He came up and, standing behind her, gently kissed the nape of her neck.

Things had been good between them since her tormentor had been removed from her life, although he knew she feared his influence as a defence lawyer might yet see him walk free.

That was something they wouldn’t talk about, unless she chose to.

It wasn’t the only thing bothering her. He had made it plain in their conversations after the fire that he wanted to support her in whatever decision she made regarding the pregnancy.

‘I told Richard it was his to stop him hitting me in the stomach,’ she’d eventually revealed. ‘I said I was sure. I’m not sure, but he will likely demand a prenatal DNA test.’

‘Can he legally do that?’

She’d shaken her head. ‘I don’t know, but he will do whatever it takes to find out.’

‘And if he’s not the father?’ he’d said quietly.

‘He won’t want it, but he may fight for it anyway. He believes in retribution where I’m concerned.’

They sat down to eat, although he barely tasted his food, aware that some sort of decision was in the offing.

Should he tell her what he really wanted? That she should have the baby and stay here with him, regardless of who the father was? Or remember that she was the one who had to decide her future, not him?

Richard had not permitted that. He’d tried to manipulate and control her. Anything he did or said, however mild, might remind her of that fact.

Plus he, Josh and Finn were still under suspicion with regard to Ailsa’s death and thus he wasn’t allowed to leave Blackrig, so couldn’t go to London with her, should she decide to have the abortion.

She was looking at him, perhaps trying to read his thoughts.

‘I think we should have the prenatal DNA test,’ she said haltingly. ‘If you wouldn’t mind, that is?’

He wanted to sweep her up and hug her, but wasn’t sure that would be welcome, so he simply said, ‘No. I wouldn’t mind. I wouldn’t mind at all.’

‘We have to wait until the seventh week of pregnancy,’ she said.

‘We can do that,’ he answered with a nod.

He didn’t want to ask her what she would do with the result. He was content for the moment to wait out the time. Perhaps by then they would have discovered Ailsa’s killer, and he would be a free man again.

Although not one without shame.

The sound of a quad bike sent him outside once more, to find Josh on his way up the track towards him.

They hadn’t spoken since the wildfire had been officially declared as over, although after the scene at the lochan, they’d had a heart-to-heart discussion about what had actually been going on there.