Alice shuffles in her seat, wants to shake her friend, tell her to dump Mitch, but she keeps quiet. Faith must see something in him Alice can’t – although going by the expression on her face, she may be coming round to Alice’s way of thinking.

‘Can everyone who would like to take part in the tour gather in reception now.’ It’s Christine, standing by the door of the bar holding a clipboard, running her fingers through her dark, cropped hair. ‘The tour of Flynn Hotel is about to begin.’

Chapter 15

1981

Verity

Nanny Bell held on to her job at Flynn House, despite Verity’s efforts to have her despatched from the island. Her father lusted after her, that was the problem, and Nanny Bell seemed to go along with it. Though Verity couldn’t be sure she enjoyed his advances. The whole sordid show made Verity feel positively sick.

Today was Nanny Bell’s day off. She would spend the night with her mother on the mainland, and return by midday the following day. This was when their father was meant to take care of Verity and Hugh, though of course he never did. In fact, as Verity stood at the window, pressing her fingers so hard on the glass that the tips bleached, she realised she desperately wanted Nanny Bell to stay. At least there was hope with this woman who was yet to reach her twentieth birthday. Hope that she may just see how abused Verity and Hugh were, and do something. But Nanny Bell continued on her way across the sand, her bag draped over her shoulder, her dark hair pinned up into a neat and tidy bun. She had a confident walk, Verity thought – a bit like Princess Diana.

It was an hour later that Verity, sprawled on her bed reading, heard her brother cry out. Felix was dragging him up the stairs to the attic room – thump, thump, thump.

Although the siblings were now teenagers, Hugh was still a scrawny boy. He hadn’t had his final growth spurt, Verity suspected – so Felix, a small man, had no trouble lugging him up the stairs and manoeuvring him into the box. Verity, on the other hand, was hefty. Felix wouldn’t dare cross her, not anymore.

‘You need to keep out of the bastard’s way, Hugh,’ she whispered to herself, as she heard the red door of the attic room slam. ‘When will you learn?’

Once Felix had returned to his room, Verity made her way up to the attic and knocked the door: tap, tap, tap. She could hear her brother sobbing inside. ‘Hey, Hugh, it’s me. Keep strong, little one.’

‘It’s my arm, V,’ he called back, his words bludgeoned by sobs. ‘I think it’s broken. It hurts so bad.’

‘Bastard!’ Verity screwed her fists into balls. ‘I hate him. I hate him.’

‘Tell me the story about Rapunzel, V.’ He sounded like a small child.