Kate heard a tap on the window and looked at him. Who could that be?

He walked across the room and peeked out of the curtain. He turned back to face her and she saw the fear in his eyes.

‘Who is it? It’s not someone from the hospital?’ Her voice was filled with fear for Lizzy. It was nearly ten thirty, who would be tapping on her window now?

‘It’s your boyfriend, come for a late night legover by the look of things.’

It took a few seconds for the words to sink in. Patrick? Here? She pulled herself from the settee and went out to the hallway. Dan pulled her back.

‘Don’t open the door, Kate, please. I’ll do anything you want - we can get married again, anything - but please don’t answer the door to him. If you do it will always be between us.’

Kate searched his blue eyes with her own dark ones. She saw the wanting in him, knew that this time she had the upper hand, what she had craved all her life with him - and it meant nothing. Patrick Kelly was nearby and he was what she wanted, for however long it might last.

Kate had never loved lightly, she had always loved one hundred per cent, and now Dan knew, looking into her eyes, that her allegiance to him had gone for good. He wasn’t really surprised when she pulled her arm free and, straightening her dressing gown, walked to the front door. With those few steps she finally severed any remaining ties between them.

Patrick stood on the doorstep perplexed. He had seen the light from the front room and wondered what was keeping Kate. He was sorry now that he had come round so late, but he had felt an overwhelming urge to see her. He had been sitting in his house alone, and Mandy had invaded his thoughts as she always did when he had nothing else to occupy him, and suddenly the urge to see Kate was so strong it was almost tangible. Taking his BMW he had driven himself to her house. Now it did not seem like a very good idea.

He saw her slim form walking down the hall and felt a surge of pleasure. As she opened the door he smiled at her crookedly.

‘I know it’s late but I saw your lights on . . .’ His voice trailed off.

Kate had never been so glad to see anyone in her life.

‘Come in, it’s freezing.’ He followed her down the hall and into the lounge. Kate was not surprised to find it was empty. She had heard the back door close as she opened the door to Patrick. Dan was a lot of things but brave was not one of them.

‘How about a drink? Tea, coffee, a brandy?’ She saw Dan’s glass where he had left it on the coffee table. It was still half full.