stared after him, a feeling of foreboding inside him.

Evander walked to Kerry and smiled at her.

‘You look beautiful.’

Kerry smiled up into his eyes and gave a low throaty chuckle.

‘So do you.’ Without thinking what she was doing, Kerry put up her fingers and touched his face gently.

Glennford watched the exchange and felt the feeling of foreboding once more.

‘You look as white as a ghost, Briony. Are you drinking enough milk?’

Molly’s voice was beginning to annoy Briony. Taking a deep breath, she said: ‘Give it a rest, Mum. It’s been a hectic few days.’

Molly wiped Rosalee’s face with a handkerchief and grinned. ‘It has that, child. Oh, you should have seen the way I was treated down the Lane. Like visiting royalty. “Yes, Mrs Cavanagh. No, Mrs Cavanagh. And how’s the girls, Mrs Cavanagh? Give Briony my regards, Mrs Cavanagh.” Huh! The two-faced bastards. I can remember when I couldn’t get a fecking smile outa them. When I had a shilling on a piece of string to see me through the week. Collecting the rotten veg from the gutters as they packed up for the day to keep you lot fed. While that drunken sod of a father pissed away the money in The Chequers ...’

Briony put her hand up to her head and groaned.

‘Oh, Mum, we’re not going through all that again, are we? You’re all right now, aren’t you? You’ve got plenty of money now. Don’t I see you all right?’

Molly looked at her daughter with concern.