She dropped the notebook and gasped. Her hand felt clammy with sweat, and pins and needles pricked the back of her neck. A thousand thoughts ran through her mind. Snippets of conversations and timings flashed through her head like a computer processor, until, suddenly, she realized the truth. She’d been played big time. The anger took over her shock and fear. The saying her father rammed home to her – always – came to her in a flash: knowledge is power. She could hear him saying those words. ‘Oh, Dad, you were so right, but now you watch me,’ she mumbled under her breath. ‘I will show them who the fuck is running this manor.’ She waited for the Nokia to become fully charged because she was going to make a call that might well last a long time – she just hoped she had the right number.

***

Arty turned left into an avenue, which had large detached properties that were sitting on substantial plots. ‘It’s got to be on this road, in three hundred metres.’

Liam laughed. ‘What, is there an echo in this car? ’Cos we can hear your sat nav, mate. We don’t need an interpreter.’

Arty ignored him. He wasn’t in the mood for a bit of ribbing. ‘Here we are,’ he said, as he entered a long drive.

Liam was the first to help Poppy out of the car. He gripped her arm and laughed. ‘Oops! The neighbours are gonna talk. You’re still in ya pyjamas.’

She was an inch away from Liam’s face, and for a moment she felt like kissing him. He may not be Liam Hemsworth, but the Liam holding her certainly had some features she liked, not least his beautiful eyes and his sunny disposition that had her warming to him.

Arty pulled his shoulders back and smoothed down his Ralph Lauren polo shirt collar. ‘Is that your sister?’ he said, as he looked up at the window.

Poppy tried to grip her crutches but was making a pig’s ear of it. ‘Yeah!’

Suddenly the door opened, and Brooke ran over to them. She took Poppy’s other arm, while Arty removed the crutches.

‘Poppy, I was so worried. Look at your face! My God! Does it hurt?’

Arty watched Brooke fussing and decided she was right up his street. The girls may look alike, but Brooke had the edge; perhaps it was her puffier lips or her fuller mane. As soon as they were all inside, Arty shut the door – it signalled an intention that they weren’t leaving just yet.

Liam and Brooke helped to get Poppy comfortable while Arty felt a bit like a spare part. ‘Um, shall I get us something? What about a burger, drinks?’ As soon as he said it, he felt silly, yet when Brooke finally noticed him, her face looked prettily pink.