‘Why? What’s in it for you? There is no child, so what do you want with Olivia?’ William glanced at Ted’s wedding finger. ‘A married man chasing after an old flame! Didn’t your wife come with a dowry?’

Ted clenched his fists and battled to regain his composure. He stared at William through dull eyes. ‘It’s all black and white to you, isn’t it? People are only ever after one thing …’ He shook his head sadly. ‘What on earth did your wife ever see in you, I wonder?’

William looked at Ted as though he had punched him in the stomach. ‘Don’t you dare bring my wife into this. She was a good, honest woman …’

‘And what did she make of your lies?’ said Ted. William quickly averted his eyes, and Ted stuffed his hands into his pockets. ‘You didn’t tell her, did you?’

William strode past Ted without making eye contact. ‘I don’t have to explain myself to the likes of you.’

Ted nodded. ‘You’re right, you don’t. There’s plenty of people around who’ll know where Olivia is.’

William stopped abruptly. Without turning, he spoke quietly. ‘Has it never occurred to you that she didn’t want to bring a child up with you, a boy?’ He hesitated, waiting for a response, and when none came he continued, ‘She was fourteen years old, for crying out loud, and she knew you’d try and make her keep the child, so she asked me to help sort things out.’ Turning round to face Ted, even William was surprised at the words which left his lips next: ‘I had no choice, Edward. Do you really think I wanted my daughter to abort my grandchild?’ He took a step towards Ted. ‘Obviously somebody’s been blabbing, but if they told you the truth you’ll know that Olivia never came back with a child in her arms.’

Ted searched William’s face as he recalled Andy’s words. According to rumour, Olivia had disappeared only to return a few month’s later with no sign of a child in tow. He glared at the older man. ‘I’ll bet you forced her into it.’