‘What do you mean, yes to what?’ he demanded, truly and completely exasperated.

‘You haven’t asked me anything yet.’

How had he turned into a complete mess overnight? If this was what love did to a person, he wasn’t sure he wanted it at all. Only he did. He really did. Especially when he saw the look in Lily’s eyes, the smile on her mouth, the way she bit her top lip, making her look both ridiculously happy and ridiculously eager, just as he felt in that moment.

Without a moment’s thought, he got on one knee and knelt before her.

‘Lily Atwell, you have given me so much. When I thought I had lost my father, you returned him to me. When I thought I had only hurt in my past, you showed me that there had been joy, and laughter and even love. When I thought I had no place here,’ he said, drawing a jagged breath, ‘you showed me I had a home. A community. You’ve reminded me of who I am, you’ve eased my greatest fear and shown me how to overcome it. The things you have achieved make me want to aim higher,’ he said, remembering that first dinner they shared.

‘You have shown me what true friendship is, what love and acceptance is. I love you. I felt it before I knew it. Needed it before I wanted it. Thought that you were my past before I realized you were my future. So I have one more thing to ask you to give. Would you do me the greatest honour and give me your hand in marriage – be my wife, my love, and my home?’

‘Yes, oh yes,’ Lily cried, reaching for him, until suddenly she pulled back, a frown across her eyes. ‘Only …’ Henry felt his heart lurch in his chest.

‘Only,’ Lily said again, struggling to find the words that would explain the tearing in her heart, ‘are you sure you don’t want to sell the estate? It’s just that … I was hoping to do some travelling of my own …’ She noticed Henry still at her words, but pushed on. She had to. Because the yearning – the need in her to see the world, just like the girls had, just like he had – was almost overwhelming. ‘I think you were right. I don’t regret any of the choices I’ve made, I don’t regret any of the things I’ve achieved, but I’ve realized that I do want to go out and explore more of the world. To see the sun rise over Cairo and sun set in Papua New Guinea. I want to visit Positano and learn how to make sfogliatelle, and Ghana for the chicken and peanut stew, Indonesia for nasi goreng and the Philippines for beef pares.’ The words were rushing from her mouth but they came from her heart and she couldn’t hold them back.