‘I’m sorry the end of the day didn’t go as you’d planned, Oliver.’

Kerensa’s voice made him whirl round.

She was framed in the doorway, a spectacle of heavenly beauty in the light of his single candle. ‘It’s good of you to be concerned about my feelings, Kerensa.’

‘I’ve looked in on Samuel, and Tamara is now settled. All’s quiet.’

‘Thank you for informing me.’

Kerensa tried to see his face. His outline was unclear where he was, in the darkest part of the room. He had not moved a fraction. Was this polite interchange about the family all he wanted to hear from her? He had not actually said it, but all his actions and attitudes implied he wanted her back. Had he grown cold waiting for her to come round to him?

Seconds passed.

She took a step backwards. ‘Goodnight, Oliver.’

‘Kerensa!’

‘Yes, Oliver?’

‘I should like to kiss you goodnight, if that’s all right.’

She came into the room, willingly.

He went to her, feeling a little shy as he placed his hands behind her head.

It was the softest kiss she had ever received. The purest and the warmest. So very, very tender, and it took her breath away. He was draining her, yet he was filling her entirely. He was giving her a once in a lifetime kiss, the salute of someone who loved unselfishly, absolutely, perfectly.

‘Goodnight, my dear love.’

After a last fleeting touch on her face, he left her and returned to the window.

Then he felt her arms about his waist and her face resting against his back. Relief leapt out of him in a rush of breath, a mighty gasp. The demon of despair was expelled. He turned and at the same time she moved round to face him.

Simultaneously they cried, ‘I’m sorry. I’m sorry. Forgive me. Forgive me.’

‘I let my jealousy and pride come between us, but never, ever again,’ Oliver swore.

‘And I forgot how much I loved you, and what you meant to me.’ She mourned for the time they had lost.

‘I don’t just want to feel happiness from now on. I want to give happiness to you, my dear love. I only want to make you happy, Kerensa.’

‘And I will only ever want you, Oliver.’

They went to their bedroom, their bed, their bonding place and lay down together, face to face.

In a feather-light caress Oliver glided the backs of his fingers all over her. Kerensa touched the strong muscles of his shoulders, threaded her fingers through his black hair and over the fine silver traces at his temples.

She opened her lips for his next kiss, moving closer to him, placing the full length of her body against the full length of his. While he touched her with a velvet-smoothness, she ran delicate paths down his back with her fingertips, murmuring tender words in his ear.