Cissy stared at him before sitting down suddenly. The house was in a mess; her two sisters had been round half the morning after George had let them know the wedding was off. She’d been carting the chairs she’d borrowed back to the neighbours for what seemed like hours and Olive was refusing to come out of her bedroom. Adam’s mam and da had sent a message to say they’d be round later to discuss things, and now here was the instigator of it all telling her that Ruby had disappeared to who knew where.

Turning her gaze on her husband, she said weakly, ‘We have to find her and make her come home.’

It was to Adam that George said, ‘Have you any idea where she might be? Has she talked about anywhere particular in the past, anywhere she would like to see?’

Adam swallowed hard. He knew Ruby’s father was furious with him. It was there in his stiff face and deep-set eyes. He shook his head. ‘We only talked about us, getting married and having bairns and things like that.’

It was too much for Cissy. She rounded on him as she ground out between her teeth, ‘For two pins I’d throttle you. She only ever looked at you and she could have had her pick round here as you know full well. James Mallard was after her from when he was in short pants and his da owning the rope works and a string of houses, and Rory Stamp an’ all and his family in that great big house in Southwick and his da tipped for mayor one day. But no, she only had eyes for you. And for you to take our Olive down, her own sister. Aye, I could swing for you, Adam Gilbert.’

Stung into retaliation, Adam bit back. ‘No doubt Olive’s painted me as the villain of the piece but let’s face facts here, Mrs Morgan. Your poor innocent daughter came up to my bedroom on New Year’s Eve when I was too drunk to know it wasn’t Ruby and forced herself on me. Aye, forced. So don’t go putting all the blame on me and acting as if she’s as pure as the driven snow, not unless you want me to shout it from the rooftops.’

‘Why, you little—’ Cissy sprang to her feet.

‘Cissy!’ George’s voice wasn’t raised, in fact it was low and deep, but it vibrated with something that caused his wife to lower her hand and collapse onto a chair before bursting into tears. Over the sound of her crying, George said grimly, ‘You swear that’s how it happened, Adam? Now think before you answer because I can forgive most things but not being lied to.’