He scrapes his chair back and stands up, moving towards me. ‘How many times do I have to remind you that anything that impacts on my daughter’s well-being is my business? I want you to keep me informed of every development. I don’t care if it turns out to be irrelevant, let me know. There are things I can do.’

‘What things?’ I ask.

‘Of course you’ll be kept informed,’ Cora says before he can answer. ‘Naturally you’re worried about your daughter. Tim and I respect that, but really, apart from giving the family moral support, I don’t think it would be appropriate for you to be involved in any official business.’

‘Appropriate?’ Douglas says dangerously quietly.

She sighs. ‘Well, it does rather smack of you getting your feet under the table while my son is out of the way.’ She pauses, her smile deceptive. ‘Why exactly are you here? What is it you want?’

‘I could ask the same of you, Cora,’ I interrupt. She’s playing games with him, trying to be clever. She has no idea who she is dealing with. ‘You can just as easily keep an eye on things from Leicestershire.’

‘Yes, Cora,’ Douglas drawls. ‘What is it you want to contribute that can’t be done from home?’

‘I don’t have to explain myself to you,’ Cora sniffs.

‘Right, that’s enough,’ I say. ‘Lottie’s going to be back any minute. Please can you get it into your heads that I do not need to be looked after. I want Nick home and I want my life back the way it was. I certainly don’t need anyone telling me what to do.’

As if on cue my daughter bangs on the door. Toffee leaps up with a sharp bark and Douglas pushes back his chair, treating Tim and Cora to a smarmy smile as he leaves the room. I follow him, picking up the rucksack I packed for her earlier. Lottie submits to a hug, then Douglas suggests she says goodbye to her grandparents. This shows surprising generosity on his part, considering that up until a minute ago they were at each other’s throats, but when she goes through to the kitchen, he turns on me.

‘I don’t want you leaving Lottie alone with that man.’

‘What are you talking about? They adore each other.’

‘Don’t you think he’s a bit over-familiar?’

‘No, I do not.’ A cold trickle runs down my spine. All it takes is a germ of doubt these days. ‘You have a filthy mind, Douglas. Tim is her grandfather and he has never behaved inappropriately. You’re paranoid.’

‘Maybe I am, but better safe than sorry. Don’t forget I’m her father.’

‘I’m hardly likely to. What the hell is the matter with you? Are you so jealous of what I have that you want to destroy it?’