‘You know, Mummy’s boyfriend. Has he been giving you a hard time?’

Rory shook his head. ‘I didn’t even know she had a boyfriend and I’ve never met anyone called Julian.’

‘But . . . weren’t you at home this weekend? I know he was there with Mummy. I saw them in town together yesterday.’

‘No, Dad. I’ve been in the san since Friday. I’ve had a really bad tummy bug and the doctor said I couldn’t go home.’

David’s anger rose. ‘Well, that’s just peachy! Your mother didn’t even bother to let me know you weren’t home, let alone that you were sick. And she promised to ring me.’ David made a mighty effort to push the anger down, for his son’s sake. ‘So what on earth are you doing here?’

Rory wiped his nose on the sleeve of his jumper. ‘I’ve run away and I’m not going back. Please, Dad, don’t make me! Please!’

‘Okay, okay, calm down. You’re not going anywhere at the moment. How on earth did you get here?’

‘I walked. It was a very long way and . . . I don’t feel so well.’

‘I’m sure you don’t. It’s a good four miles to the school.’ David felt his son’s forehead. ‘You feel a little hot. I’ll get you some painkillers from the first aid box to take that temperature down.’

‘NO!’ Rory shouted. ‘No tablets! That’s what killed Charlie Cavendish.’

‘I know, Rory, but he was allergic to one type of them. They’re perfectly safe for other people, I promise.’

‘Well, I don’t want any,’ said Rory stubbornly.

‘Okay. I’ll get you a drink of water instead.’

David walked into the kitchen, found a glass and filled it up with cold water. He handed it to his son, who was now slumped on the sofa, his eyes glazed with exhaustion.

‘Come on, let’s get this down you.’ He held his son’s head up and Rory drank it thirstily.

‘That’s nice,’ he said as he rested his head against the arm of the sofa. ‘Matron wouldn’t let me drink much at school in case I threw it up. I’m so sleepy, Dad, so sleepy.’

‘Okay, you get some rest and we’ll talk later.’

David sat in the armchair and watched his son, pondering what he should do. There was no doubt that if Rory had run away, it could be any moment that the authorities came pounding on his door. He should call the school immediately, tell them Rory was safe, but after his drunken show in Foltesham yesterday, it was doubtful Angie and her boyfriend would allow Rory to stay with him.

He watched his son’s breath rise and fall and saw he was sleeping peacefully.

He needed to make a fast decision.

Jumping up from his armchair, David ran upstairs and threw a few clothes into a bag. He collected the duvet from the bed and dragged that and the bag downstairs and outside to the car.

Returning into the house, he picked Rory up from the sofa and carried him to the car. Rory’s eyes opened for a second as David laid him lengthways on the back seat and tucked the duvet round him.