When Kathy shook her head, she sighed. ‘Then if you’re not feeling grand get yourself upstairs to bed and I’ll bring you a cup of tea and a nice hot-water bottle.’

Kathy smiled tiredly. ‘Thanks, but there’s no need to fuss. I think I’ll get changed and go and see if Ben needs a hand. The fresh air might help clear my head.’

Sunday nodded as Kathy left the room before turning her attention to the dirty pots in the sink as yet another lonely night stretched ahead of her. Cissie and George had already gone home to their cottage. Livvy wouldn’t be in till late if Sunday knew her, and once Kathy was with Ben and the horses, it was doubtful she would be back any time soon. She paused with her hands deep in the soapy water as she gazed towards the window.

‘Oh, Tom, I miss you so much,’ she whispered to the empty room, then blinking away tears she forced herself to continue with what she was doing.

Chapter Seven

Just as Sunday had predicted, Kathy found Ben in Midnight’s stall. He was tenderly stroking her silky mane and talking soothingly to her as she restlessly pawed at the ground. It was clear that it wouldn’t be long before her foal was born, and she knew that Ben had high hopes for it. Both the mare and the stud had pedigrees as long as her arm, so Ben was expecting the foal to be something very special. If it was it would be worth a great deal of money.

He suddenly seemed to sense her presence and straightening he inclined his head as she slipped into the stall with him.

‘How is she doing?’

He shrugged. ‘She shouldn’t be long now.’

An awkward silence stretched between them, until Kathy said quietly, ‘It’s a wonder George hasn’t stayed to help you.’

‘He wanted to, but I told him to get off home to Cissie. There’s no point in us both sittin’ up all night.’

She nodded and, before she could stop herself, she blurted out, ‘I’ve been thinking about you all day.’

He felt a momentary pang of guilt as he looked at her face but then he hardened his heart as he thought of Sunday. Very soon now his revenge would be complete, and he would hurt her as much as Tom had hurt him when he had chosen to leave Treetops and the business to his wife rather than his only son.

I bet he wouldn’t have done that if I hadn’t been illegitimate, he thought, and again resentment coursed through his veins like iced water.

Midnight tossed her head then, interrupting his thoughts, and he warned Kathy, ‘You’d better get on the other side of the door, she’s close and she could kick out.’