‘Well, it’s his fucking funeral, girl. At least she’s willing to have the full Catholic ceremony – that’s something, I suppose.’

Lena laughed with him. ‘Ria made that as clear as fucking day, don’t you worry! Fucking registry office! Have you ever heard the like? Bernadette’s a Catholic anyway, Irish as well, about the only thing going for her as far as your mother is concerned.’

‘Well, at least that proves the girl has the sense to know what’s good for her.’

Lena nodded. ‘Good family as well, the O’Tooles are decent enough people.’ She could tell Daniel was bored with the conversation now, so she finished her tea and got up. ‘Come on then, you. Let me cook your breakfast. Fancy a bit of egg and bacon?’

Daniel nodded. That was what he loved most about his Lena, she knew when to let things drop. So many women were unable to understand the importance of knowing when they were starting to bore the arse off their old men. It was a knack his Lena had acquired very early on in their relationship, and he loved that about her.

Chapter Eighty-Six

Bernadette O’Toole was more than aware of just how lovely she was and, as she studied herself in the mirror of her dressing table, she was genuinely amazed at how, even without a dab of make-up, she still looked absolutely amazing.

Her mother had said to her many years before when, as a thirteen-year-old girl, she was already being looked at by men – older men – that she should understand sooner rather than later that girls who looked like her didn’t have to play by the same rules everybody else did. Her looks would open any door she chose to walk through. As she grew up she began to understand the power of her beauty. Neither of her parents were that good looking actually, but she had inherited the best from both of them and, somehow, she had turned out a real stunner.

Now she was about to tie herself to Petey Bailey and, in so doing, ensure that she would have the kind of life that she felt was hers by right. She liked Petey well enough – he was a nice bloke. But he was also a Face, and she knew the importance of that better than anyone. He could provide her with the world on a plate, and she was determined to make sure that he did just that. She was not going to waste her God-given talents on a fucking no mark, of that much she was sure.

As a teenager she had understood the importance of keeping her reputation; she was determined that the man who eventually got her would know that no one else had been there before him. Petey Bailey was going to pay dearly for her virtue.