‘I just want the lies to stop. It’s not fair on Liv,’ Matilda said quietly.

‘Nor is making up wild accusations,’ William said.

She looked up at him. ‘No more lies?’

He eyed her carefully. ‘No more accusations?’

She nodded.

‘Then let that be an end to the matter.’ He gestured to the study door.

Matilda took the hint and stepped into the hallway.

On the walk back to Ullet Road, she thanked her stars that she had refused her husband’s offer to come with her to confront their son-in-law. He would have been furious that she had unwittingly suggested William might have murdered his own grandchild – at least this way he need never be any the wiser. She mulled this over. It was hardly fair of her to shout that William should refrain from lying to his daughter if she was considering lying to her husband. She drew a deep breath. Ivor would be angry at first but he would soon calm down.

William sank into the chair behind his desk and poured himself a large brandy. The damned woman had got him so flustered he had nearly blurted out a part truth. He took a large swig from the glass. His threats to throw the Barnhams out of their home had worked and he was certain he had seen the last of them. He even doubted that they would tell Olivia of their accusations for fear of reprisals. He took another swig. His father had taught him long ago that liars have to have good memories, and he had been right. William had told so many untruths he could no longer remember what he had said, and to whom he had said it. The only thing he could be certain of was the truth, and he would take that to the grave.

Blissfully unaware of the confrontation between her grandmother and father, Olivia smoothed out Ted’s latest epistle. He had written to her every day since their encounter in Liverpool, and Olivia loved receiving his letters. When she had walked away from the Crown Hotel, she had very much wanted to turn back and sink into his arms as she had done all those years ago, but her head had forbidden her. Even though she was sure in her heart that Ted wouldn’t hurt her for the world, there was still a small part of Olivia that was terrified of having her heart broken beyond repair yet again. Even if Ted didn’t do it directly, they were at war with Germany, bombings were frequent, and you could buy it at any moment. The thought of gaining the love of her life back just to have him torn from her by the Luftwaffe was more than she could bear.