Imelda nodded, saddened that even Tania knew that her young Delroy’s only real strength against the world he lived in lay in the fact that he was a part of the Bailey family. Except Tania didn’t know just what being a Bailey actually entailed – not yet anyway.

‘Come on, drink up! I’ll get us another one.’

Tania did as she was told. She watched Petey and Bernadette as they slow-danced together – even through the patio doors she could see that Bernadette was moulded to her cousin like a wet T-shirt, and the scene saddened her. Petey was so handsome and so clever – why couldn’t he see that Bernadette was not good enough for him, was not worthy of his name?

She walked aimlessly towards the boys; they were loud and their laughter was enticing. They welcomed her into their company happily, and she felt the usual warmth of their love surround her.

Chapter Ninety-Five

Peter and Daniel were in a small room at the back of the house that Peter used as an office. It had once been the butler’s pantry, and Peter liked everything about it, from the wood panelling on the walls to the small oriole windows that were still in possession of their original stained-glass motifs. It now sported an antique desk and a large, leather captain’s chair; it was a beautiful room, and Peter knew that it impressed people. He had filled the bookshelves with what he saw as important books – anyone who scanned the shelves would assume that an educated man lived there. He had paid a lot of money to ensure that, and he had sworn that one day he would read the books. It was his dream – when he finally retired – to educate himself before it was too late.

Terry Allen stood with them uneasily; he was about to be reprimanded, and he had expected as much. What he had not anticipated was feeling so nervous about it. He had to show the Baileys that he was a man of power and strength, let them know that they didn’t intimidate him. Now, though, seeing the brothers side by side, he could see why they had achieved so much together. As a team they were formidable, there was no doubt about that; even the knowledge that they were not as close as they once were did not detract from the sheer menace that they exuded. Up close and personal, they were evidently more than capable of looking after their interests. The death of Jack Bailey was still the stuff of legend; there were many people who laid the boy’s death at his own father’s door. Coupled with Daniel’s reputation for maiming, crippling and murdering for the slightest of reasons, the brothers were both seen as men to be wary of.