‘What kind of things?’ asked Carole, keen to establish Malee’s position before she revealed anything of her own.

With a wry, pained smile, the widow said, ‘Oh, that I was always bad news for Bill. That I cut him off from everyone else. That I wouldn’t allow him to go fishing with Red.’

‘Red?’

‘An old friend of his from schooldays. They used to go sea fishing every Sunday in Red’s boat. That’s where he lives, in the boat. Down on the Fether, at the marina. I’ve no doubt everyone says I stopped Bill from going on those fishing trips.’

The very accusation Rhona Hampton had made to Jude. Though, of course, Carole hadn’t been there to hear it.

‘No, I am not surprised at anything that’s said about me. For Fethering, I am the Wicked Witch of the West.’ With a sardonic grin, she added, ‘Or perhaps it should be Wicked Witch of the East, in my case. Anyway, in the eyes of Fethering, there is no enormity of which I am incapable. I am sure the expression “gold-digger” has been used more than once.’

There seemed no point in denial. ‘Yes, I’m afraid it has,’ Carole admitted.

‘I knew that would happen from the moment I fell in love with Bill. And yes, it was love.’ There was a challenge in the look she cast on Carole. ‘Though I do not necessarily expect you to believe that.’

‘I have no reason not to,’ said Carole, though that was a slight sanitizing of her actual views.

‘There are lots of corny clichés on the subject,’ said Malee, again surprising Carole by her articulacy. ‘Saying that, when you are in love, age is not an issue. Well, with Bill and me, that was true.’

‘I have to say, Malee, that your English is extraordinarily good.’

‘Thank you.’

‘Did you study it back in Thailand?’

‘Only a little. But in the hotels and restaurants where I worked there were a lot of English people. I am good at listening. And since I have been in England, I have done evening classes in English.’

‘And in book-keeping, I hear,’ said Carole, remembering Frankie’s fears of being elbowed out of a job.

‘Yes.’

‘And car maintenance …’ Carole hazarded.

‘That too. There are wonderful educational opportunities here in England. Much better than what was available in Thailand. I wanted to take advantage of all of them.’

‘With a view to helping Bill in his business?’

‘With a view more to understanding Bill’s business.’

That sounded like an honest answer. Carole changed tack. ‘Was it a wrench for you to leave everyone behind in Thailand? I’ve heard that family is very important for people of your … erm, in your …’ Carole fought for the politically correct words, before coming up with the acceptable ‘in your culture.’