‘Rubbish!’ snapped Lilith. ‘No one likes someone stickin’ their nose in where it’s not wanted, jumpin’ to assumptions what aren’t true!’

Roz wrinkled her brow. ‘I don’t remember making any assumptions, you didn’t let me get that far.’

Lilith tutted irritably. ‘You’re biting off more than you can chew, don’t say I didn’t warn you.’

Roz took the kettle from the stove and poured the warm water into a small bowl which she used as a basin to wash in. She had hoped that her attempt to divert attention from herself to Suzie’s mother would mean that they stopped questioning her, and it looked as though it had worked, which was just as well because she couldn’t afford to arouse suspicions. Tomorrow she would work twice as hard down the market so that Callum would have no complaints. Tomorrow. A small smile crept to the corner of her lips. Tomorrow she would see Felix and explain everything that had happened since leaving Dovercourt, and see what his thoughts were on the matter. She had no doubt he would want to help get her out of the Haggartys’, but how? She imagined Felix standing toe to toe with Callum. Felix was thicker set than Callum, but a shade smaller, not that that would matter to someone like Callum, who undoubtedly didn’t believe in fighting fair.

Felix led Coconut, the piebald gelding, into his stable. It had been a long day, and he could smell the saucepan of scouse that Bill had prepared whilst they were out working.