‘In a way, I can see your point of view. I know you must have found it very hard over the years. I also realise that the offer of a large sum of money in your circumstances was very tempting. I did something bad once, a long time ago, and was paid a large amount of money. Once you get a stake, you can make it grow.’

‘I wanted a little club of my own. Before it was too late.’

Briony nodded, as if understanding him, agreeing with him. ‘But the reason you’re here, Evander, is because my niece Liselle knows you exist, Liselle knows about you. No other reason. You understand me?’

He licked dry lips and nodded furiously.

‘I will provide you with money, a car and decent clothes. Also a place to live. You, for your part, will make friends with your daughter, or at least try to. I want her to see you as you once were. If everything works out well, I’ll give you enough to open a club. So my advice to you is, think long and hard about what I just said. The ball is in your court. I want my niece to have a few good memories to take her through her life. You will be one of them.’

To herself she thought, God knows she’ll need them after these last few days.

It was the week before Christmas and the snow was piled high. It was a windowsill winter, as the wags said on the market stalls. The snow cleaned up London while it lay thick, and even the bomb sites looked picturesque.

Evander was now on relatively good terms with his daughter and Kerry was relieved that the trouble was over at last.

Briony, for her part, had pushed it all from her mind, concentrating on getting Evander and Liselle at least partly reconciled. She knew that they had talked a couple of times well into the night and this pleased her immensely.

If Liselle could get some idea of her background it would make her situation easier to bear. There was a marked change in her. She seemed quieter, more controlled. Her easy laugh had disappeared and Briony mourned for the innocent girl that was gone much as she loved the woman who was emerging. Molly was still getting what she termed the ‘bum’s rush’ from everyone, and Briony hoped this taught her a lesson. Even poor old Rosalee was overlooked in the effort to make their mother pay for what she had done.

Evander seemed to have come into his own once he had money in his pocket and at least the appearance of independence. Bessie had whooped with delight at seeing him which pleased Liselle who didn’t know Briony had arranged it. Bessie made Evander out to be the best thing since sliced bread and he sat back and accepted the accolade, unaware that Briony had talked Bessie through it.