they have a problem,â he suggested coyly.
âThe same kind who hit the headlines when they kill a girl.â She shook her head. âYou really should have been more careful. But then that was never easy with Ems. When she came around with us she was always stripping off at the drop of a hat.â Taking the whisky bottle from him just as he was about to fill his glass for the fourth time, she stared at him thoughtfully.
âWhy are you looking at me like that?â he snapped.
âCan you be one hundred per cent certain that this baby is yours?â
âYou said it yourself, everyoneâs dropped Ems; she hasnât seen anyone else in months.â He snatched the bottle back.
âMums and Pops are away this weekend.â
âThatâs why I invited Ems to lunch on Sunday. She was moaning that I never bring her here any more.â
âNot lunch, Robin. A party, weâll round up some people and invite her to stay over tomorrow night.â
âNone of the girls will come if they know Ems will be here.â
âBut the boys will.â She refilled her glass.
âI canât see how that will help.â
She thought rapidly. She had an idea, but she knew Robin wouldnât like it and it might not work. But if it did ⦠âFirst things first, Robin, you need to find out if she is pregnant.â
âAnd how do you propose I do that? Ask Pops to stay so he can examine her?â
âOf course not. Iâll talk to her.â
âAnd you think sheâll tell you after youâve cut her for almost a year?â he sneered.
âWe were close. And, as I said, she could never keep a secret once sheâd had a couple of drinks. But weâd better make it look like a real party. Invite the old crowd, that boy with red hair â¦â
âThompson.â
âThatâs the one.â The only thing Angie could recall about Thompson was that heâd had the most enormous crush on Emily.
âAnd if she tells you she really is up the duff?â
âWeâll cross that bridge when we come to it.â
âI suppose even if itâs bad news at least Iâd know where I am with her. Youâre a brick, Angie. Thanks.â
âPhone,â she prompted.
âWeâll need some girls and if they know Ems is coming â¦â
âI wonât tell them until after they arrive. Then, if anyone cuts Ems or is foul to her, it will give her all the more reason to drink and me the chance to worm the truth out of her.â She picked up the cue and returned it to the rack. Robin went into the hall.
Emily had been her closest friend and as a consequence knew more about her than was desirable in view of the Murton Daviesesâ fall from grace. She hadnât been comfortable with Robinâs refusal to ditch Emily or Emilyâs insistence on remaining in Swansea. There was nothing quite so embarrassing as meeting someone who presumed on old friendship when that friendship no longer existed. And Robin was right about one thing; her boyfriend, Julian, didnât like her brotherâs liaison with Emily any more than their parents did. Much as he and his family adored her, they would never welcome the sister-in-law of Emily Murton Davies into the Pickering Jones family.
But â and it was a huge âbutâ â if tomorrowâs party went according to her plan, Emily would have to leave town and theyâd never move in the same social circles again.
Robin looked in on her from the doorway. âThompsonâs coming and bringing a couple of friends.â
âGood.â
âIâd better get back to it.â
âThe more the merrier,â she called after him, as he returned to the telephone.
âJack, theyâre beautiful.â
âReal gold and sapphires,â he said proudly.
Helen kissed him. âCould you afford them?â
âNo, but I did. Put them