“So I’ll start work on the Fordham website and be in touch this afternoon.” She gave me a hug. “Get some rest.”

I kissed her and said good-bye, and then she was off.

Tom watched her drive away, then turned to me and smiled. “I’ll be in touch.”

“I’m not going to answer any texts, so you needn’t bother sending them,” I said. “Or answer your calls. I’ve got nothing to say to you.”

“Oh, I think you have. We’ve got a lot to talk about.”

“We don’t. I’m going inside now. I’m not well. If you don’t go away I’ll call the police.”

He laughed. “Really? What exactly would you tell them?”

Tears filled my eyes and I brushed them away. “Please.” My throat was swollen and my voice sounded weak. I took a step back into the house. “Just go away.”

He looked uncertain, but then seemed to gather himself. “We need to talk,” he said calmly. “I can see you’re upset so now’s not a good time, but we do need to talk.” He touched my arm and I flinched. “Let’s meet up away from your home. You won’t be as nervous then.”

“I don’t want to meet up at all.”

“I know you don’t. But we have to. We have to talk about this, Emma. Look, Harry’s in London tonight, isn’t he? He’s not due back until tomorrow morning.”

“How did you know that?”

“His staff need training,” he said. “They’ll just tell you anything.”

I didn’t reply. I knew from my own experience that that was the case. I pictured Sarah chatting away to him, telling him everything.

“I’ll be at The Crown down the road tonight at eight o’clock. Come along then and we can talk.”

CHAPTER 49

Emma

The first thing I noticed about Tom was that he was dressed as though he was going on a date. He was wearing a dark blue suit that brought out the color of his eyes and a crisp cotton shirt. He looked pretty good and at first I thought he was meeting me for a quick drink before going on somewhere else. It wasn’t long before I realized I was the main event.

I arrived at the pub a few minutes late. I didn’t want to get there early and give him the satisfaction of thinking he’d kept me waiting, and I didn’t want to bump into him in the car park, either.

The pub was busy that night. There was a sign outside advertising a pub quiz and large groups of people were sitting around tables, talking animatedly. I had been there only a few moments when Tom came racing up toward me.