‘Now we’ve just got to convince everybody that we are serious; that it’s not just “puppy love”, as my mother keeps calling it.’ Rosie walked over to the cleared windows and peered in. ‘I could see us two living here. It would be ideal, and we’d be away from my family and yours, in our own little home. Although you’d still have to work for my father or find something else.’

Rosie turned and looked at the lad who had stolen her heart. She was going to have to speak to her grandfather. He understood her and had always stood by her, no matter what her parents had said.

‘I’ll ask my grandfather for the key, just to have a look around at the moment. And then I’ll ask if he’d give his blessing for this to be our first home, if we are still together in the spring. Which, of course, we will be. I know he wouldn’t approve of us going behind his back.’ She smiled and held Ethan close to her as he kissed her and ran his fingers through her long hair.

‘I love you, Rosie Atkinson. I always will. Spring is only like a day away to me. This cottage will be ours – I’ll wish it so. Just like I wished for you.’ Ethan held her tightly and kissed her passionately as they stood outside the back door of the old cottage, hoping their dreams would come true and that one day they’d wed and live there.

‘I wish that too, Ethan. I don’t want anyone else, just you.’ Rosie held him tightly. She knew that if her parents had their way, they would prefer anyone other than Ethan, for he just wasn’t good enough for her in their eyes. But they didn’t know him like she did.

‘I don’t know, Rosie, your father won’t be that suited.’ Archie looked with concern at his granddaughter. ‘I know the cottage is empty and could do with a bit of attention, but I don’t think your father would be happy if I was encouraging your affections for Ethan.’

‘But, Grandfather, we only want to have a look around. We wouldn’t get up to anything while we were there. Please . . .’ Rosie at her grandfather looked like an appealing puppy as she tried to get her own way.