Kerensa was half sitting, half lying on a sofa in her sitting room. Her chest rose and fell softly as she dozed.

‘Kerensa…’

Oliver barely whispered her name, but it was enough to make her draw in her features and move slightly. Her glossy auburn-red hair was splayed out on the cushions behind her head. Her beautiful face was tinted a soft satiny pink. She looked child-like and vulnerable and although all conscious thought was lost to her there was sorrow etched in every breathtaking line of her face, the face that was so dear and which he had missed so much.

He wanted nothing more than to take her in his arms and swear on his life that he would never leave her again, but he stayed by the door. He felt strangely shy in his own house, as if he was something of an intruder and she had more right to be here than he did. He felt awkward about letting her know he was there. He had put that sorrow on her face; what right had he to walk back into her life and hope all could be as it was before?

‘Kerensa’

She woke with a small start and looked down at her side and murmured something. He only caught the end of what she said, ‘…heard your father calling my name,’ and assumed she was half awake and dreaming she was talking to one of the children.

He took a deep breath, tears misted his eyes and he could only speak in a whisper.

‘You were not dreaming, Kerensa, my love.’

Her head spun round. ‘Oliver! Is it really you!’

He tried to answer but the words choked in his throat. Kerensa stared at him, too afraid even to blink lest he disappear like an apparition.

‘Have… have you come back to me?’

Her eyes were startled and full of fear. Oliver could not bear to see her like this.

‘If you will have me, Kerensa.’

The next moment he was kneeling before her – not the words and actions of a man torn by arrogance and pride.

‘I have waited so long for this moment.’ Tears of joy and emotion sparkled in her eyes and she let them gather and fall unchecked.

Oliver grasped her hand and placed his head on her lap, then lifted it again swiftly. He had looked straight into the face of a wide-awake pouting baby.

‘What… who…?’

Taking the baby more fully into her arms, Kerensa smiled with real happiness for the first time in months.

‘Kelynen Ann Pengarron, meet your father.’

Oliver was stunned. ‘You mean… I’m her… she’s my…? It was her you were talking to.’ Then he was horrified. ‘Dear God, are you telling me that I left you to bear this child alone!’

Kerensa laughed and said fondly, ‘I fed her not five minutes ago and we both dropped off to sleep. She’s a good baby, the children adore her.’