Mags couldn’t say anything as she took her father’s arm and walked out of the house. His words, she knew, had been said to reassure himself as much as for her. But she felt full of confidence. Everything was sorted now. Wasn’t it?

After a wonderful service, they had the wedding breakfast, during which Harold made the perfect speech, remembering her mother and his parents, which brought a moment of sadness, but then lightening the proceedings with a reference to taming his wife.

‘I understand that most of you belong to the meet that my new wife hunts with. Well then, as you well know, she can be a headstrong filly! I’m looking forward to reining her in and having her by my side in all I do – that is, as the loving little wife, not the businesswoman you all know her as.’

The moment’s silence could have been a disaster, if Mags hadn’t taken it as she did. This, she knew, was the moment to cement her husband’s authority. Picking up her gloves, which she had discarded, she hit out playfully at him. ‘True, darling, you are much more capable than me of running the family business, but you’d better watch out when you come home in the evening, as I will definitely hold the reins there and you will find yourself having to do as you’re told.’

Harold looked annoyed, but as all her friends burst out laughing, he joined in with them. ‘You can’t keep a good woman down, as we all know. Well, my dear, I am looking forward to being bossed about by you, when we are behind closed doors. And to becoming part of society here in my new home town. I give you a toast to my beautiful wife – and may the best man win!’

Once more the room erupted into laughter as they all stood to toast Mags. Harold’s arm came round her waist. His look was one of love, and of feeling very pleased with himself. She smiled up at him. His eyes, veiled with desire, set a tingling through her body. The moment was one she wanted to remember forever. ‘My husband, I love you.’

‘My beautiful wife, I love you, too. Thank you for marrying me. I am the happiest man alive.’

The cheer that went up brought the room back into focus and coloured Mags’s cheeks as she realized they had all heard them. Turning, she gave a smile that reflected her happiness. Catching her father’s eye, she saw a wide grin on his face – something she hadn’t seen for a long time. Everything in my world is perfect. Just perfect.

As she lay beside Harold later that night, completely spent after his lovemaking, Mags was troubled. Flashes of an incident during the wedding reception kept revisiting her, preventing her from sleeping.

After the wedding breakfast, she and Harold had joined the staff in the small ballroom at the back of the house, where Betsy, still in her finery, was hosting a party for them, having sent the children home with her mother and Bill.