‘First edition Beatles albums?’ Colin was intrigued. ‘Your father definitely made a pretty penny back in the day selling those – obviously enough to help your family get by while they got the hotel off the ground, but Penny, I don’t think you understand – those albums today would be worth a fortune. You would have to spend a lot of money to get them back. Which, given your family’s current predicament, you obviously don’t have.’

Penny felt some dread creep up on her – she couldn’t deny that she hadn’t really considered the money factor when it came to the search. She had a vague sense that yes, she might have to spend something on getting the albums back – but just how much, she wasn’t sure.

‘Do you really think it will be that expensive?’ she asked, trying to keep the worry out of her voice. Colin seemed to be somewhat of an expert on the subject. He certainly knew more than she did in any case.

‘It depends. Some of them yes . . . and especially if you want first editions in mint condition. I’d imagine you should be able to find some at reasonably decent prices – and there are ways of trying to control the price, too.’

Penny’s ears perked up at this. ‘How so?’

‘My dear. Let me tell you about this wonderful new invention called the internet—’

Rolling her eyes, Penny cut him off. ‘Yes, very smart.’

Colin continued on. ‘Anyway, I think you could probably start online, eBay to begin with of course, and then there are lots of other websites run by collectors and music dealers specialising in vinyl. The only thing you have to worry about in that regard is the quality, naturally enough. Won’t be much use to your father if he is unable to play them, or if someone has been using them as tea coasters for the past thirty-odd years.’ He thought for a moment. ‘I also have some contacts in Sussex – namely a friend of a friend who owns a record store in London. He might be a resource for you, especially on the rarer ones. You said your mother had some trouble tracking down the one she gave your dad as a wedding present? Well if she had trouble finding Anna back in the seventies, I’m willing to bet that particular record is even more rare today . . .’

‘Well, thanks.’ Now Penny wondered if she’d bitten off way more than she could chew. ‘No one ever said anything about a collection of records, or about Dad selling it to hold onto the hotel. I never knew for sure that I was unplanned or that they’d had money troubles back then – it feels weird to discover these things so long after the fact. I just wonder why he or my mum never told us these things.’