She knew he was right. She had to keep Betsy safe. But the thought of living at Highfield Hall with Alexander’s father filled her with dread. She had warmed to his mother over the last months but his father was a different kettle of fish. She drew away a little to wipe her eyes with her handkerchief. ‘What will your parents say if we tell them Betsy and I are coming to live at the Hall permanently?’

‘They would no more want you to be in danger than I would,’ said Alexander firmly. ‘And on that subject I am staying here tonight. I’ll sleep in the chair, and tomorrow we will move your things to the house.’

‘But with the wedding so close—’

‘It makes it all the better,’ he finished determinedly. ‘You will be on hand to discuss any details. We’ll talk to Daisy tomorrow and she can give notice where she lives whenever she’s happy to do so, but I’m going to have a sign made for the shop window to say the bakery is under new management so Nathaniel knows you are not living here any longer. I want you on the estate with all the protection that affords. And don’t forget, you will be my wife soon, not a young woman with a child living alone and unprotected.’

‘I hate the fact that he’ll think he has managed to drive me out of my own home.’

‘He won’t know that, Rose. After all, most people would expect that you would live at Highfield once we are married.’

Yes, that was true. She nodded again.

‘And frankly, I was always concerned that you wanted to carry on here when I was away. I wouldn’t have wished for this to happen, of course, but it will be a great relief to me to know you and Betsy are safe and secure until I leave the army and we have our own home.’ Although when that would be he had no idea. The possibility of war was gathering steam by the day. Only a month ago Britain had withdrawn her battleships from the Mediterranean and had placed them on patrol in the North Sea in response to the continuing German naval build-up. It had followed the breakdown of Anglo-German talks aimed at slowing down the rate of expansion of the two countries’ navies, which was a growing concern on both sides of the North Sea. There was now a definite threat from Germany, and the naval budget was being expanded as well as a recruiting drive in all the forces. He had been chatting to his commanding officer just before he left for home today, and he’d said he wouldn’t trust the Kaiser any further than he could throw him.