These thoughts made her impatient to get on her way, but she had to wait until the solicitors had her funds in place for her.

The hotel stood on the edge of Hyde Park, and today Mags intended to go for a walk around the lovely park gardens. Already she was beginning to feel closed in amongst so many buildings and was missing the green and beautiful, if rugged, views from her house in Blackburn. A sigh left her as she thought this. She brushed the feeling away. There was no going back; she had to go forward.

Outside the air was warm, and the hustle and bustle of the streets excited her. Turning into the park showed her a different world; yes, there were still people, but they were ambling along or riding horses at a slow canter.

As she walked along the path, with beautifully cut grass on each side of her, Mags paused, closed her eyes and took a deep breath. When she opened them, she was startled to see Montel in front of her. Beside him was an old pram, in which sat a lovely child of around eighteen months old. With one look at the child, Mags knew she was Harold’s. She felt no pain at this realization, for all feeling for Harold was gone, but she did feel disturbed by being in the presence of Montel. She didn’t know if she was ready to be in his company.

If she hadn’t known he was French, she would have guessed it by what he wore – an open-necked shirt with a cravat tucked into the collar, and a black flat cap at a jaunty angle on his head.

His expression was that of a naughty boy. ‘Forgive me, but David Lange told me thiz iz where you were staying, and I took a chance on you coming out to walk in zee park sometime today. I intended to wait around all day, if I must. This iz Sybil, only I call her Sibbie as she is too young for such a sophisticated name. I am teaching her to appreciate the beauty around her, so today was going to be her first lesson, as I show her the wonders of thiz park, which is an excuse for me to wait and hope that you would come, but now you are here.’

Not knowing what to say, Mags smiled down at the child.

‘See, Sibbie iz smiling at you. Already she appreciates the beauty that iz you.’

Mags blushed. She should tell Montel to go away, as he was being very forward, but something in her didn’t want to.

‘May we walk wiz you?’

‘Yes, I would like that.’ And she knew she would, for something about Montel excited her and had done the moment she’d first met him, but even more so now that she knew he was attracted to her. But she thought that would be an odd turn-up: herself and Montel, and Harold and Susan – it would be a wife-swap. The thought amused her and she giggled.