10/02/2026 20:33

---

Let'stalk about Fleming Cotterill. They're expecting us today. 'CHAPTER 26'Oh, my God,' said Octavia. 'Under the circumstances.

Octavia's mobile phone, placed byhim in the kitchen drawer under some tea towels tenminutes earlier, was still ringing intermittently as he drovedown the street. Tonight, she was actually eating more than he hadexpected. ''Including his marriage to your daughter?''Marianne, he's done that himself. The twins were in their pyjamas watching the nursery TVwhen she got back, and greeted her rather desultorily.