She did as she was told, feeling his eyes on her as she dished up.

Once he had his meal in front of him, Anna took a seat opposite. She never ate with William; in fact, she rarely ate at all. Instead, she sipped at a cold, crisp white wine while William added several teaspoons of sugar to his tea.

‘You never said where you went today,’ she remarked, glancing at his shirt and tie.

William nodded – grimly, she thought. ‘I was reading the newspaper this morning after you went out.’ He chewed slowly, swallowing before continuing. ‘Another bank collapsed.’

‘Really?’ She frowned, sure she would have read or heard about something as major as that. ‘Which bank?’

He gestured with his fork towards the counter, where a newspaper sat. A piece of meat flew off the fork, narrowly missing her dress and landing on her arm. Trying to disguise her distaste, she flicked it away, before reaching for the newspaper.

It was the Telegraph, and it was from 2008. The news story he had read was over a decade old. She said nothing and put the paper back.

‘So, I went to the bank; both of my banks, actually,’ he said. ‘I told them I had worked too hard all my life to lose my money, and I withdrew it.’

Anna put her glass down. ‘What do you mean, you withdrew it?’

He shoved another forkful of pie into his mouth, chewing infuriatingly slowly before planting his hands on the table and pushing himself upright. ‘Come with me.’

Anna followed him down the hall and up the stairs, her hands outstretched in case he stumbled like he had before. Nearing the top, he wobbled. At the last minute, his hand shot out and gripped the banister. Finally, he led her into his bedroom.

‘There,’ he said, pointing at a black sports bag that she’d never seen before. ‘I figured my money is safer here, where I can keep an eye on it.’

Anna eyed the bag. ‘William, how much is in there?’

He pulled a piece of paper from his breast pocket and squinted at it. ‘Eighteen thousand pounds,’ he said. Carefully, he folded the paper and put it back, then patted his pocket.

‘Bloody hell,’ she whispered. Suddenly her heart was thudding in her chest.

How did he even get it here? She was sure eighteen grand must weigh more than his frail frame could carry.

‘Was it heavy?’ she asked.

‘The taxi driver helped me,’ William replied. ‘Nice chap.’

‘Did you tell him what was in the bag?’ She felt cold suddenly.

He shrugged and turned his smile up a few watts. ‘You worry too much, dear.’

She thought, hard and fast. She put a hand on his arm, caressed it gently. ‘You’re a smart man. I never trust banks either. But you can’t just leave it there.’ She smiled winningly at him. ‘Would you like me to keep it safe for you?’