Ivan Golding had been Grace’s accountant for almost twelve years. He handled all her money and investments and he was very good at what he did. He had become a dear friend and she trusted him implicitly.

‘What did Nathan say to you, then?’ she asked Ivan.

‘He came to my office and asked me why I was visiting you at home and what business we had together. He started getting a bit aggressive, Grace. So, I had to tell him I’m your accountant, just to get him to stop glaring at me like that.’ Then in a voice that was barely a whisper, he said, ‘I think he thought we were, well – you know.’

She stifled a laugh. Ivan was a lovely man but he was over twenty years older than her and a few inches shorter too. Not Grace’s type at all. Not to mention he was as camp as they come. She was sure Nathan didn’t think that anything was going on between them, it was just one example of his many intimidation tactics.

‘So, then what did he say?’ she asked, anxious to find out just what exactly Nathan was up to.

‘He kept asking me why you needed an accountant and what pies you had your fingers in, or something like that. He really is quite vulgar, Grace; I truly don’t understand what you ever saw in him. Well, aside from the obvious,’ he said, raising his eyebrows in a gesture so comical it almost made her spit her coffee at him.

‘Whatever do you mean, Ivan?’ she asked him with a smirk, feigning her ignorance.

He let out a short laugh. ‘You know exactly what I mean. You cheeky mare; he looks like he just walked out of a photo shoot for GQ magazine.’

She nodded then. ‘Ah yes, that, and there’s also the fact that he’s hung like a donkey.’

Ivan looked at her in mock horror, his mouth agape, until they both started laughing so loud they started to draw attention to themselves.

‘Anyway,’ Ivan continued, ‘I told him you just like to keep the pub books in order, and that was that. I was quite firm with him, and I think he got the message. I told him nothing of the restaurants. And certainly, nothing of your other investments and activities,’ he said quietly. ‘And obviously, I never would.’

‘Thank you, Ivan. I appreciate your discretion,’ she told him, giving his hand a squeeze. She had no doubt that Nathan would keep digging and find out about her involvement in what had once been his domain soon enough. But the longer she could keep it from him, the better. While he still thought she was nothing more than a pub landlady, he’d be more likely to divulge information about his own business dealings – and that could prove very useful.

Ivan and Grace discussed her finances over another cup of coffee and a pastry.