There was no hesitation this time. ‘If you make it worth my while.’

I hung up, too appalled to say anything else.

‘She must have put two and two together after I spoke to her.’ I swallowed back the nausea churning in my stomach. ‘I shouldn’t have been so obvious. It was stupid to think she’d have any loyalty to Nana Joy. How am I going to explain being such an idiot?’

‘You can’t undo it, and you’ve already spoken to Jonty and Cora about how sorry you are. What matters now is what we do next.’

I sucked in a shuddering breath. The city was behind us now, the forest mere minutes up ahead.

‘What are we going to do next?’

‘We tell your parents and let them decide. Although, you do need to contact Pat O’Dowd as soon as possible. Before the journalists get a chance to.’

It was well after six o’clock, but the journalists would show no respect for her evening curfew, and that meant I couldn’t either.

‘Who is this?’ she snapped, answering after almost a minute of rings.

‘Pat, it’s Bea Armstrong. I visited you yesterday to talk about Tony’s friendship with my grandmother, Joy Papplewick.’ Was it only yesterday?

‘I told you I don’t know anything about that.’

‘Yes, and I really appreciate your help. Only, I’m sorry to say I have some news that might come as quite a shock.’

‘What’s he done?’

‘Do you remember all the interest in Joy’s son, and who the father might be?’

‘Not really.’

‘Well, it was Tony.’

I waited a moment to allow it to sink in, but Pat didn’t seem to need one.

‘Is that it?’

‘Well, um, no. Somebody’s sold the story to the Chronicle. They’re planning on printing it tomorrow. I’m afraid it’s quite likely they’ll be in touch asking you for a comment. I’m so sorry, I know this must be upsetting.’

‘They can ask away!’ she said, with a laugh verging on flippant. ‘And why would I be upset? I hadn’t seen that waste of space since nineteen eighty-seven. He’d charmed two more fools into marrying him since me. Sounds like Joy Papplewick had her head screwed on right, not telling him he was a dad. Or maybe she did, and he wanted nothing to do with the baby. He wasn’t a man to stick around if there was nothing in it for him. Tell your granny not to worry, though. I know what it’s like to be caught up in his mess. I’m saying nothing to nobody. Now, if you don’t mind I’m watching The Chase: Celebrity Special.’

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