Harold’s face changed from one of victory to the ugly mask of hatred.

Mags seized the moment to taunt him further. ‘Daddy told you that I had a good business head, but you wouldn’t believe it. Well, I think my astuteness in this matter proves it. I always suspected something like this might happen, and I made sure that I was ready for it. Have you any contingency plans, Harold?’

‘You bitch!’

‘Yes, a very happy and comfortably-off bitch, thank you very much.’

‘You won’t be.’

Mags shuddered as Harold turned on his heel and stormed over to his car. But she didn’t want to leave it there. ‘By the way, how did you find me?’

Harold was in his car. He set off at a roaring pace, heading straight for her. Mags jumped back. His brakes squealed as he pulled up inches from her. ‘I happen to go to London a lot and I was asked to dinner at a friend’s house. What should be on the wall but a disgusting painting of you. It was only a matter of complimenting the artist and pretending that I didn’t know him, but would like to commission a painting, and voilà, as he would say.’ Harold revved the car. ‘So now I know where you are, and there will be no hiding from me. You will be begging me to take your money, before I am finished.’

Pebbles shot in the air as he sped off. Mags stood for a moment, fear pumping around her veins. Harold was capable of anything. Anything!

‘Ah, but iz it that the paperwork is already done? I thought it would keep you buzy all day . . . Mon amour, what iz it? You don’t look well. Come and sit next to me.’

Sitting on the wall next to where Montel had his easel and paints, Mags couldn’t stop her limbs from trembling.

‘Tell me, mon amour. You look as though you have had a fright.’

‘I have, Montel. Oh, I have, and of the worst kind.’

After Mags explained what had happened, Montel went quiet before muttering, ‘I should have thought – it iz that I exposed you to being found.’

‘No. How could you ever dream that the buyer of the painting would be connected to Harold in any way? But what are we to do? His threats were very real. He has been thwarted in what he wants – and by me – and he won’t be able to stand that. He will want his revenge.’

‘If it iz that I live to be a hundred, I don’t think I will meet another man az wicked az he iz. Hiz threat of revenge iz very real. I think he will want to destroy what you have: all of thiz, and maybe your home, too. We cannot sleep until we know zee threat iz passed. I will stay over here at the boathouse each night. And we will employ somebody to guard the house. Big Rory iz zee man I am thinking of. He haz a dog, and iz always about at night with hiz gun. He goes poaching, but that doesn’t make him the money we will pay him.’