‘But if you do, that’s all right.’ It wouldn’t be, of course, she’d die, but their relationship could only ever be a temporary thing, she knew that. If it became serious, if it ever got to the stage where he asked her to marry him and they became betrothed, she would have to tell him everything about her past and she couldn’t face that. He would look at her differently, any man would. She had been raped and she had been responsible for another human being’s death. Either of those things would tarnish her in his eyes and she couldn’t bear that. But the fact that they came from different worlds would suffice as an excuse to stop their friendship developing into anything more. And it wasn’t an excuse anyway, it was the truth. She couldn’t fit into his world any more than he could fit into hers.

After a moment he said, ‘I can’t believe I’m sitting here like this drinking coffee with you, and you’re not angry with me.’ He raised one eyebrow on the last words, making her smile again. ‘Can I come and see you tomorrow, after the bakery is closed, I mean? We could go for a meal somewhere perhaps? There’s a particularly fine inn to the north of Castleside and another on this side of Lanchester. I could borrow my father’s motor car for the evening.’

In spite of herself Rose felt a moment’s panic. She had never ridden in a motor car before but he had spoken about it so casually. It was more evidence of the huge divide between them. Somehow she managed to collect herself and say with more composure than she was feeling, ‘Thank you but I am not sure. I would need to see if my friend could come and sit with Betsy.’

‘Betsy could come with us if you prefer? The Crown has a small room where one can dine in private.’

For a split second she wondered if he had dined and wined ladies there in the past. ‘It would be too late for her. She has school in the morning.’

‘Of course.’ There was a small deprecating quirk to his mouth as he said, ‘Forgive me. I’m not accustomed to children’s routines.’

‘Do you see much of your godchildren?’

‘Nicholas and Rosaleen? Not as much as I would like. An army officer’s life allows for little recreation and when I get leave I prefer to come home these days,’ he said meaningfully. He was delighted when a faint tinge of pink touched her cheeks.

‘And your friend, Lawrence? How is he?’