James came out of the room alone after about five minutes.

‘Right, Gina, shall we go?’ he asked, so it was clear to her that – as she’d suspected – the whole visit had been about the mysterious ‘business’ and not about taking her for an enjoyable evening out at all.

‘Do as you want,’ she answered and got to her feet. ‘You know you’re going to anyway,’ she couldn’t resist adding.

‘And that, my dear Gina, is why you and I are so alike,’ said James.

They went through the curtain, up the stairs to the street, and then Gina looked about, uncertain which way they’d come.

‘This way,’ said James. ‘Don’t be cross, Gina.’

She shrugged off his attempt to take her arm, but halfheartedly, then, with a show of reluctance, went with him back to where he’d left the car.

They got in and he drove back towards Little Grindle, the roads quiet and the headlights of the car showing only a tunnel of yellowish light in the pitch-blackness ahead of them.

‘You know, you could have told me you only wanted to see some business folk, and not try to make out you were taking me out for summat special,’ said Gina after several miles of silence.

‘Would you have come?’

‘I might. I don’t know.’

‘But I wanted you to, Gina. I didn’t want to risk you turning me down when I so wanted you to come out with me this evening. You remarked about the air at the seaside earlier and that’s exactly what you are like to me: a breath of fresh air, a proper woman with backbone and opinions, and courage, most of all. If I’d told the truth I wouldn’t necessarily have got what I wanted. But then you know that, don’t you?’

‘What do you mean?’

‘I mean what I was saying earlier – that you and I have a lot in common.’

‘You’re talking nonsense. We’ve nowt in common, really. I can see that now, despite what you said. You’re from Grindle Hall and I’m from a little cottage that doesn’t even belong to us. It just comes with Dad’s job.’

‘Ah, but you’re mistaking circumstances for character, Gina.’

‘I don’t understand,’ she said quietly.

‘All right, so tell me this. Why did you take that ten-shilling note?’

Whatever Gina had been expecting, it wasn’t that. Found out already! But why had he not said anything earlier? Denying it was pointless: he knew.

‘How … how did you know?’ she whispered.

‘Because,’ he said, ‘I know a thief when I see one.’

In that moment, everything that had happened became completely clear to her and her hands shot up to her mouth in shock. Then she started to laugh.

‘What?’ asked James, smiling as her infectious laughter overcame him.