She saw him wince. ‘It’s not an “affair”,’ he said harshly. He was angry now and she was surprised how much her words had hurt him. ‘It’s not a sordid affair, Kate.’

‘All right, all right.’ She tried to placate him swiftly. ‘I didn’t mean it the way it sounded. Right now, your place is with your wife and little girl. But I’ll wait, Philip. However, long it takes. Just remember I’m here – waiting.’ She touched the back of his hand and he turned it over quickly and grasped her fingers in such a tight grip that it was painful.

‘Kate . . .’ he whispered hoarsely. ‘I do love you so very much. Bless you for understanding.’

‘I can only guess at what your wife must be going through. You must – be with her.’ Though she was weeping inside, Kate kept her voice strong for Philip’s sake. She wondered if he knew how much it cost her to encourage him to leave.

‘Poor Grace,’ he said heavily. ‘It’s not her fault. She’s borne the brunt of looking after Lizzie. Poor little Lizzie. I was so proud and happy the night she was born. I always wanted a daughter . . .’

‘It’s no one’s fault, Philip. Please don’t feel so badly.’

He closed his eyes and groaned deeply. ‘But I do. You’ve been so hurt before and here I am hurting you again.’

That, Kate thought, she could not deny. ‘You’re hurting too, aren’t you?’ she murmured.

‘Oh yes. My dearest girl – you’ll never know just how much.’

Gently he drew her against him and they sat together, just holding each other closely, staring out of the car window at the blackness of the night, the only light being from the stars millions of miles away, and the new moon, a curved slit of light.

‘My mother would say we’re unlucky – seeing the new moon through glass,’ Kate said.

‘At this precise moment,’ Philip said sadly, ‘I’d have to agree with her.’

His departure, once arranged, was swift. They only managed to snatch one brief meeting when their lovemaking was tinged with sadness and a terrible fear that this was the last time they would ever see each other.

‘I’ll write to you, Kate.’

‘How – how can I write to you?’

‘I’ll send you my address at the new station. Somehow we must keep in touch. We must! After a time, I’ll see if I can get you posted to where I am,’ he vowed urgently. ‘Oh, Kate, I’ll miss you so . . .’

The whole station was sorry to see him go; he had been a kind and caring CO, maintaining authority through the strength of his personality, because people really liked him.