‘So have you spoken to him? Daniel, I mean.’

‘Only briefly. He turned up when I was last there and—’ That was when she twigged and the breath caught in her throat. ‘Is that why you came here, Annie? To ask me about Daniel? Has he been round to your place?’

‘He wouldn’t dare,’ Annie said. ‘But he gave my Uncle Bill a lift in his car earlier today and he took the opportunity to ask him if it was true that he made me pregnant and I had an abortion after we split up. He said Ron told him that after you told Ron.’

Tears sparkled in Janet’s eyes and she started to slowly shake her head.

‘Oh God, I am so sorry, Annie. But Ron put me in an awkward position by asking me outright when he heard you were moving back here. He said he had always suspected it because of something your father told him at the time.’

‘So why didn’t you tell him that it wasn’t true?’

Janet shook her head. ‘I don’t know. It just came out and as soon as it did I knew I’d boobed. I swore the old man to secrecy. But he let me down just as he did after I told him about me and Charlie. I’ve got a big mouth, I know, but I beg you to forgive me.’

‘Did you tell anyone else?’

‘No, I didn’t. I swear.’

‘And what about Daniel?’

‘When he asked me about it, I told him it was nonsense and said his dad was mistaken. I thought he believed me and that would be the end of the matter.’

‘Well, it wasn’t and I expect that sooner or later the bastard will approach me.’

‘Then all you have to say is that it didn’t happen. It’s ancient history, anyway, so I can’t imagine he’ll make a fuss about it.’

When Janet stopped speaking her face folded and she began to cry. It was enough to convince Annie that there was no point in bawling her out. Janet knew she had been wrong to betray Annie’s confidence and her contrition seemed genuine. And besides, she’d had enough pressure piled on her for one day.

‘Look, don’t worry about it,’ Annie said. ‘I accept your apology and with all that’s been going on it doesn’t seem like such a big deal. Let’s have another drink and then I’d better be off. James will probably be home soon.’

After some more tears were shed, Janet wiped her eyes and topped up their glasses. Then she rifled through the envelopes on the table and picked one up, passing it to Annie.

‘Don’t forget to take this with you,’ she said. ‘It’s to you and James.’

CHAPTER FORTY

James resisted the urge to phone Annie when he and Stevens moved on from the Curtis house. He wanted to know if it was true that she’d had an abortion, and if so, why she hadn’t told him.

It wouldn’t upset him if she had. After all, it was some twenty years ago – long before she’d ever met him – and, given the circumstances, it was probably the sensible thing to do.