Jo sighed and blew her nose. ‘Yes, he does seem depressed. But he also looks haunted, somehow. Even a bit scared.’

‘Scared of what? Bella?’ Charlotte couldn’t comprehend how a big man like Ben could possibly be scared of someone as slim and delicate-looking as Bella.

Jo nodded. ‘Yes, Bella. I know it sounds crazy but I’ve been on the receiving end of her tongue and she is pretty terrifying when she wants to be.’

‘She was certainly very cold and unfriendly at the funeral,’ Charlotte agreed. ‘I thought it might just be because she didn’t want to engage with an ex, which is fair enough, I suppose.’

Jo gave a mirthless laugh. ‘It’s not just you, believe me. She doesn’t want to engage with anyone from Ben’s side of the family. Or his friends.’

Charlotte nodded. ‘Yes, that’s true. Matt and Freya are so upset at the way he allowed her to cut them out of his life. Well, Matt’s upset. Freya’s just absolutely bloody furious.’

‘Have they not heard from him at all? Even since Bertie was born?’

Charlotte shook her head. ‘Nope. Not a word. Matt is unbelievably hurt.’ She stopped talking, suddenly aware that it must be so much worse for Jo.

There was a moment of silence, as they both contemplated the situation.

‘Do you think he seems happy with her?’ Charlotte wanted to see if she could find some ray of light to give Jo, who looked utterly desperate and forlorn.

Jo shook her head. ‘No. After the first time he brought her home, he never seemed happy again.’

‘God. That’s so sad.’ Charlotte could feel the tears welling up and for the millionth time, cursed herself for letting him go. Jo, noticing her tears, handed her a tissue, which she took gratefully. ‘And what was she like towards you and Peter?’

Jo paused, thinking. ‘Well, Peter didn’t like her.’

Charlotte wiped her eyes. ‘Really?’ She took some satisfaction in that. Peter had loved Charlotte and she had loved him. ‘I never knew Peter have a bad word to say about anyone.’

‘No,’ Jo agreed. ‘Even from that first visit, when she was on her best behaviour, he said he didn’t like her. I didn’t like her either, but I ignored the signs, for Ben’s sake …’ She looked into the distance. ‘I couldn’t bear to see him hurt any more. That was a mistake. I should have told him then and there.’

Charlotte reached out and took Jo’s hand across the island. ‘What difference would it have made? Ben’s a grown man and you can’t tell him who to love and not love.’

‘No, I suppose you’re right. But I really do believe that the stress of it all is what killed Peter. I just know that if you two had stayed together, then he’d still be alive today.’

‘Oh God, don’t say that!’ Charlotte cried. ‘I feel bad enough as it is without having Peter’s death on my conscience too!’

Jo squeezed Charlotte’s hand. ‘I’m sorry, I didn’t mean it like that, Charlie. I don’t blame you. I’ve never blamed you for any of it. I blame her.’