When he returned, they spoke about Tess. Was she always such hard work? he wanted to know. Nina was about to defend her friend, then chose to stay quiet. Tess was well able to speak for herself.

‘Speaking of Tess,’ he said, ‘you know what I’ve been meaning to ask you?’

‘I do, and the answer is no, I haven’t a clue. The identity of Tess’s father is Kilmitten’s other great mystery.’

‘She doesn’t know herself?’

‘Nope.’

He tilted forward, as if poised to say something, then drew back.

‘Go on,’ said Nina.

‘Might the two mysteries be connected?’

‘Might Father Galvin have been Tess’s dad, do you mean? I remember how some of the young lads, like the O’Gradys, used to tease her about that, but I don’t think it’s likely.’ She paused. ‘Not impossible, though. Now that I think about it, Tess’s mother didn’t go to the funeral, which caused a stir.’

‘For truth? In what way?’

‘It was seen as disrespectful. But I can’t remember any more than that. There was too much else going on. Plus, it wasn’t as if anybody said anything to me. I was only thirteen, so I was relying on what I could overhear.’

‘And now she’s taken up with Conor’s father, and there’s a baby on the way. It’s a lively spot, Kilmitten.’

‘People outside Dublin are allowed to have sex too, you know.’

Julian laughed his throaty laugh. ‘Ginny does sound like an interesting woman.’

‘Haven’t you met her?’

‘Just briefly. I approached her for an interview. She told me she’d better things to be doing with herself, like – let me see if I’ve got this right – cleaning the oven or pulling out her fingernails with rusty pliers.’

‘That’d be Ginny. She was quite a looker in her day.’ Nina slapped her cheek. ‘Sorry, I shouldn’t describe her like that. She’s still a very attractive woman. A nice one too. Although in her heyday she was too much fun for some people’s tastes, if you get my drift.’

‘Very diplomatically put.’