Molly flapped her hand at her daughter and laughed out loud. ‘I’d rather my girls did it in nicer surroundings as well. When I think of what we came from and where we are now. Well, I tell you, girl, it does me heart good. Even my Rosie looks a different girl.’

Rosalee, hearing her name, grinned and clapped her hands together.

‘Bri, Bri.’

‘She loves the bones of you, Briony. You’ve done so well, child. I couldn’t have been happier at the way you’ve turned out. You lot could have been living in the basements now with four or five children hanging round your necks and the back of some bastard’s hand round your lug on a Friday. But not my girls! I can look people in the face now and say: “Not my girls.” My girls are women to be envious of, and believe me, people are envious of you. That Nellie Flanagan - well, it’s like a poker up her arse to think of you lot and what you’ve become!’

Briony laughed despite herself.

‘I hope you won’t use expressions like that if Kerry does bring home an Earl’s son!’

Molly grinned back and said in her best imitation of a posh voice: ‘I’d say poker up her behind if I was in good company!’

They laughed together loudly, Briony’s laugh bordering on the hysterical.

Molly wiped her eyes with the back of her hand and said seriously to her daughter, ‘You’re all right, Bri, aren’t you? I mean, now you’re like you are. It’s what you wanted, isn’t it?’

Briony felt an urge to tell her mother everything in her heart, but she knew Molly wouldn’t want to hear it. So instead she lit herself a cigarette and said brightly, ‘Of course I am! You’re looking at the first female Baron of this town, and I intend to keep me title, Mother, no matter what. Me and Tommy have this place sewn up.’

Molly laughed in delight. That was exactly what she wanted to hear. After experiencing life with an influential daughter, a really influential daughter, she couldn’t bear the thought of having her new position taken from her.

To Briony, this knowledge was just another cross to bear.

Briony walked into the warmth of The Windjammer and listened to the sounds of conversation and glasses rattling. Giving her coat to Donna, the hat check girl, she smiled at her briefly before entering the club itself.