‘I’m dreading tomorrow,’ she admitted. ‘I don’t know what I’ll do if Faith doesn’t turn up, but I’m just as scared about what will happen if she does.’

Tara had gone through countless imaginary conversations with her friend and none of them had ended well. She would have gone straight over to Faith’s house on Sunday morning to give Nick his marching orders if April hadn’t persuaded her to take a more considered approach. It was Faith they had to convince, and they stood a better chance if she was as far away from the house and Nick’s influence as possible. Thank goodness Faith had eventually answered her calls and agreed to meet them.

‘Faith will see sense,’ Iain said.

‘I wish I could be so sure,’ Tara replied. ‘She’s fiercely protective of the people she cares about most, and right now that’s Nick. You only have to read the stories of women being seduced out of their life savings to know it’s never easy. They don’t want the spell broken and God help anyone who tries to make them see reason,’ she said. ‘And you can bet Nick will have more lies and promises to counter anything we say. He joined the group looking for a rich, vulnerable widow and that’s exactly what he thinks he’s found.’

‘Faith is neither of those things,’ Iain insisted, having heard about Faith’s claim that she wasn’t as rich as people assumed.

‘Maybe she hasn’t got cash in the bank, maybe Ella does have some say over what happens with the house, but it’s still an asset for Nick to plunder.’

‘However charming and persuasive he might be, Faith wouldn’t be that gullible.’

‘Wouldn’t she? I have this horrible feeling Nick’s about to propose and Faith sounded excited by the prospect. A few months ago, she would have laughed at the idea, but Nick’s blindsided her.’

‘You have to trust that Faith will see through him, but if she doesn’t, there’s nothing more you can do.’

‘Don’t be so sure. I could expel Nick from the group for a start,’ Tara promised. ‘If he has the gall to think he’s still welcome, I’m going to take great pleasure in putting him right.’

‘Do not confront him, Tara.’

‘Rather him than Faith,’ she replied, only half joking.

‘You might think you have the measure of Nick, but you can’t know how he’ll react,’ Iain warned. ‘We’ve only seen his charming side. He won’t appreciate you snatching away his chance to make some easy money.’

‘I know.’

‘You’re not responsible for what Faith decides tomorrow,’ Iain persisted.

‘But Faith would never have met Nick if we hadn’t invited him to join the support group. That makes it my responsibility.’

‘And Justine’s,’ he reminded her. ‘Shouldn’t she be involved?’