Everything had gone so well, Rose thought contentedly, and the only thing that marred her happiness was the knowledge that in due course Alexander would have to return to France. She had been shocked at the change in him and she knew his mother had too. He had always been lean but now he was gaunt, and there was something in his eyes that hadn’t been there before he had gone to war. Of course, the bloodbath at Mons had been heavily reported and Alexander had been there in the thick of it, which must have been horrendous. He hadn’t really talked about it except to say that as the British forces, suffering heavy casualties, had pulled back, some men of II Corps had claimed to have been transfixed by the vision of a shining angel. Briefly, Alexander told her, the men said that while it remained, the oncoming German cavalry had been halted.

She had asked him if he believed the account – he hadn’t seen it himself – and he had admitted he didn’t know. The men in question were seasoned soldiers and not given to fancies, but he still found it hard to accept.

‘I think someone’s mother or wife or sweetheart was praying for protection for their loved one at that moment,’ Rose had said quietly. ‘And before you say anything I know that not everyone can be spared, but perhaps there was a special reason for whoever it was.’

‘I wasn’t going to say a word to the contrary.’ Alexander had pulled her close. ‘And you could well be right, my darling.’ He had glanced across at his sons, snuggled in their cribs. ‘I am not a praying man, as you know, but I’ve asked God on numerous occasions to let me come back to you and our family if He exists. I want to do my job as a husband and father and look after you all.’

He hadn’t mentioned Nathaniel and neither had she, but she knew the spectre of the man who had hunted her down was present nonetheless. She wanted to allay his fears but of course she couldn’t; the withered rose petals in the envelopes spoke for themselves. But she was safe here on the estate, and more importantly so was Betsy and now the twins. She had to believe that or she would be a nervous wreck and she wasn’t going to let Nathaniel spoil the present; he’d had his way too much in the past.