‘But you can’t tell me who she is?’

Madame Burova shook her head.

Billie had discarded her bouquet on the table, and now she picked distractedly at the petals on one of the roses, lost in her own thoughts. There was a crackle on the café’s sound system as the album that had been playing finished and the needle hiccupped on a speck of dust. The Tea Leaf was run by Jack and Diamond’s granddaughter, Amber, and her partner, Kip. Since they had taken over, the whole place had been remodelled and was now a bastion of cool retro chic, and the only music played was either live or on vinyl. As the first track on the new album began to play, Billie’s face was transformed by a sheepish smile.

‘What a bloody idiot! Here I am being a complete misery guts when you’ve just told me I’m rich! Well – certainly not poor. I had a wonderful childhood with parents who loved me, and maybe even my birth mother cared a bit. I suppose I really ought to give her the benefit of the doubt – for the time being at least. I apologise for being a complete misery guts.’

She handed the bouquet to Madame Burova with an extravagant flourish.

‘A good friend of mine told me that this whole thing could turn out to be an exciting adventure. Maybe he was right. What have I got to lose?’

Madame Burova wasn’t surprised that it was Charlie Chaplin’s composition ‘Smile’ that appeared to have lifted Billie’s mood. Certainly, it was a beautiful melody, but she had a feeling that it held special memories for Billie. And when she smiled, Billie’s face became faintly familiar to Madame Burova. She felt a fleeting recognition, like fragments of a recurring dream. She examined the flowers. ‘Heather for a gypsy – very appropriate.’

For a moment Billie’s smile faltered. ‘I didn’t mean anything by it . . .’

‘I’m teasing you! They’re lovely. Thank you. Why did you bring me flowers?’

‘I’m not sure. I didn’t want to come empty-handed, but I was slightly worried that you’d be wearing a headscarf and gold hoop earrings and demand that I cross your palm with silver before you told me anything. I certainly came prepared not to believe a single word you said.’ Billie blushed as she realised how judgemental she sounded.

‘But now you do?’

Billie grinned sheepishly. ‘I’ll let you know when I’ve been to the bank!’

Madame Burova nodded approvingly. ‘Smart. Very smart.’ She liked this woman, and she was hugely relieved. It hadn’t been a given, and if she hadn’t, it would have felt like a tragedy.

‘I have some things to give you which may help you to understand a little more about where you came from.’

She pushed the small silver bracelet across the table towards Billie.