Chapter 15

One of the reasons I’d chosen these rooms was the convenience of having a telephone in our flat. I’d been doing odd jobs here and there—of which Jeremy had no idea—and having to take a call in the phonebox on the street wouldn’t have been…wise.

He’d covered the receiver and hissed, “It’s your sister!’” and then he’d smothered a snigger as I’d snatched my hand away.

But he and Pamela had seemed to get along quite well, which pleased me.

“I asked him,” I informed her now, “but he was reluctant to intrude.”

“Please persuade him.”

“I’ll try, Petal,” I couldn’t resist teasing her, “but it is a family occasion, and you know how the parents can be about things like that.”

“It’s my birthday, and I want him to join us!” Her expression became stubborn, and she scowled at me. “I like him very much—much better than Barbara, that witch.”

“Pamela!” I tried to keep my expression stern.

“Well, she is a witch! How could she leave you?”