“Don’t you ever do that again,” Joan Grimshaw said.

“I’m sorry, Miss,” the girl whispered.

“Mrs Grimshaw,” Joan snapped. “Ma’am, to you.”

“Easy, Jo,” Rodney Beckinsale said from his slump in the armchair. “Don’t go too hard on her. It’s not Masha’s fault.”

“Joan,” she corrected. “I was ‘Jo’ when I was young. That was a long time ago.”

Rod laced his fingers together and waggled his thumbs, like a child playing a game. It made her want to slap him and kiss him in equal measure.

She turned back to Masha.

“Did they see your face?” she demanded.

“No, ma’am,” Masha said. “I don’t think so...

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