‘There’s another letter from your sister, too.’ Edward tossed the envelope across the table.

Anna picked it up and looked at the ragged, torn edge. ‘I wish you wouldn’t open my post.’

‘How else would I know who it was from?’ Edward asked, as if it were the most obvious question in the world.

‘You must recognise Liesel’s handwriting by now, surely?’

‘I recognise her handwriting on the envelope. But I don’t know what’s inside, do I? For all I know, she might be sending on messages from him.’

Anna forced down her rising irritation. ‘You know I never write to Tom anymore.’

‘I know what you tell me.’ Edward sent her a suspicious look.

Anna sighed. ‘How long will it be before you trust me?’

‘As long as it takes.’

‘We’ve been married for nearly five months and I’ve never given you cause to doubt me, have I?’ Unlike you, whispered a voice inside her head.

‘Not yet. But that’s only because I’ve been watching you. How do I know what you’d get up to behind my back if I let you?’ Edward put down his cup. He was smiling but his eyes were steely. ‘I’m sorry, my love, but you really only have yourself to blame. If you hadn’t gone sneaking about, writing letters to another man in secret …’

I didn’t write to him in secret! Anna opened her mouth to argue, then gave up. She had learned the hard way that it was never worth trying to get the better of Edward. He had a way of twisting her in knots, making her think she had said and done things she hadn’t.

And besides, she didn’t have the energy for an argument. A disagreement that started at breakfast was likely to simmer on all day, or until she apologised and Edward decided to forgive her. All she wanted was some peace.

But deep down she knew it wasn’t really Edward talking. Her Edward would never look at her so coldly, or say such hurtful things. Her Edward loved her, trusted her. He would have laughed off stupid arguments, put his arms around her and told her it didn’t matter.

She looked across the table at her husband. He still looked like Edward. The months since leaving the army had restored his well-built frame and his fair good looks. But inside, Anna knew he was still fragile, wary, damaged. It would take more than a few months to put that right.

In the meantime, all she could do was try her best to put up with the barbs, and the mistrust and the cruelty, and trust that one day her Edward would come back to her and everything would be all right again.

Besides, what other choice did she have? This was her dream, to be with Edward at the bakery, and she had to make it work.

‘I see your sister is still on about wanting to come for a visit?’ Edward’s voice broke into her thoughts. ‘Honestly, they can’t work those Land Girls very hard if she has time off to visit every five minutes!’