‘I’d take her word before believing another word Nick says.’

April was panting as she reached the final turn where Faith was taking in the view. With the sun on their backs, the western sky was a milky blue and the river had slipped free of the last tendrils of mist as it snaked its way out to sea. April spied Hale lighthouse, but her eyes were drawn to the opposite shore; Eastham, and home. Faith wasn’t the only one who wished she had stayed in bed.

Gripping the rail, April turned to face Faith one last time. ‘Please, listen to me.’

‘I know you mean well,’ Faith began, ‘but if Nick asks me to marry him, and I think he will, I’m going to say yes. I appreciate you have your own reasons for wanting to punish past misdemeanours, but I’m looking to the future, and Nick is fundamental to my plans.’

To April’s dismay, there was no hesitation in Faith’s voice. ‘But he’s a con man, Faith. He’ll do anything for money. Why do you think he dumped Erin? Olivia said he was being headhunted – he didn’t want to risk a sick girlfriend distracting him from earning those fat bonuses. And now the money’s dried up, he’s looking for someone to bankroll him.’

‘Nick’s not exactly short of funds,’ Faith said. ‘Our holiday cost thousands.’

‘It was a confidence trick to reel you in, and it worked, didn’t it?’

As Faith turned to April, her breath curled into a cloud of vapour that floated over the handrail and across the flowing river a hundred feet below. Dexter was by Faith’s side, watching her expectantly.

‘Nick couldn’t afford to pay for the holiday and his rent,’ April continued. ‘Olivia was his guarantor, and she had to use her savings to clear his debts when he abandoned his flat and stopped paying rent. Think about it. What do you know about his business other than the information he left out conveniently for you to see? There are no assets. His fleet of limos are on lease hire and he’s behind with those payments as well. I bet that BMW of his is leased too.’

‘It’s not true,’ Faith said, but her voice had weakened.

‘I wish it wasn’t,’ April said. ‘Has he tried to get money out of you, or asked you to invest in his company?’

‘No,’ whispered Faith.

It wasn’t clear if Faith was refuting the question or denying the possibility that Nick was a fraudster. Her jaw tensed and she balled a hand into a fist as she looked for something to strike.

‘It can’t be,’ she hissed.

‘I’m sorry, Faith. He’s not who you think he is.’

Faith leant over the handrail and released a moan through gritted teeth, a sound echoed as a whimper from Dexter.