‘It’s ridiculous!’ Roz exclaimed. ‘I couldn’t say anything incriminating because I never heard anything.’

‘Only he doesn’t know that, and that’s why he’s scared,’ said Felix.

‘Good! Because if he did murder her, accident or not, he deserves everything he gets.’ Roz quickly fell silent as the door to the kitchen opened.

Alan strolled into the kitchen and glanced at the clock above the door before turning his attention to Roz. ‘Cinderella’s cutting it fine – you not afraid your coach’ll turn into a pumpkin?’

Felix explained her predicament, although he left out the bit about their theory surrounding the dock findings.

‘So, you’ve outstayed your welcome at the Haggartys’,’ said Alan, expertly rolling a cigarette between his fingers. ‘Well, you’re welcome to stay here for as long as you need, although from what Felix says, the two of you are going to share a flat above the ironmonger’s?’

Roz nodded. ‘Thanks for letting me stay. Mabel said I can start work whenever I like at the laundry, so I’ll be able to pay my way.’

He waved a dismissive hand. ‘You don’t look like you eat more than a sparrow …’ he hesitated, ‘… although you will need your ration book. I don’t suppose you’ve got it?’

Roz quickly patted her dungarees, and pulled it out to show Alan, who nodded approvingly. ‘Callum’s never been interested in paying for food, rationed or not.’

‘Good job, because I daresay you wouldn’t want to go back to the Haggartys cap in hand.’

Roz rolled her eyes. ‘I’d rather go without than go back there.’ She glanced guiltily at Felix, but Alan appeared not to notice.

He pointed at the sofa. ‘I’m afraid you’ll have to kip down on the sofa, but you should be warm enough. Felix here can fetch some blankets and pillows.’ He nodded at Felix, who took this as his cue to do as Alan suggested.

The difference between Alan and Callum’s attitude towards her was so great, Roz felt the tears well up. ‘I wish I’d gone to a nice home like yours, instead of the Haggartys’.’

‘You’re here now, that’s all that matters.’

Roz smiled happily. She could forget all about the past and concentrate on a brighter future with Felix.

Felix came back laden with pillows, blankets and a duck feather eiderdown, all of which he placed on the sofa.

Alan nodded approvingly. ‘I’ll leave you to get settled, queen.’

She waited until he had left the room before beckoning Felix to join her on the sofa. ‘I’d forgotten all about this,’ she said, pulling out a second ration book and handing it to Felix, ‘mainly because I didn’t intend using it.’

Felix looked at the ration book, a frown creasing his brow. ‘Who’s Sheila Derby?’

Roz took it back and pushed it into the pocket of her dungarees. ‘I don’t know. Callum gave it to me a couple of days ago. He asked me to try and use it down at the market, but there was no way I was taking that kind of risk – for all I knew, any of the stallholders could be Sheila Derby, and I would be caught red-handed trying to use a stolen ration book.’