‘Supposing he did, though?’ mused Felix.

‘The scuffers would send me back to Dovercourt,’ said Roz simply, ‘and they might try to send me back to Berlin …’ She held up a hand as Felix tried to speak. ‘Charity only goes so far, Felix, and I could end up with a family a lot worse than the Haggartys, and a lot further away from Liverpool too.’

Felix nodded dejectedly. ‘Well, you’d best be off then, but are we still on for tomorrow?’

Roz grinned. ‘You bet we are!’

Back at the Haggartys’ Suzie was filling Callum and Lilith in on Roz’s deceit.

‘Didn’t I tell you!’ said Lilith smugly, sitting up. ‘I knew she was up to no good!’

Callum looked doubtful. ‘Apart from the fact she’s had me waiting here when I could’ve been down the pub, I’m not sure I see the harm in it.’

Suzie pouted obstinately. ‘She lied! She made out that she was doing your messages whereas she’s been riding on a horse and slathering all over this Felix feller.’

Callum cocked an eyebrow. ‘Remember his name, do you?’

Suzie blushed. ‘I heard them giggling and calling him Felix.’

He eyed her shrewdly, as though searching her thoughts, before looking away. ‘Well, she ain’t beggared off with him, she still comes back here, still does her chores, so apart from her being late …’

‘And the fact she lied!’ snapped Suzie. ‘Not to mention that soddin’ Mabel – God only knows what lies Roz is telling her.’

Callum pulled a nonchalant face. ‘Who cares? I don’t.’

Suzie stared in disbelief at her father. How could he sit there as calm as you like, as if all was well? Roz was lying, and hanging round with their sworn enemies, and her father was acting like he couldn’t care less! On the other hand, Callum had never been that keen on taking Roz on in the first place, so he’d probably prefer it if she slung her hook.