And so – she didn’t want to believe it, but she had to – her dad had been party to it all.

When the ceremony was over and they were back at the big house, everyone swilling back drinks and eating sandwiches, Belle went over to Milly, who was huddled on the sofa, staring into space.

‘Can I get you anything, Mills?’ she asked her, sitting down beside her.

Milly looked up as if surprised to find her there. She shook her head.

‘This is the worst day,’ said Belle. She squeezed Milly’s hand. ‘It’s awful. I know it is. But after today, things will be easier.’

Milly nodded, saying nothing.

‘Mills . . .’ Belle hesitated. Milly was grief-stricken and she was going to add to it. Unless Milly already somehow guessed the truth . . . ?

‘You know when I was talking to you about going into the Clacton accounts office and asking for a job?’ began Belle.

Milly looked at Belle. ‘Of course I do. You said you wouldn’t ask Terry or Dad directly because they’d only say what the hell did you want a job for, didn’t they already give you enough?’ She sniffed and dredged up the ghost of a smile from somewhere. ‘You were right, too.’

‘Well, I went there.’

‘You did?’ Milly’s attention sharpened. ‘What was it, a complete disaster?’

‘No, it was . . . it was bloody odd, Mills. It was a house in a row of houses, and there were people working in there, and . . .’ She paused. She didn’t want to say it. But she had to. ‘I think – no, I’m sure – that they were manufacturing drugs.’

Now Milly was fully focused on Belle. ‘Are you mad?’

‘No. I saw it. And I checked it out. They were making crack cocaine.’

‘Oh come on.’

‘I talked with Einstein. He told me. After all, what have we ever known about the business our dads are in? Precisely nothing. What have we ever seen from these factories? Nothing. What has anyone ever told us about all these wood and fabric “imports”? Nothing. We’ve been kept in ignorance. Fed bullshit.’

Milly’s pallor was almost grey against her shapeless black funeral dress.

‘I spoke to Mum about it. She went apeshit that I’d been there. She knew about it. So does my dad. And your parents did too. And Harlan. They’ve probably been running the whole thing for years, under the cover of the furnishings business. Mills – I didn’t want to tell you this, but I had to,’ said Belle.

‘You really think my dad was dealing drugs?’