Vivienne turned to face her.

‘It was one night. A stupid fling, best forgotten.’

‘But . . .’

‘No buts.’ Vivienne’s stony expression made it clear that there was to be no further discussion.

‘When do you leave for London?’ she asked, deliberately changing the subject.

Jeanie had been offered a job as a singer in a club through a contact of Charlie’s, and after numerous arguments with her dad and the eventual intervention and support of her Aunt Ruby, she had been permitted to accept.

‘Tomorrow. I can’t wait! I’ll miss Larkins but this is my big chance! It’s . . . well, it’s London!’ Her excitement crackled.

‘I’ll miss you. You’ve been a good friend.’

‘I’ll miss you too,’ Jeanie replied, but she wasn’t so sure it was true. Her world was now bright with endless possibilities and their friendship was one that she had almost outgrown. She was a songbird about to fly the nest, while Vivienne would consent to have her wings clipped and return to her gilded cage.

Jeanie handed the baby back to Vivienne, who gently kissed her daughter’s cheek and laid her in the cot.

‘I bought her a present.’ Jeanie took a small package wrapped in tissue paper from her bag. It contained a silver christening bracelet.

‘I thought that maybe we could call her Billie, just for now. After Billie Holiday.’

Jeanie had been afraid that Vivienne wouldn’t want to give her baby a name, but she couldn’t bear the thought of the little girl being given up without anything to say that someone had cared about her. Vivienne took the bracelet from her and ran her fingers over the letters engraved on its surface.

‘Billie. It suits her.’ She slipped the bracelet onto her daughter’s deliciously pudgy wrist and angrily wiped away the traitorous tears that she was unable to contain.

‘Yes, of course we should call her Billie. But on one condition.’ Vivienne took Jeanie’s hands in her own and squeezed them tightly.

‘Promise me that you’ll never breathe a word about any of this to anyone. Ever.’

Chapter 55

Chapter 55

Now

Sparrow and Mabel were chasing one another up and down the beach, skittering pebbles in their wake. Billie was walking behind them, listening to Treasure tell her something that brought a flush of shame to her cheeks and tears of frustration to her eyes.

‘You’re sure?’ she spluttered. ‘You’re absolutely positive?’

Treasure smiled. ‘Cross my heart and hope to die.’

Sparrow and Mabel had found a huge swathe of smelly seaweed and were now playing tug-of-war. Mabel won and rushed back to Billie and Treasure to proclaim her victory and parade her prize, which she shook vigorously, slapping them both on the legs.

‘Bugger! Bugger! Bugger!’ Billie yanked her bowler hat down over her eyes and stuck out her bottom lip like a toddler having a tantrum.