‘He could have died, Jasper,’ Jane said through chattering teeth, her deep brown eyes wide, almost black in the dim light. ‘Dear God, supposing Harri had died?’

For the first time in years she had used my name without deference or title and instinctively I put my arms around her and drew her into a tight embrace. I said nothing because there was nothing to say. She was right, Harri could have died but this time luckily he would just have a bump somewhere on his head – I prayed that would be all.

We hugged silently for a long time, sharing each other’s warmth and as we did so a message seemed to pass between us, unspoken but heartfelt. I think it was an apology on my part, an acknowledgement that I had failed to understand the deep feelings she had for me and completely failed to comprehend that I had only to recognize my own aching need in order to reciprocate them. Now I was swamped by that need. I felt it so fiercely that I almost crushed the breath from her. She pulled loose but not away, gasping, her mouth slightly open, her eyes gazing into mine and her head almost imperceptibly nodding in answer to the question that she saw in them. ‘Yes,’ she whispered and reached up to kiss me on the lips. I was engulfed by the same powerful response as the last time our lips had met.

I almost carried her along the shadowy passage and we more or less felt our way down the spiral stair, to the door of my chamber. The April night still had its icy fingers on us and the tumbled covers of my tester-bed beckoned us enticingly into their warmth. But alluring though she was, Jane also looked so sweet and trusting that I hesitated, uncertain if she completely understood what she was doing. With both her hands in mine I summoned all my courage. I did not want to lose her by telling her the truth, yet I knew I must.

‘I cannot marry you, Jane, but please believe me when I say that I will always look after you.’ I could only hope that my words sounded sincere, for I could not delude her however much I longed at that moment to make love to her.

‘I will hold you to that promise,’ she said solemnly, then added, with a typically impish smile, ‘but remember you are bedding a virgin, my lord, so please be gentle. Oh, and I would be eternally grateful if you tried very hard to be faithful.’

With an appreciative laugh I gathered her back into my arms. ‘Oh, Jane, I love you and I cannot imagine deceiving you.’

She flashed me another irresistible smile. ‘Well – just to remind you – I also love you and not many married people going to bed for the first time can say that.’