‘It was hardly a subject we would have discussed. I hadn’t given it much thought, to be honest, so perhaps it’s as well I broke off our engagement.’

‘You’ll change your mind if you find the right man for you.’ Hester sipped her sherry. ‘You’ll eat your words one day, Patricia.’

Rosalind rose to her feet. ‘I think it’s time we went in for dinner. I’m suddenly very hungry.’

Piers smiled proudly. ‘You’re eating for two now, my love. Isn’t that what they say, Hester?’

‘It is indeed, Piers.’ Hester raised her glass to him. ‘I think you’ll make a wonderful father.’

‘I intend to do my very best,’ Piers said, smiling proudly. ‘Now I have something to work for. I’ll build up the business for my son to inherit.’

Patricia yawned. ‘Are we going to suffer this until the baby is born? Anyway, Piers, he might take after his two uncles and want to join the army. Or it’s possible you might have a daughter who will be just like me.’

Piers laughed good-naturedly. ‘I could cope with that, Patsy. But every man wants a son to grow up in his image.’

‘I really do need to eat soon.’ Rosalind rose to her feet. ‘I’m going to take Nancy to Exeter tomorrow, Patsy. Meggie Brewer has made some dresses for her. Would you like to come with us?’

‘No, thank you. I can’t think of anything more tedious than taking a small girl for a dress fitting. I think I’ll call on Christina and Sylvia. They’ll be dying to hear how I’m surviving with a broken heart.’

Piers drank the last of his sherry and stood up. ‘I seem to remember Rosie and I chasing after you when you attempted to elope with Barnaby Yelland. You recovered from that quite quickly, as I recall.’

‘That’s not fair, Piers. I was very young then. I’m a woman now, and Alex was the love of my life – or so I thought.’ Patricia jumped to her feet. ‘Come on, Hester. Let’s get dinner over and then I’ll challenge you to a game of loo.’

‘That was a bit unfair, Piers,’ Rosalind said in a low voice as they walked hand in hand to the dining room. ‘Patsy was only sixteen at the time.’

‘It doesn’t hurt to remind her that we’re all fallible.’ Piers squeezed her fingers. ‘It wasn’t all Alex’s fault. They are both too alike to make a good match.’

‘In what way, Piers?’

‘They are both flirts. They enjoy the chase, but I doubt if either of them will ever settle down with one person. Thank goodness I’m not like that.’ He leaned over to brush her cheek with a kiss. ‘You and I will be together until death do us part.’