‘If that’s what it takes, yes,’ Tara replied, which was more than April would have dared say. ‘Please, Faith. You need to be honest about what happened.’

Faith looked at her empty glass. ‘I need another drink.’

When Faith disappeared to the kitchen, April rose to her feet. ‘Tara, I think we should go. I can’t believe I’m saying this, but when Faith told me about Nick’s fantasy with knives and I said it was as if the future were already written, I’m starting to believe that Faith was the one holding the pen, not Nick.’

43

Stepping into the kitchen, Faith resisted the urge to hurl her empty glass at the nearest wall. She reminded herself that her friends had her best interests at heart and if she could remove all doubt from their minds, she was halfway to convincing a jury. This was simply another test of nerve. Every move, every word uttered had to be controlled and calculated. It was what she was good at. It was what she had done when she confronted the last person to betray her.

Nick had had his back to Faith when she entered the kitchen and was unaware of her soundless return. He was wearing a grey T-shirt and sweats and whistling to himself as he stirred a pot on the stove. Taking a moment to admire his muscular frame, Faith wished she didn’t have to do this, but she would keep to the plan she had perfected on the drive home from Pickering’s Pasture. She had already done the groundwork, adding just the right amount of jeopardy by sharing Nick’s knife fantasy with April, but nothing was guaranteed. There remained one variable. Nick’s reaction.

Slipping behind him, she whispered into his ear, ‘That smells nice.’

‘Hello you,’ he said, turning with a smile. He kissed her gently. ‘When I’m done here, I was going to take a long soak in the bath if you’d care to join me? There’s champagne on ice waiting for us.’

‘Sounds perfect,’ Faith said, feeling a pang of sadness as she pulled away for what would be the last time. Nick had seduced her with promises he knew he couldn’t deliver. She couldn’t respect a man like that.

Wafting a hand in front of her face, Faith appeared overcome by the heat. ‘Could you open a window?’ she asked, tipping her head to the one above the sink. She wasn’t sure April would pick up her cries, but old Mr Newton next door had the hearing of a bat.

As Nick did as he was told, Faith fetched her iPad from the breakfast table.

‘Did you have a nice walk?’ Nick asked. ‘Or was there another crisis for you to sort out?’

‘After convincing me to go, Tara didn’t even show up.’

Nick picked up the annoyance in her voice and gave her a curious look. ‘Is everything OK?’