Kate swallowed nervously, realizing what a shock for him her news was going to be. As they walked, she glanced up at him. His face seemed thinner and there were dark shadows beneath his eyes. He looks desperately tired, she thought. Even his voice sounded weary as if he were having to force himself to speak cheerfully. ‘I’ve only just realized what’s different about you,’ he said as he sat down opposite her in a secluded corner of the restaurant. ‘You’re not in uniform.’

Kate drew in a deep breath. ‘Oh – er – no. I’ll explain – in a minute . . .’ She bit her lip. Before she told him anything, there was something she must know first. Leaning forward across the table, she said softly, ‘Philip, how are things with you? I mean – with Lizzie?’

The look of pain that was suddenly in his eyes shocked her in its intensity. ‘Oh, Kate. That’s partly why I asked you to meet me. I wanted to see you, of course. You’ll never know how desperately I’ve missed you all these weeks and months . . .’

And I you, she thought, but for the moment she remained silent.

‘But . . .’ He was strangely, unnervingly hesitant now, and Kate found she was holding her breath. Intuitively, she knew suddenly that she did not really want to hear what Philip was about to say.

He reached across the table and took her hands in his. ‘My daughter died three weeks ago. She suffered greatly during the final weeks and it has been a dreadful time for the whole family. Grace is distraught and needs me to be with her . . .’

How cruel it was, Kate thought, that Philip believed he had lost his only child, when in truth, he now had another. But she could not tell him now. Enough time when he had grieved for Lizzie and his wife was strong again. Oh yes, Kate promised him silently. One day you’ll know you have an adorable, perfect daughter. One day, when the time is right and you can rejoice whole-heartedly, I will tell you.

‘Poor Grace,’ she heard him saying, dragging her wandering thoughts back to the present, ‘after being so strong all these years while caring for Lizzie, she’s gone to pieces now.’

Now Kate knew what it felt like to be a mother, she spared a compassionate thought for the unknown woman who was Philip’s wife.

She squeezed his hands and whispered, ‘Philip – I’m so sorry.’

‘You do understand.’ His blue eyes, clouded with misery, searched her face. ‘I can’t bear the thought that I might lose you, but I must stay with Grace for a while.’

‘Of course I understand. I told you when you left, I would be waiting. It’s just going to be a little longer, that’s all.’ Her words were brave, but inside her something died. Would he ever come back to her?