‘Nah. She was a crap mother. I’m going to do a much better job with Leah.’

Grace thought that Melissa could start by sending her child to school, but she didn’t say anything. ‘It can be difficult, being a parent,’ she said instead. ‘Charles is often away with his work, and on top of that he’s obsessed with motor racing. I don’t understand it, but it seems he’s compelled to go and watch these blessed races. He follows them all over. It’s hard sometimes, though, having to look after everything by myself when he’s not around.’

Melissa nodded enthusiastically. ‘That’s right. Ray’s away a lot, too.’

Did she mean at Her Majesty’s pleasure? Grace wondered.

But Melissa added, ‘He’s a bodyguard for rich blokes, sorts out their security and that. I reckon he’s a bit like James Bond. He has to go where they want him, though, so that’s why he’s away such a lot.’

An ex-criminal in security, thought Grace. Well, it made a kind of sense – poacher turned gamekeeper and all that. He’d know all the tricks, one assumed, and maybe a few more after his spell in prison. It seemed like a steady job, though, so it must have helped, buying Ray a home. She would enjoy telling Charles that later, although obviously that would mean confessing where she had been.

‘But when he’s gone, I do get lonely,’ Melissa continued, and her pretty face clouded over. ‘I never minded being on my own when I lived in the van. I suppose you don’t miss what you haven’t got. It’s tough on my own now, though. But Leah and me have each other, don’t we, pet?’

Leah didn’t look away from the television screen, but she nodded. Melissa reached for another biscuit, her hand hovering over the packet, but then she seemed to think better of it.

A church bell struck the hour somewhere nearby and Grace looked at her watch. She still had plenty of time to spare, but perhaps this had been enough for a first meeting. She finished her tea in one swift mouthful and stood up.

‘Well, I should be getting back,’ she said. ‘It’s been so lovely meeting you, Melissa. And little Leah here. I’d like it if I could visit again one day. Perhaps I could telephone you?’

Melissa shook her head. ‘No phone here. Ray says we don’t need one and he’s right. I’d rather spend the money on something else. But call in any time. It’s nice to have someone to chatter to. Wait till I tell Ray that I’ve met his brother’s missus. He won’t believe it.’