Olivia could have kicked herself. She had spoken without thinking. Of course Ted wasn’t local – he couldn’t afford to live somewhere like Aigburth Drive on the wages her father paid. ‘Sorry, I didn’t think.’ She glanced back at the house. ‘I know you’re angry at my father, and I don’t blame you for wanting to give him a piece of your mind, but I think it might be wise to reconsider. He wouldn’t think twice about reporting you to the police, and that’s if you’re lucky. If he’s in a really bad mood he won’t bother with the police, he’ll …’ Her voice faded into silence.

Ted eyed her sharply. ‘He’ll what?’

Olivia looked miserable. ‘He’ll take the law into his own hands and deal with you himself.’ She rubbed her forearm as the words left her lips.

Ted fixated on her forearm. ‘I know he’s got a bad temper, but I didn’t think he’d raise a hand to a woman, especially not his own daughter!’

Olivia stared at him. He’d referred to her as a woman, yet she was only thirteen. She unconsciously pulled the cuff of her cardigan sleeve down over her wrist. ‘Please don’t misunderstand, he’d never hit me, but he has got a short fuse, and if things aren’t going his way his patience wears thin.’

Ted shook his head. ‘My dad doesn’t have a lot of time but he’d never hurt me – on purpose or otherwise.’

Olivia knew that she was making excuses for her father and that he shouldn’t lose his temper as easily as he did, but he was still her father. Eager to change the subject, she looked in the direction of the pond. ‘Would you like to see the koi carp?’

Ted’s eyes grew wide. ‘Would I ever!’

Glad that her father was no longer the centre of their discussion, Olivia led him over to the pond and knelt down. Ted followed suit and together they peered between the lily pads into the inky water. She quickly pointed to a large white koi with orange spots as its back broke the surface. ‘Beautiful, aren’t they?’

Ted nodded. ‘Worth a bob or two an’ all.’

‘Of course they are,’ sighed Olivia, for no matter what she said, the subject invariably turned back to her father in some form or other. ‘My father wouldn’t have ordinary goldfish because that wouldn’t impress anyone. Everything he owns has to be of value.’ She gently stroked the tip of the koi’s back with her finger. ‘You never told me whether you were here to confront him or not.’ She glanced at Ted. ‘Were you?’