‘I think she was expecting a little more than that,’ Vincent said, but when Crillick changed the subject, he let him. I hated the way he pandered to him. Crillick’s behaviour was obviously in need of checking, but Vincent always stepped back from a row. Silly of me to think that he would help. There was little point in staying to hear any more. I started to tiptoe away when Crillick said, ‘You didn’t spend much time with Hen.’

This got me back to the door.

‘I told you she’s not for me,’ Vincent said.

‘You could do worse. Bit of cash to fill the coffers.’

‘I’m not that pressed for funds.’

This was news. Vincent had told me he stayed with Crillick because he had no money. All this time he had lied to me? It made no sense. He was as keen for us to have a space of our own as I was. Or was he stringing me along? An Indian shawl, crystallised ginger, a Fortnum’s hamper. Gifts and trinkets, yes, but of promises he’d made how many had been kept? Richmond had been a promise.

‘How much did you make from the compensation? Forty thousand, wasn’t it?’

What on earth would Vincent have to be compensated for? Vincent stepped up to the table again. I saw he frowned as he always did when money was discussed in any detail. Crillick wasn’t watching him as closely as I did, though, for he blundered on, ‘There’s a lot you could do with that sum of money.’

I felt anger bubble up inside me. If Vincent had ready access to such a huge sum, we should be living in our own flat. In truth, an amount like that could buy us a mansion.

‘It’s not my money, it belongs to my father. In any case, I won’t spend it. I’ll have nothing to do with it. Filthy business.’

Crillick looked as if he might argue, but then shrugged it off as if he couldn’t quite be bothered.

‘All I’m saying is have your fun and have some money,’ he said.

Vincent shook his head but he was smiling. It was clear what Crillick meant. I was the fun and Henrietta was the money. I knew the longer I stayed the more upsetting the conversation would become – but my anger had me rooted to the spot.

‘I know if I was you, I’d have them both,’ Crillick said. ‘It’s not as if anyone can’t see exactly what it is you like about Zillah.’