Could this really be all he’d retained from his weeks with Bella? I couldn’t ask while Marie was listening, and perhaps not even when she wasn’t there to hear. “You concentrate on the girl you’ve got,” I said.

“Don’t worry, Patrick. He is. He will.”

“We’ll come to you on Saturday, dad, and now mum wants a word.”

“I’ll take this in the kitchen while I see to dinner,” Julia said.

I deduced this was a ruse to avoid being overheard. The kitchen door shut before she said “So you’ve made friends with Marie.”

“I’d like to think so.”

“You won’t be taking against her when you’ve had enough of her.”

“I’d like to think I don’t know what you mean by that.”

“You won’t be treating her the way you did her predecessor.”

“I’d have no reason that I’m aware of. She isn’t the same kind at all.”

“You aren’t likely to change your mind this time.”

“I believe I can pretty well guarantee it. In fact, leave out pretty well.”

As I wondered what further undertaking might be required, Julia said “I may as well say I’ve changed mine.”

I would have preferred not to need to say “What’s turned you against Marie? I think she’s been good for him.”

“Not Marie, the other girl. I didn’t like the way you nagged her, and I haven’t forgiven you for pretending she was in your room.” Having given the rebukes time to settle on me, Julia said “But I’ve come to the conclusion Roy’s better off without her.”

I felt compelled to learn “What’s made you think so?”

“He’s been a lot healthier since she left him. I really believe it was as soon as she did.”

I was aware that neither of us had referred to Bella by name. Of course it couldn’t summon her, and yet the avoidance felt like wariness. In a bid to end the conversation I said “Anyway—”

“Before you ask me, no, we haven’t found the book in the archive.”

“I wasn’t going to. I’m glad at least you know I didn’t take it.” When Julia let me interpret her silence as I might I said “And I’m glad you’ve come to agree about Bella.”

“I’d rather forget her now there’s Marie. Just make sure you can be trusted with her and Roy.”

This was one admonition too many. “I’ll speak to you again,” I said.

“Yes, we’ll speak,” Julia said, no more than a statement of fact that ended the call.