Then she smiled, shyly, and Arthur could not help a nervous laugh, relieved that his pleasure at seeing her felt genuine. ‘By God! I’ve come home!’ He laughed and drew her to him, kissing her on the forehead, then again on the cheek and lastly on the lips, until she pulled back with a surprised look.

‘Arthur! People will see.’

‘Let them.’ He cupped her cheek and kissed her on the lips again. Now Kitty laughed, and tugged his sleeve, pulling him inside the door. A servant stood to one side, staring at the opposite wall as he reached for the door and began to close it.

‘Wait,’ Arthur intervened. ‘That horse needs returning to its master.’ He turned to the servant. ‘Might I know your name?’

‘Jenkins, your grace.’

‘Well then, Jenkins, I have an errand for you. The horse belongs to a trooper of the Life Guards. I’d be obliged if you returned it to him at once.’

The servant glanced at the animal with little enthusiasm, and then bowed his head. ‘As you wish, your grace.’

He left the house, closing the door behind him. They were alone, and he kissed Kitty again, closing his eyes and breathing in her scent, as if for the first time. Then he pulled back and arched an eyebrow. ‘I believe I have two sons somewhere?’

She grinned and gestured towards the open door of the front parlour. Arthur walked slowly towards it, seeing a mental image of the two infants he had left behind years before. Sunlight was pouring in through the tall sash windows and seated on a window seat, looking out into the street, sat Arthur and Charles. They looked round as he entered and stared at him.

‘Oh, come now!’ Kitty beckoned. ‘You know this is your father. He has returned home.’

They rose up obediently and stepped across the room, stopping two paces in front of Arthur and bowing their heads nervously.

‘How do you do, Father,’ the older boy said formally, as he had been taught to do.

Arthur gazed at them, his heart filled with a profound melancholic ache. These were his sons. His flesh and blood, whom he had come to love in the abstract. He felt that he should show them some affection. He should do what any father would in the same circumstances. Yet something held him back. Both boys were unable to conceal their nervousness as they looked up at him warily. There was a pause, then Kitty touched Arthur on the sleeve.

‘You have had a long journey. I expect you might like some refreshment.’

‘Yes. Yes, I would. Some tea, if you please, Kitty.’

She smiled warmly as he spoke her name. Then she looked at him and cocked an eyebrow. ‘No baggage?’

‘It is on the carriage. It will come shortly.’

‘Good.’ She smiled again. ‘I’ll leave you with our boys.’