‘That’s a risk I’m prepared to take. I’ll heal quicker if I’m with you, and Hester, of course,’ Alex added quickly. ‘You are my family, Rosie. And I don’t like the thought of you two alone in that place with such strange people. Besides which, it’s nearly Christmas and I was dreading being here on my own.’

His crestfallen expression went straight to Rosalind’s heart and once again she had to resist the temptation to hug him. ‘Whose permission do you need, Alex?’

‘Colonel Munday. He’s staying at the local inn.’

‘If you promise to speak to your doctor, I’ll find the colonel and explain the situation to him. It would be wonderful if we could all be together for Christmas and, who knows, maybe Piers will have regained consciousness by then. It’s only three days until Christmas Eve.’

‘Which should have been my wedding day,’ Alex said with a wry smile. ‘Patsy will never forgive me.’

‘Nonsense. She understands.’ Rosalind spoke with more conviction than she was feeling and she avoided meeting his gaze. Alex had a way of knowing when she was not telling the truth. She rose to her feet. ‘I’ll go to the inn now and hope that the colonel is there.’

He caught her by the hand as she was about to walk away. ‘Take Hester with you, Rosie. The town is crawling with soldiers and seamen. You shouldn’t go out on your own.’

‘All right, I will. Now let me go, and I’ll be on my way.’

He tightened his grip. ‘Promise, Rosie. I know you: you’ll do as you think fit. Promise you’ll take Hester with you.’

She met his anxious look with a reluctant smile. ‘I promise. Now please may I go?’

He released her with a sigh. ‘Come back later, Rosie.’

‘I will, Alex. I’ll come with good news.’