‘Because my mother abandoned me in the doorway of Madame Burova’s booth when I was just a tiny baby.’

‘Why?’

Billie drummed her fingers along the brim of her hat in a futile attempt to dissipate her discomfort.

‘I’ve no idea,’ she replied eventually. ‘I don’t even know who she was.’

Clive bent down and adjusted one shoelace whose ends had become very slightly uneven in length. Once satisfied that perfect symmetry had been restored, he sat up straight, staring out to sea and placed his hands down carefully in his lap.

‘I know,’ he told Billie. ‘I saw her do it.’

Chapter 39

Chapter 39

Now

They had settled on a shade of pale primrose. Once Treasure had finished constructing the new shelves, he and Billie began painting and Imelda and Mabel left them to it. The smell of paint made Mabel sneeze, and once she had approved of the redecorating plans, Imelda was keen to leave Treasure and Billie alone so that they could get to know one another better. She certainly wasn’t matchmaking, she told herself. She was simply trying to help Billie make more friends in Brighton.

‘And he didn’t say anything else?’

Billie was discussing MI5 Clive’s revelation with Treasure.

‘He refused to say another word. Just got up, said goodbye and left.’

‘What did Imelda say when you told her?’

‘She seemed as shocked as I was. She said that if it was true, he hadn’t said anything to anyone at the time.’

Treasure worked his paintbrush back and forth in even strokes, spreading sticky sunshine over the wall. ‘He’s a strange one, Clive. But I can’t think of any reason why he would fabricate something like that. He’s been hanging around the promenade for years, and I can certainly remember him being here when I was kid.’

Billie was trying to emulate Treasure’s proficient painting skills, but she already had yellow splashes on her face and fingers. ‘Do you remember the others too? The ones from Larkins who used to come to the café?

‘Vaguely.’ Treasure frowned. ‘Of course, Jeanie used to be there, but she’s my cousin. She used to bring her snooty friend with her, the one from the secretarial place where she worked before she got a job as a singer. I didn’t really pay that much attention to the others from Larkins. Once I got my dog, Star, I spent more time with Imelda and Grisha.’

Billie nodded. ‘Imelda’s first dog, the borzoi?’ She’d seen photos at Imelda’s house.