Rosalee guessed she was being talked about, and whimpered. Her fat cheeks were white and her eyes a flat grey. Briony took one pudgy hand in hers and squeezed it gently.

Well, we’re here now. I thought you might like to come for Christmas, Mum, you and Rosalee?’

Her sister whimpered and took her hand from Briony’s. Holding it to her side, she rocked herself in the chair.

‘Is her hand hurting, Mum? Has she knocked it?’

Molly shrugged.

‘Not that I know of, but come to think of it, she’s been holding it like that for a while. I looked her over last week and I can’t find anything wrong there. No broken bones anyway. I think it’s the snow. She hates the cold. All she wants to do is sit in front of that fire and keep as warm as toast.’

Molly bent down to her daughter and smiled widely. ‘Don’t you, darlin’?’

Rosalee smiled and nodded, her face devoid of any real expression.

‘We’ll try and come for Christmas but with Mother Jones as she is... Well, I can’t leave her, can I?’

‘I suppose not.’

Molly put the kettle on for tea and said nonchalantly, ‘Will that... Will Liselle’s father be there for Christmas like?’

‘Yes. He will. We’re all having dinner at my place.’

Briony frowned to herself. She was treading a fine line at the moment with Evander and Liselle. The girl felt that her father’s disfigurement was all Briony’s fault, and in reality it was. But it was all a long time ago, and in her youthful ignorance Liselle couldn’t understand different circumstances and different times.

‘What’s he really like then? This ... Liselle’s father?’

Daniel and Boysie looked at their gran and felt sorry for her. She couldn’t even bring herself to say his name.

‘He’s all right. Ain’t he, Danny? He loves Liselle, Gran. He really does. I think it’s done her good meeting him. She seems more grown-up somehow. More sure of herself.’

Molly made the tea and kept her peace. A little while later she went into Mother Jones with a small bowl of broth and some soda bread. Briony and the twins joined her.

Rosalee sat by the fire, the pins and needles in her arms beginning to fade a little now. But the pain across her chest, as if a great weight was lying across it, was still there.