Suddenly, it was all too much for her and her voice quavered. She swallowed back her tears. Joseph turned to her and hesitantly took her in his arms. The display of affection was too much for her and the dam broke. Sobs were shaking her whole body and Joseph held her to him, seeing in his mind’s eyes the girl she had been.

‘Hush now. Hush now, Lily. Everything’s going to be all right. I’ll sort out somewhere for her tomorrow.’

She pulled away from him.

‘Pr-Promise?’

‘I promise.’

Now he had actually said it out loud, it was true. He’d see the doctor first thing in the morning. If he could, he’d get her put in council care. If he couldn’t, then he’d pay for it. The time had come to let go. He had done all he could for her. Anything he owed her had been repaid in full. Over and over again.

It was funny, but after all that he had heard tonight, he had no fear of her any more.

It was as his wife had told her: she had finally fouled her nest.

He stroked Lily’s hair and smiled to himself. It’d be nice to see the children more often.

In the Mile End Hospital two nurses stood over Tony Jones. He was heavily sedated. Jeanette had left the hospital ten minutes earlier.

‘Poor man! He’ll be scarred for life.’

‘Those bloody dogs should be put down, all of them. To think it could be wandering around now. Imagine if it attacked a child!’

‘Yeah. Didn’t you think his wife was a bit funny?’

‘In what way?’

‘Well . . .’ The other nurse lowered her voice confidentially.

‘It’s as if she knew he was going to be bad. She didn’t seem surprised or shocked when she saw him.’

‘Can’t say I noticed really.’

‘Oh, well, maybe it was just me.’

‘Come and have a cuppa before we start the turns.’

Tony groaned in his drug-induced sleep and the two women watched him for a second. He settled down once more.

‘Poor little thing. He’ll know all about it when those stitches on his face begin to tighten.’

‘Let’s get that cuppa while we’ve still got the chance.’

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Chapter Twenty-Seven

George had just had his meal on the plane and was now watching a hilarious episode of Some Mothers Do ’Ave ’Em. Frank Spencer was a motorbike messenger for a firm called Demon King and was inadvertently delivering pornographic pictures instead of letters and parcels. Everyone on the plane was screaming with laughter and adjusting their headphones. George laughed more than any of them. He was really enjoying himself.

He had eaten all his meal, discovering he had a ravenous appetite when he had seen the Beef Stroganoff, Duchesse potatoes and peas. He had also had a small bottle of red wine.