Next stop was to give Grandad another call from the booth outside. “How’s it going?” Maddy asked. “Is Michael still asleep?”

“No.”

“How long has he been awake? Is he crying? Maybe he needs his nappy changing!”

“Hey!” Grandad’s stern voice cut her short. “Enough of the panicking. Your baby son is lying here, kicking his legs and gurgling. Later, I might take him for a walk down the street. The fresh air will happen send him off again.”

When Maddy was about to make a suggestion, he preempted her. “No, I won’t forget to make sure he’s covered up warm, and yes, if he needs his bottom changed I’m quite capable of doing that an’ all. Now go and enjoy yourselves and stop fretting.”

A little more reassurance and Maddy went away satisfied. “He’s very special, your grandad,” she told Ellen as they walked along. “Nothing is too much trouble for him.”

Ellen confided in her. “It was wrong of me to desert him like I did,” she said, “but you know what it’s like. I wanted to see the big wide world, thought I’d find fame and fortune. And here I am, yes, with money in the bank, and yes, I’ve had my name on posters and I’ve seen the sights of London town.” She gave a sad little smile. “I went away searching for my dream, when all along what I really needed was a simple, quiet life.”

She took a deep invigorating breath. “But I’m back now, and I mean to stay.”

“Will you be content to stay in these parts forever, though?” Maddy had seen for herself, how quickly and easily Ellen had fitted back into her hometown, like a foot in an old slipper.

For what seemed an age, Ellen lapsed into a brooding silence, before turning to Maddy with a deep, knowing smile. “We all of us belong somewhere,” she murmured wisely. “I belong here.” That was all. But it was from the heart. And in a way, Maddy envied her.

The shopping center was designed round a small square, with seats and flowerbeds, and wide walkways where a body could pass without shuffling and pressing against other people.

“I think I’ll pop in there.” Ellen stopped to look in the window of the new dress shop. There were dummies clothed in pretty dresses in the latest styles; shoes and high winter boots on shelves, and handbags of every shape, size and color. And as she peered past the display she could see row upon row of striking outfits hanging on the rails.

“You go in,” Maddy suggested. “I’ll be over there.” Her figure wasn’t quite back to normal yet, and she didn’t want to waste money on clothes that wouldn’t fit in a couple of months. Having spied a branch of Mothercare, she told Ellen, “Look! There are loads of things I need in there.”

“All right then.” Ellen thought she might like to see inside that shop as well. “I’ll have a quick browse in here, then I’ll follow on.”

While Ellen went in to find herself something pretty, Maddy walked around in Mothercare, filling her net basket with nappy lines, bibs and other baby paraphernalia. She also picked up three plastic feeding bottles, a box of sterilizer tablets and half a dozen tins of formula. Michael had quickly graduated from the breast to the bottle. The health visitor said he simply wasn’t getting enough to eat, and sure enough, when Maddy tried him with his first bottle of Cow & Gate formula, he had taken to it like a duck to water. At nearly two months old, he was growing plump and sturdy.

The big shop contained so many useful and so many wonderful things, Maddy didn’t know which way to turn. As she seized a catalogue to take home, she was utterly absorbed in her shopping and had even forgotten to worry about Michael.

Putting all her purchases into a large pink shopping bag, Maddy made her way to the dress shop, where she imagined that Ellen was trying on everything in sight. She was within yards of the shop, when she paused to glance at the display in Marchants. There was a particular pair of red boots that had caught her eye.

She did not notice the man who was lingering at the chemist’s shop next door, pretending to scrutinize the window display while keeping a close eye on her.

Intent on reading the price, she was startled when the man came up beside her. “Like those boots, do you?” Tall and willowy, with shoulder-length dark hair and piercing eyes, he had a sinister air about him.

Maddy merely smiled and made to walk on, when he laid his hand on her arm. “I know you, don’t I?”

“That’s impossible.” Unnerved, Maddy had noticed his London accent. “I’ve never seen you before.”

As she tried to pass him, he blocked her way, almost stopping her heart with his seemingly casual comment. “You’re a singer, aren’t you? The Pink Lady Club – yes, that’s it. Always top of the bill and rightly so.” He smiled knowingly. “Last I heard, Steve had thrown you out in favor of somebody else.”

“No, you’re wrong!” Desperately trying to sound calm and unruffled, Maddy was in turmoil. “I’ve no idea what you’re talking about!”

“Oh, I’m never wrong. I have an exceptional memory – and an eye for a pretty face.” Burrowing his eyes into hers, he said, “So what are you doing so far away from London?”

“Let me pass – please. I have a friend waiting.”

He looked her up and down, taking in the simple, chain-store coat. “Short of money, is that it?”

“Like I said, you’ve made a mistake. I’m not the person you thought.”

“All right, so we’ll agree to differ. We’ll pretend you’re not Maddy Delaney, the Songbird of Soho. But that doesn’t mean to say we can’t have a little fun together, does it, eh?” He gave her a meaningful wink.

Instinct told Maddy to play his little game, After all, it was not so strange that someone should recognize her from the club. There must be thousands of people who had seen and heard her sing over the past three years. Besides, he seemed a nasty piece of work.

“I really must go now,” she said. With her heart racing and every limb trembling, she gave him her warmest smile. “Nice meeting you though.”

Encouraged, he reached out; taking hold of her arm, he questioned her, “Live round here now, do you?”

Inwardly shaking she answered politely. “You’ve got me mixed up with someone else.” She thought it best to play his little game, and find out what he was really up to. “Look, my husband is being transferred to a new post in Jersey. He’s away at the moment, making arrangements for us to move there.” Maddy pointed to a small terrace of houses to the far right. “That’s where we live,” she lied convincingly. “But like I said, it’s only for another couple of weeks and then we’ll be off.”

When he made no sign of making a move, Maddy took a gamble. “You can call round later if you like,” she said, smiling suggestively. “What with my husband being away, I get a bit lonely on my own, if you know what I mean.”

“So you do like a bit of fun after all, eh, sexy lady?”

“Well, who doesn’t?” Maddy replied with a naughty grin. “But, I’ve still got things to do. I should be home in about an hour though.”

His slow smile enveloped her. “That’s my girl. Now you’re talking sense.” He glanced at his watch. “Half three okay?”

“I look forward to it.”

As she walked away, trying not to run, he called her back. Turning, she put on a sweet smile when she was ready to scream.

“You didn’t say which house?”

“The end one.” She pointed to the left of the row. “By the garage.” Congratulating herself, she thought how by the time he knocked on that door, she and Ellen would be long gone.

He nodded; his lustful gaze following her back view as she walked away.

“I knew this was my lucky day,” he muttered smugly. “Seems like it’s Drayton’s lucky day too.” He rubbed his hands together and crossed over to the corner pub, where he ordered a pint of beer and bided his time. Not for one minute did he suspect his quarry had got one over on him.