‘And she’s withdrawn enough money for her fare and expenses.’ John strode into the workshop. ‘She told me some ludicrous tale about you having found someone else and would be marrying her soon. What have you been up to, Matt?’

‘Nothing. Oh, God, what’s going on?’

Jake came over. ‘You’d better go and find out, lad.’

Matt didn’t bother to change out of his overalls, but instantly hurtled towards his car, calling over his shoulder, ‘Are you coming, Fred?’

Lambeth was reached at breakneck speed and Matt screeched to a halt outside Jenny’s house, disgorging a white-faced Fred.

The front door was shut and Matt hammered on it. ‘Open the bloody door, Jen.’

Glad opened it and glowered at him. ‘You ain’t coming in here in that temper.’

Realizing this wasn’t the way to deal with the crisis, he stepped back and took a deep breath to calm his racing heart. Then he said softly, ‘Sorry, Glad. I don’t know what this is all about, but I must see her.’

‘She’s upstairs.’ Glad moved aside, allowing Matt and Fred to come in. ‘But you ain’t seeing her on your own.’

‘All right. Just as long as I can talk to her.’ He ran up the stairs, taking them three at a time, with Fred and Glad right behind him.

The commotion had woken Jenny up, and when he saw her sitting up looking confused, her face tear stained, it tore him apart. He sat on the bed and tried to take her hand in his, but she pulled away. ‘What have I done, my darling? Please tell me.’

She stared at him for a few moments, as if she were looking at a stranger. ‘You’ve got some explaining to do. Your future wife paid me a visit this morning.’

‘My what?’ Matt jumped to his feet, his face like thunder. John had said something about this.

‘The girl you’re going to marry soon – the one who is expecting your child.’

‘What?’ This was unbelievable. Where had this ridiculous tale come from?

‘Is that the only word you know?’ Jenny exploded. ‘She said you were going to marry her because she was having your baby. I want to know if it’s true!’

‘You’re talking rubbish, Jen.’ Matt ran a hand through his hair in agitation. If he didn’t sort this out quickly, he would lose Jenny – if he hadn’t already. ‘The only girl I want to marry is you, and I certainly haven’t made you pregnant!’

‘You better hadn’t, mate.’ Fred stepped forward threateningly and Glad pulled him back.

Jenny shuffled to the edge of the bed and frowned. ‘Why would she tell me such things if they weren’t true? And she was definitely pregnant.’

‘She? She?’ Matt raged. ‘Who the hell is she?’

‘Gloria Tremain.’