‘It’s all right, Bertie,’ Alex said firmly. ‘I feel the same when it comes to rice pudding. A breath of fresh air is all she needs.’ He placed his arm around her waist and guided her out into the street. ‘Take deep breaths. You’ll feel better in a moment or two.’

She inhaled and exhaled slowly. ‘I’m all right now, thank you, Alex.’

‘Are you sure?’ He was standing so close that the familiar scent of him filled her whole being. She leaned against him, revelling dangerously in the feeling of security that his nearness always brought, even though she knew it was false and she was in dangerous territory.

‘I hate oysters,’ she said in a whisper.

‘Are you certain that’s all this is?’

‘Yes, of course.’ Rosalind straightened up, taking a deep breath. ‘I’m quite all right now, Alex. We’d better go back inside.’

‘I can take you home, if you prefer.’

‘No. I’m sure they will have eaten their fill by now. I’ll apologise to the colonel.’

‘You’ll do no such thing. You said you didn’t like the wretched shellfish, but we chose to order them anyway. It’s we who should apologise to you, Rosie.’

‘Don’t make a fuss, Alex. I’m perfectly fine now.’ Rosalind slipped her hand in his and their eyes met. She knew at that moment she would remember the look of concern in his hazel eyes for the rest of her life, even if they were to part now and never see each other again.

‘There’s something you’re not telling me. I know you so well, Rosie. You can’t keep things from me.’

‘Alex, the time we spent together in France was wonderful, but it wasn’t real. There can never be anything between us. You know that and so do I.’

‘But you came today. You knew I would be here.’

She bowed her head. ‘We’d better go back to our table.’

‘This conversation isn’t over, Rosie. I’m not going to let you walk away again.’

‘Alex, we don’t have a choice.’

‘My brother is married to the clay mine. Come away with me, Rosie. We might not be able to be married but we could live abroad.’

‘You know that’s impossible,’ Rosalind said gently. ‘You are a soldier, Alex. It’s all you know, and when your leg heals completely you’ll go back on active duty.’

‘I’d willingly give up my career for you. Could you bear to leave Rockwood?’

‘It’s not about Rockwood or even Piers. The truth is that I’m in the family way. Piers is so happy and he’s convinced that it will be a boy.’

Alexander took a step away from her. ‘It can’t be true. Not after all this time.’

‘I’m sorry. I didn’t want to tell you like this, but you wouldn’t listen to me.’