Jack saunters down the yard towards them with an air of nonchalance that Gwen can only envy. He stops next to her, his hands in his pockets, his focus on the man before him.

‘We’ve met. Some years ago now, mind – I don’t know if you’ll remember. I’m Jack Ellison, Gwen’s husband.’ Withdrawing his hands, he opens his arms to present himself. ‘As you can see, very much present and alive – not much of a fantasy, I would say.’

Though clearly taken aback, Gordon recovers with surprising speed. He snorts. ‘Well, well, well. This is quite a conjuring trick, Gwen.’

‘There’s no trick, no conjuring required,’ Jack assures him. ‘I’m simply a soldier returned to his wife and son.’

‘You were demobbed weeks ago.’

‘I went to Newcastle to pay last respects to my mother. Gwen could have told you that if you’d bothered to ask. It seems to me you’ve been leaping to a lot of conclusions of late, Mr Allingham – my apparent absence being just one of them. Gwen’s told me all about your assumptions over Tom and I’m telling you in no uncertain terms, they need to stop. Now.’

‘My assumptions? They’re not my assumptions.’ Gordon swaggers forward. Jack doesn’t flinch, even when he leers into his face. ‘I don’t know for sure what the arrangement was between you two – I have my suspicions of course – but if what Gwen says is true, that you married her thinking she was carrying your child, well then, I’m sorry to break it to you but she’s been taking you for a ride. You’ve been well and truly duped. Tom is mine, and I will have what belongs to me.’

‘And now you listen to me.’ Jack closes the gap between them, his voice softly menacing. ‘Tom is my son. I haven’t been duped or coerced or anything else you might wish to believe. I married Gwen of my own free will, knowing the bairn she carried was mine. And that is the end of the matter. You need to accept the facts … and then you need to walk away.’

Gordon suppresses a laugh. ‘Are you trying to intimidate me?’

‘No. I’m giving it to you straight. I’ve no reason to try and intimidate you, Mr Allingham, but you should know this – I will do anything to protect my family.’