There had been numerous occasions when he had caught sight of a woman and child in the distance and for a brief, wildly intoxicating moment or two, had thought he had found her, only to be disappointed yet again. But far from discouraging him, these instances had urged him on. He would find her, he told himself now for the hundredth time, and when he did, no matter what the circumstances were, he would make her his. He would do whatever it took. They were meant to be together and she wouldn’t escape her destiny; he had bought her ten times over with what he had sacrificed over the last years of searching and living a nomadic lifestyle. Not that life had been unpleasant and he had always found some kind of work when he had wanted it, like here at the inn. His appearance opened doors for him, especially with the ladies. He knew that and he used it.

Maria’s return brought him turning from the window. She was carrying a tray with a bottle of wine and a platter of cold meats and cheese and bread, and she smiled at him as she surveyed him standing stark naked in front of her. ‘I thought you need to keep your strength up,’ she said, nodding to the tray. She put it down on the big oak chest at the end of the bed. Walking across to him she slid her hands down his chest and then stroked his penis in her fingers. ‘The little man has work to do.’

Rather than becoming aroused as her fierce, almost primeval sexual desire was wont to make him, he felt a surge of irritation. Freeing himself, he picked up the bottle of wine and poured a glass before getting into bed, his voice cool as he said, ‘I’m tired, Maria.’ They’d been at it for the last two hours, after all. What did she expect?

She stared at him and although her voice was low when she spoke he knew her temper was rising. ‘You have been thinking about her. I know this. Zis woman.’

When he had first arrived in the town and had taken a room at the inn he had made the mistake of asking Maria if she knew of anyone matching Rose’s description. He hadn’t used the lie about an estranged wife. From the first moment Maria had looked at him he had seen the open desire in her dark eyes and he’d thought she might be a pleasant dalliance for a while. Instead he’d said the woman he was looking for was the wife of his brother.

‘Don’t start.’

Her jealous rages were another thing that made him think it was time he left Chester-le-Street. He only had to glance at another woman and Maria was beside herself, but of late she had challenged him about Rose more often, as she did now.