His hesitation suggested doubt, and I found I was holding my breath. “What do you want to say, Roy?” she said.

“How could your dad have got that phone? Dad’s aunt wouldn’t have given it to him, would she?”

“I wasn’t suggesting she did. He acquired it after, you’ll forgive me, Patrick, after she’d no more use for it.”

How much longer would it take her listeners to notice that Bella’s speech had stopped pretending to be youthful? I hoped Roy was about to comment along those lines, but he said “Still doesn’t make sense.”

As I nearly shut my eyes to contain a surge of hope Julia said “Roy, you shouldn’t let your father come between you.”

“I’m not. I’m only thinking.” The hand he extended towards Bella resembled a plea. “How come it wasn’t broken when she fell?” he said.

“Because she was so preoccupied she left it at home.”

When he failed to question this I said “How would you know that?”

“I don’t believe I did. I should think we can guess that’s what may have happened.”

“Or her father could have told her, Patrick.”

I saw Roy accept at least one explanation. I had to carry out my plan, however devastating the result would be. I was taking quite a breath when Julia said “Dinnertime now or it’ll be ruined.”

As we competed to be first at standing up I said “I suppose I’m not included.”

“I’m afraid that’s very much the case.”

“Then I hope you’re better soon, Roy. I’m worried, and I expect your mother must be.”

“It’s just a cold,” Julia said as Roy hid the evidence of a cough behind a hand. “How these men do suffer, Bella. I’ve seen you survive worse, Patrick.”

I was dismayed by her insistence on the commonplace, but hadn’t I previously tried that myself? Caution left me as I said “And let’s hope your condition improves, Bella.”

She and Roy and his mother stared at me, and Bella looked no less uncomprehending than they did. “What one’s that?” Roy said.

“The problem with her back.”

“She hasn’t got a problem.” With a little less conviction Roy said “Have you, Bell?”

“I wouldn’t say so. I hope you won’t give me any, Patrick.”

The disguised threat only provoked me to tell Roy “You don’t know her as well as you should. She mustn’t have needed to let you that close.”

“I believe you were leaving, Patrick,” Julia said in a voice that had stiffened with control.

“Give us a minute, mum,” Roy said and confronted me. “What aren’t I supposed to know?”

“Why don’t you show them, Bella?”

Her look was maintaining its innocence. “I’ve nothing to show.”

“Then show them that.”