Page 91 of The Only Way Is Up

‘No, it’s fine,’ whispered Miriam, her voice wavering. ‘I think I know why Daisy is here, and you’ll find out soon enough.’ She put the kettle down and tucked her hands under her armpits to stop them shaking.

‘Goodness.’ Stella’s eyes swivelled between Daisy and Miriam. ‘What on earth has happened?’

Daisy waited until Miriam had sat down, not wanting to intimidate the vicar in her own kitchen. ‘I think Miriam may have been sharing stories about me that might have ended up in the press.’

Miriam dropped her head, her shoulders shaking as she started to cry.

‘Good lord.’ Stella stared at the older woman. ‘That can’t be true. Miriam?’

The vicar nodded, now sobbing heartily.

‘Miriam, it’s OK.’ Daisy reached over to put a hand over hers. ‘I’m not here to yell at you, just to understand what happened.’

Miriam took a few shuddering breaths and sat upright, wiping the tears away with a loaves and fishes tea towel. She looked from Daisy to Stella, trying to compose herself.

‘The money wasn’t for me; it was for the vestry.’ She gave Daisy a beseeching look, then tore off a sheet of kitchen roll and blew her nose noisily. ‘A man contacted me through the church Facebook page. I never knew his name. He said he’d pay five thousand pounds, which meant I wouldn’t have to beg people for money any more. The fundraising has been so stressful for years and I couldn’t see an end to it.’

‘I can understand that,’ Daisy murmured. Her mother’s expression was hard to read.

‘At the time you were a stranger and it seemed so easy,’ Miriam said, her eyes welling up again. ‘Then I got to know you and Stella and felt terrible, but I couldn’t back out. He said he’d tell the Bishop what I’d done.’ Her face was bleak and exhausted. ‘I’m so sorry.’ She dissolved into tears again.

‘Has the man paid you yet?’ asked Daisy.

‘No,’ sobbed Miriam. ‘He said what I’ve given him wasn’t good enough. I have photos of Tom leaving your house and you walking a dog in your pyjamas, but I never sent them. I couldn’t.’

Daisy smiled gently. ‘Miriam, it’s fine. Please don’t cry. Block the man’s number, delete any messages and leave him to me.’

‘Do you know who he is?’ Miriam’s eyes widened.

‘Yes, and he won’t be bothering you again. How much money do you need for the church?’

‘That’s the worst thing about it,’ Miriam wailed. ‘You and Stella and Justin meant we got hundreds more visitors to the fete and raised five times what we usually make. So I don’t even need the money. I feel awful. I’m so sorry.’

Daisy patted her hand again, nodding fervently at her mother to do the same. ‘Miriam, there’s no real harm done, so please don’t be upset. I’m not angry with you, and neither is Stella.’ Daisy intensified her glare until finally Stella put her arm round Miriam.

‘I’m sure everything will be fine,’ Stella said grudgingly, prompting another round of crying.

‘How did you know?’ sobbed Miriam. ‘Was it Celebrity Mastermind?’

‘I’m afraid I made that story up.’ She didn’t mention Tom and Ruby and Will, there was no need for Miriam and Stella to know they were involved.

‘What story?’ asked Stella.

‘I told Miriam that I was going to be on Celebrity Mastermind.’

‘With what specialist subject?’ demanded Stella, her mouth hanging open.

‘For God’s sake, Mum, what does it matter?’ replied Daisy with an eyeroll. ‘Fine. Vampire fiction.’

‘Goodness,’ Stella snorted. ‘I had no idea you read that kind of thing. Some of it’s quite racy, isn’t it?’

Daisy ignored her mother, who seemed to have entirely missed the point. Instead she looked at Miriam, who threw her a bleak smile. Daisy squeezed her hand, then rose and headed towards the door, taking Stella by the arm as she passed.

‘Don’t be angry with her,’ whispered Daisy in the doorway. ‘She made a stupid mistake, but she’s a good person. She wouldn’t be the first to sell stories to the press then regret it later.’ Daisy gave her mother a significant look.

‘No. No,’ Stella had the grace to blush, ‘she wouldn’t.’ She pulled Daisy into a hug and sighed heavily. ‘You’re too good for this industry, Daisy. Don’t ever lose that.’

CHAPTER FIFTY