His kiss was gentle. ‘Thiz izn’t the time for our passion. There iz hurt to heal. That iz what we have to concentrate on. But, Mags, did you hear any news? Iz it that you are free, and that man haz no further hold on you?’

‘Yes, yes, I am. I was about to tell Betsy, when all this blew up. I had a call from David. Harold no longer has power of attorney over me. But he did put all the money we had into an account in his name only. He could do nothing about the house and the business – well, he has the lion’s share of that, as he is the managing director. But none of that matters. I so want to leave for Scotland. And I want to do so as soon as we can. Have you spoken to Susan?’

‘I have. She iz still suffering from the beating, but she says Harold cannot do enough for her and iz mortified that he lost control. She believes him when he says that he will never do it again. I was cross with her. I tried again to persuade her to make it so that Sibbie can be with her, but although she cried, Susan said she couldn’t do anything, and would I take Sibbie to Scotland with me? I lost my temper and asked how she could choose her own happiness over that of her daughter. She told me: “No, Montel, I am choosing Sibbie’s happiness over mine. With you and Mags and Betsy, Sibbie will be happy. Harold will never let me go, and he won’t have Sibbie here or recognize her. My heart bleeds to be with my daughter, but I have no choice other than to let her go.”’

‘Poor Susan. In a way we are in the same position, as Harold will never let me go, either. If you and I are to be together, it will never be as man and wife. Not while I have even a small claim over what Harold wants as his own.’

‘Will you be happy that way?’

‘I will. Very happy.’

‘Well then, we will have our own ceremony. Here and now. Margaret Roford, I take you as my wedded lover, from thiz day forward. I will love and cherish you. All that I have iz yours.’

‘Oh, Montel. I take you as my wedded lover, to love, cherish and care for, in sickness and in health, for the rest of our lives. All that I have is yours.’

His kiss this time held love, and a promise of all they would become to each other in the future. His passion deepened with the kiss and found an answering passion in her. Taking her hand, he led her into the wooded area. There she became his, swirling in a love she’d never known before. He was hers. Her forever love.

Chapter Twenty-Seven

By the time they travelled to Scotland, Betsy and Mags’s friendship was more tightly sealed than ever. As they sat on the train on their journey, Betsy’s hand rested in Mags’s.