‘Yeah, I saw that,’ Honor says, busying herself with the anchor chain.

‘You planning to tell Nevis?’

‘Soon, yes. She’s got a half-brother out there, she has a right to know.’

‘Something else. An old contact in the news business rang and asked me to write a long piece.’

‘About?’ She watches the anchor appear from the water.

‘About how a child prodigy became a rapist and got away with what he did because he was brilliant and an asset to an ancient institution which valued its reputation over the welfare of youngsters in their charge. I’ll keep Zoe’s and Satnam’s and Nevis’s names out of it. I’ll write about how institutions continue to turn a blind eye to the Mulhollands and Reynolds of this world, and the folk who cover for them. Young women and men at the start of their lives are still dying of shame because they have run out of hope, because they can’t see a way forward, because they don’t think they’ll be believed.’

The riverbank throws up a green smell. Ahead of them the distant span of the Clifton Suspension Bridge glints in the sunlight. ‘That’ll be a powerful piece.’

She stands, brushes a fallen leaf from her trousers, and, going over to him, pushes her fingers into the spaces between his. He eyes her watchfully. For a minute nothing seems to move, then he says, ‘I was thinking of taking the Helene cruising in the spring. Maybe I’ll make it as far as the Welsh Marches.’

‘I’d like that.’ She puts the engine into gear and steers the boat into the channel.

Not long afterwards they are motoring into the shadow cast by the bridge. Everyone is on deck now, Alex and Honor taking turns at the tiller and the two girls, faces to the sun, talking. Honor watches them and smiles to herself. Nevis does talk these days, or more than she used to, anyway.

Not far from the bridge, Nevis stands and makes her way alone towards them.

‘Hey, Alex, would you mind going to the bow and sitting with Satnam? She doesn’t want to be alone when we go under the bridge.’

Alex stands and, doing his best to cover his surprise, says, ‘Wouldn’t she rather you be there with her?’

Nevis shakes her head. ‘She already asked me once, remember? She thinks that’s enough for anyone. And I agree.’

Nevis waits for Alex to move then takes his place beside her mother. Together they watch Alex’s back swaying as he makes his way along deck. A companionable silence falls between them, broken by Nevis.

‘If the Dean hadn’t jumped, Mum, would you have pushed him?’

Honor takes a while to think about this.

‘No. I wanted to, but I wouldn’t have shot him either.’

‘Why?’