“It’s so bloody easy if you’re Essie Starling, with thousands of pounds at your fingertips,” Jake said. “She’s probably got enough money to give it away.”

In the darkness, Liv’s eyes narrowed. Even though her inheritance looked like the only way out of their dire situation, she hated to think that way. “I hope you’re not suggesting—”

“God, no. I’m just saying it’d be great not to worry about our bank account, and to afford to take you somewhere hot and sunny, like Essie did,” he said ruefully. He reached out and took her hand, stroking it with his thumb. “Look, I’ll speak to Katrina and my folks and slow things down. I won’t sign anything or make any more decisions without speaking to you first.”

His words should have placated her, but Liv’s stomach muscles were taut and sore, as if she’d stretched too far and pulled a muscle. If Jake didn’t invest in Paperpress, where would it leave the business? She’d soon be out of work, too. Telling him would only pile on his worries.

“We’re a team, aren’t we?” Jake said. His voice was shaky but loaded with hope. He rested his chin on her shoulder so she could smell chlorine in his hair. “From now on, we’ll discuss everything together. Let’s promise not to keep any more secrets from each other, okay?”

Liv scratched under her arm. Even if she wanted to spill Essie’s secrets to him, she couldn’t do it. Not until the official announcement was made about her death. And then what would happen? Jake would know she’d been deceiving him for months.

She felt like she was lying at the bottom of a rubbish dump with stuffed black bin bags falling on top of her.

“Liv?” he urged. “Let’s make that promise.”

It sounded more important to him than anything. There was nothing she could say without arousing his suspicions. “Okay, yes,” she said with a guilty swallow. Behind her back, she crossed her fingers.

For the next week, Liv and Jake assumed a polite pattern in their day-to-day lives. If Liv spoke at the breakfast table, Jake lowered his toast and listened intently. They both said, “Have a good day,” when they left for work. In the evening, they almost fought each other to make dinner.

Jake told her he’d contacted the bank again and refused the loan. He was going to speak to a friend who worked in strategy to help look at Paperpress with fresh eyes. They both wanted to listen to her ideas.

Liv tried not to tell any more lies to her husband. But she couldn’t tell him the truth either.