The next day was Roz’s intended rendezvous with Felix and she was determined to make everything appear as normal as possible so as not to arouse suspicion, but on the other hand she wished to look her best for Felix so she had made an extra effort with her hair, and had tried to scrub the filthy plimsolls. This hadn’t interested Callum in the slightest, but Suzie had been quick to pick up on Roz’s extra attention to detail.

‘Why all the effort?’ she asked suspiciously.

Roz glanced at Callum, who was looking lazily in her direction. ‘I’ve been scrounging down the market for a while now. If they don’t think I’m beginning to look any better, they may not see the point in giving me anything.’ She shot Callum an accusing glance. ‘I don’t think the stallholders would be too happy if they knew all their stuff ended up down the pub, do you?’

Callum’s eyes flickered over her appearance. ‘Not too good, mind,’ he muttered, ignoring her last question, ‘else they’ll think you don’t need nowt no more.’

Roz glanced at Suzie but she wasn’t as easily swayed as her father.

‘My arse!’ scoffed Suzie. ‘A girl only goes to that much trouble if there’s a feller involved.’

Callum’s head snapped up. ‘What’s that?’

Roz made sure her eyes never left his. ‘I don’t know what she’s talking about. Besides, what feller’s going to be interested in me?’

Callum ran his tongue around the inside of his cheeks. If it had been Suzie they were talking about he’d have agreed, but Roz was different. She was taller, prettier, and there was a certain air about her that Suzie didn’t possess. Without breaking eye contact he addressed his daughter. ‘P’raps you should go with her when she goes out.’

Roz opened her mouth to protest, then thought better of it. If she did, then their suspicions would definitely be confirmed. She tried to appear nonchalant. ‘Fine, but don’t blame me if we come back empty-handed …’ She continued to stare at him. Would he take the bait?

‘Why would we come back empty-handed because of me?’ snapped Suzie indignantly.

‘Because no one around here trusts you,’ said Roz, trying to keep the smugness out of her voice. She was rather enjoying telling Suzie the truth without fear of repercussion. ‘You were always on the scrounge, whining that no one gave you enough, threatening to curse them if they didn’t cough up …’ She paused to quickly banish the smile which was tweaking the corners of her lips, in case Callum realised she was embellishing the truth.

‘I never!’ cried Suzie. ‘I’m not a soddin’ tinker!’