‘Very bad.’ Rose thought back to those days of humiliation and needless cruelty and the feeling of dread that had been with her day and night. ‘Yes, very bad.’

‘I am sorry that your childhood was so hard, Rose.’

Rose shook herself mentally, throwing off the memories. ‘But Betsy’s won’t be and that is all that matters. The past is the past and can’t be changed but the present and the future are ours to make of what we will.’

Estelle had touched her arm. ‘I can see why Alexander is so in love with you,’ she said softly. ‘And you are good for him as he is for you. Don’t let anything come between you. What you have is precious.’

That conversation had been the day before and now, with Lawrence taking an afternoon nap and Estelle keeping an eye on the children who were painting pictures in the nursery, Alexander and Rose had slipped out for a walk in the grounds which had become a winter wonderland over the last days.

‘At last,’ Alexander murmured as they left the house, pulling her arm through his and tucking her against his side. ‘I am very fond of Lawrence and Estelle but I have been aching to have you all to myself.’ He kissed the tip of her nose. ‘They adore you, you know. You have completely won them over simply by being yourself.’

Rose smiled but said nothing. The moment had come. She couldn’t let this go on for another day without telling him everything, and if he didn’t want her after he knew then she would go back to her life as owner of the bakery and Betsy’s mother and thank God for what she had.

A pale winter sun, a weak image of its summer glory, was illuminating the snow covering the grounds as they walked arm in arm in the direction of the woodland behind which sat the farm. The sky was high and blue and although it was bitterly cold the frail promise of spring was in the air. It was a beautiful day and all at odds with the ugliness of what she had to say.

And then he suddenly took her by surprise, lifting her up and twirling her around until she was squealing in protest whereupon he set her on her feet, grinning at her as he said, ‘I am the happiest man in the world right at this moment. Do you know that? I want everyone to know just how much I love you. I love Rose O’Leary,’ he shouted to the heavens, causing several large crows sitting in a nearby tree to squawk in protest and fly off. ‘The only thing that would make me happier is for you—’