s it so often did in Yorkshire, the weather underwent a sudden change. After a warm and sunny weekend, it rained on Monday, and Tuesday dawned cool and overcast, the leaden sky threatening rain.

As she always did when the weather turned inclement and hinted at autumn, Margaret had gone around earlier lighting fires in the downstairs rooms which were used the most–the Stone Hall, the breakfast room and the library. The fires took the chill out of the air and were a welcome sight, a lovely antidote to the grey skies, the housekeeper thought.

Evan agreed with her, and after a light lunch, which Margaret had served her in the breakfast room, she thanked her and said, ‘I think there’s nothing nicer than a fire, Margaret, even on a summer’s day. My grandmother often used to have them going in our Connecticut house, even when the weather was sunny and warm. She just loved fires.’

‘My mother did, too,’ Margaret remarked, and continued, ‘Her name is Hilda, and she worked for Mrs Harte for years as housekeeper. Emma Harte, that is, and she told me Mrs Harte used to stoke the fires herself, always complained of feeling the cold. Anyway, the rooms in this great big house are always chilly, what with their wood floors, high ceilings and all. They need to be warmed up long before winter comes, at least I think so.’

‘It’s true. And a fire’s so cosy and welcoming, Margaret.’

‘It is indeed. Now, would you like some more coffee, Miss Evan?’

‘No, thank you, and thanks for a lovely lunch.’

‘It’s my pleasure, miss. And what time can we expect your parents to arrive?’

‘My father insisted on driving up from London. He said they’d be here in time for tea. So I suppose they’ll arrive at–tea-time.’ Evan started to laugh. ‘Four o’clock, right?’

‘That’s correct.’

Pushing back the chair, Evan struggled to her feet, with Margaret’s help, and after thanking the housekeeper she made her way across the Stone Hall to the library. She had been discharged from the hospital yesterday afternoon, but only after promising the doctor she would call him if she had any unusual pains, which might suggest problems with the baby. It had only taken her a couple of hours to get used to the cast on her right leg, but her broken rib was painful, especially when she tried to sit up. Yet all in all, she knew she had been lucky. She might easily have been killed. An involuntary shiver ran through her as she thought of the brakes failing the way they had, and she couldn’t help wondering if Jonathan Ainsley had been behind it. Having resisted mentioning his name to Robin, she now decided to forget the vicious Jonathan, and so she put him out of her mind determinedly.

A few weeks ago she had discovered Emma’s photograph albums, wonderful, giant-sized books which her great-grandmother had assiduously filled with snaps and pictures taken over the years.

Joe, the estate-manager and Margaret’s husband, had taken them all out for her this morning, and she started perusing them again, tremendously interested in seeing her ancestors, mostly in black and white but sometimes in colour as well.

Fascinated by the earliest photographs, she opened the first album once more. It was of Victorian style, handsomely bound in crushed red velvet and enhanced with ornate silver corners and a silver clasp. It was filled with Emma’s notations in her neat but flowing script.

The man who fascinated her the most was Emma’s older brother, Winston. There was a picture of him in his Royal Navy uniform, taken when he was only seventeen during the First World War. He was Gideon’s great-grandfather, and she saw the man she loved reflected in this ancient snap. Gideon had inherited the Harte good looks from Winston the first, it wasn’t hard to spot that. A photograph next to it had been removed, but next to the gap Emma had written: My father, Big Jack Harte. She couldn’t help wondering who had taken the picture out of the album, and why. Further along there was another snapshot with the notation: My father, and it was in Emma’s writing.

Evan sat staring at it, and she suddenly realized who the man in the picture reminded her of: Toby, Gideon’s brother. That was it! And why not? Toby was also descended from Big Jack’s son, Winston. Next to this Brownie snapshot of Big Jack was a faded picture of Elizabeth Harte, Big Jack’s wife and Emma’s mother. Goodness, Robin’s twin sister Elizabeth looks just like her, Evan whispered to herself. And so do I. Robin was right when he said I was a true Harte, descended in a direct line from Emma’s mother and father.

Carefully and slowly, she turned the pages, intrigued by pictures of Paul McGill in his army uniform; Robin and Elizabeth when they were small, with their father Arthur Ainsley; Kit, Emma’s son by Joe Lowther, her first husband, with Edwina who was all dressed up in elegant clothes that smacked of the Roaring Twenties.

In the second album were pictures of Kit, Robin and Elizabeth during the Second World War. How glamorous her great-aunt Elizabeth looked, with her flowing black hair and dressed in her Red Cross uniform. And here was her great-grandmother standing outside the House of Commons with an elegantly-dressed couple. Emma had written: My dear friend Jane Stuart Ogden and her husband Bill.

The third album held photographs of Daisy, Emma’s daughter by Paul McGill. And there was a snap of Paul and Emma together, another with their only child, Daisy. And next to that there was a picture of Paula and Philip with their mother Daisy and their father David Amory.

Evan sat back, amazed at the hundreds of photographs which dated back to the beginning of the twentieth century. Why, the albums, twenty-one in all, covered almost a hundred years. If I were a writer, I could create a history of this family from these photographs, she thought. What a wonderful family saga.

And now she was carrying another Harte, the next generation. Evan sat back, placed her hands on her stomach, thinking of her baby. It had not been planned, it was all an accident, but she was glad she was pregnant. How lucky she had been not to lose the baby in the car crash. Again she shivered at the thought that she and the child could so easily be in the morgue.

Evan closed her eyes, drifting with her thoughts of the baby and the sudden change in her life that she or he would bring in the years to come. She hoped she would be married to Gideon. He was her true love, the love of her life, and she knew what she had to do now to make things right between them.

Robin stood in the doorway of the library studying Evan from the threshold, appreciating how lovely she looked this afternoon. So much better than yesterday: not so pale and wan, and the periwinkle-blue blouse she was wearing was the perfect colour for her.

She was a good person, he had known that from their first encounter. Ethical, sincere and straight as a die, that was Evan, and he knew she would come through this current crisis with flying colours. She was practical and down to earth, and he believed she would be able to settle the differences she had with Gideon.

Tapping on the open door, he walked in, exclaiming, ‘There you are, Evan! I hope I’m not disturbing you.’

She looked up at once, her face changing, breaking into smiles. ‘Robin, you’re early!’

‘Yes, I am, but I wanted a few moments alone with you before your parents arrive.’ He walked over to the table where she was seated, his eyes on the piles of photograph albums. With a chuckle he said, ‘Boning up on the family, are you?’

‘Of course. And it’s fascinating!’

Leaning over her, Robin kissed her cheek, sat down, and went on, ‘I want to tell you again how thrilled I am about the baby, Evan. And although I said it was Gideon’s business and yours the other day, I was just wondering whether you plan to tell him or not?’

‘Yes, I will tell him, but I will have to choose the right time.’ Leaning towards him, she gave him the benefit of a radiant smile. ‘I’m going to call the baby Robin whether it’s a girl or a boy. I hope that pleases you.’

He beamed, obviously delighted by her words.

‘Of course it does, my dear. Now what do you have in mind for this afternoon? When you said I should come to tea with your parents I must admit I was somewhat startled…What are you actually planning?’

She laughed. ‘I’m not too sure, to be honest. But I thought I’d get you all together and…let the chips fall where they may.’

‘I see. And when do they plan to return to New York now?’

‘I’m not sure. When I called them after the crash they were sort of hysterical at first, until I convinced them I was actually all in one piece except for a few broken bits. My mother insisted on coming up to see me when she understood I was going to stay here until I was a little bit more mobile. So they’ve postponed their flight home for the moment. Anyway, I do plan to go back to work at the Leeds store later this week.’

‘Don’t rush it, Evan, I’m sure Paula’s not quite the slave-driver we sometimes all imagine,’ he laughed. ‘I suppose I’m the only person who knows you’re pregnant?’

‘Oh yes, and please keep it a secret, won’t you?’

‘I will. You did tell Gideon about the car crash though, didn’t you?’

‘Oh yes, and he was very upset. He said he’ll get here to see me as soon as he can. But there’s such a lot going on because of the terrorist attacks in America, and he does like to be at the centre of the action, at the papers.’

‘I know.’ Clearing his throat, reaching for her hand, Robin said slowly, ‘I don’t want you to be upset or fearful, Evan, when I tell you that the police phoned me this morning. They did a thorough examination of the car, and looked at the brakes. The pipes had been cut.’

She was not surprised to hear this, and she nodded. ‘You mean someone tampered with them?’

‘I do. The brakes were gone when you started down the hill. But the police say they have no way to find the culprit. No fingerprints, you see.’

She felt chilled to the bone when she thought of what could have happened to her. Not only might she and the baby have been killed, but the old man on the cart and his horse as well. Staring at her grandfather she said softly, ‘Nobody knew I would use the car…’ Her voice trailed off and she stared at him worriedly, her large grey-blue eyes filling with concern for him.

‘No, they didn’t. I think I was the intended victim, my dear, which is why I don’t want you to worry too much about yourself.’

‘But I’ll worry about you!’ she cried. ‘How could I not?’

‘Please don’t, I shall be fine. And certainly more on my toes than before! Very cautious and wary in the future, I promise.’

‘Has…has he been here?’

‘You mean Jonathan, of course. No, he hasn’t, but you know as well as I do that doesn’t mean a thing. He can get lots of people to do his dirty work for him, and I’m sure he’s willing to pay well for such favours, shall we call them.’

Evan remained silent, sat back in the chair staring at Robin, thinking what a lovely, dignified old man he was. Her heart went out to him. How terrible to think that your own son had tried to do you harm, because that was exactly what the severed brakes of the Rover implied. Evan leaned forward again, squeezed his hand, and then glanced up as she heard a noise.

‘I got here as soon as I could,’ Gideon exclaimed, appearing in the doorway, hurrying into the library, looking anxious, his eyes fixed on her.

‘Gideon! I didn’t expect you until later in the week.’

Rushing over to her, he wrapped his arms around her and held her close, but gently so. ‘I can’t bear to think you might have been killed, darling.’ Drawing away from her he looked into her face. ‘Sorry if I held you too hard, Evan. How’s the rib? I didn’t hurt you just now, did I?’

‘No, I’m fine. I was lucky, Gid, just a broken rib and a broken ankle, a lot of bruises. It could have been so much worse.’

‘I realize that, darling.’ Turning to Robin, Gideon greeted him, shook his outstretched hand, and said in a quiet voice echoing with gratitude, ‘Thanks for looking after her for me, Uncle Robin. I really appreciate it.’

Robin merely smiled and nodded, pleased his great-nephew had arrived.

Evan said, ‘Sit down. Gideon, there’s something I want to tell you.’ The moment he had walked in so unexpectedly she had made a snap decision to tell him about her condition. It was the right thing.

Staring at her questioningly, he did as she asked, took a chair next to Robin at the other side of the card table. Puzzled by her tone, he said, ‘You sound odd…is there something wrong?’

‘No. At least I don’t think so…I’m pregnant. I’m carrying our child, Gid.’

Gideon was flabbergasted and he gaped at her for the longest moment. Then he pushed back the chair, jumped up and went to her. He stood over her, his hands on her shoulders. ‘Oh my God! We’re having a baby. This is wonderful news, Evan! Just wonderful!’

Turning her head, looking up at him she saw the genuine pleasure on his face, and those light green eyes, often so cold, critical and appraising, were filled with joy. There was no doubting his feelings, and relief flooded through her.

‘Why didn’t you tell me before?’ he suddenly demanded.

‘I didn’t want it to influence you–about us, our future.’

‘I understand. But you didn’t think Pd be upset, did you?’

‘I don’t know what I thought…except that I was happy I had your child inside me, growing…part of you, Gid.’

He smiled at her, the joy bringing sudden laughter to his sparkling eyes, then he tilted her face to his, bent down and kissed her forehead. ‘Pm thrilled, Evan. Thrilled and happy, and I feel…so blessed to have you, sweetheart.’ He glanced at Robin. ‘What do you say?’

‘I’m as happy and as thrilled as you, Gideon. It’s wonderful news, and I know your parents are going to be just as excited as I am.’

‘That’s right. They’ll be over the moon, in fact.’ Standing behind Evan, his hands resting on her shoulders again, Gideon gave Robin a very direct look, and asked in a low voice, ‘What about the brakes in the Rover? Evan told me they failed.’

A long sigh escaped Robin, and his face changed, became serious, and Gideon saw the worry suddenly flickering in his blue eyes. ‘Don’t tell me they’d been tampered with?’ Gideon said.

There was a short silence and Robin finally nodded. ‘Yes. The police just told me this morning that the brake pipes had been severed.’

Worriedly, Gideon shook his head. ‘ Unbelievable. Let’s not go into the whys and wherefores right now, Uncle Robin, but you must be very careful, on your guard. You were the target here.’

‘Oh yes, I realize that. I just told Evan I was going to be very, very wary in future. But let us move on, Gideon my boy. Evan’s parents are due to arrive any moment. For tea.’

Startled yet again, Gideon exclaimed, ‘Well, well, well, that’s going to put the cat amongst the pigeons!’

There had been a change in her, Evan was well aware of that. It was a subtle change but, nonetheless, it was important. It had occurred because of the car crash, and if something good could come out of something bad, then it was this.

The day after the crash she had come to understand how vulnerable she was, how mortal, and she accepted that life as such was not in her control. Life was life. It happened. And you never knew what was going to come at you. Or how you would defend yourself. The only thing she was certain of was herself. And unexpectedly, she knew exactly who she was. Not her mother, not her father, not her grandmother Glynnis. She was herself. And she knew herself. And with this sudden knowledge came the understanding that no one could lead her life for her.

It was her life. And how she lived it was up to her. She knew deep in her bones that she must take charge of herself very firmly, no longer be influenced by her father, her image of him, or by the past. The past was always there, lived inside of you, and it helped to make you who you were. But it had to be placed in its own perspective. The past could not dominate the future.

And so Evan had made her mind up to be open and straightforward with her parents, her father in particular, and that was exactly what she intended to do.

In the same way, she had made up her mind to be absolutely honest with Gideon. The moment he had arrived she had told him about their baby. She hadn’t expected him this afternoon, but she had taken it in her stride, taken a deep breath and plunged, in a way revelling in the truth. What a wonderful relief it was to be truthful.

Pushing herself up before either man could help her, she steadied herself against the table, and then walked across the room, carefully manoeuvring her leg in the cast. It was good to be upright. Her ribcage hurt much less when she was standing. Sitting down wasn’t too bad either. But when she lay down to sleep she felt discomfort, even a little pain. Despite this, she kept telling herself how fortunate she had been on Saturday.

Laughingly, Linnet had said yesterday that she had a guardian angel, and perhaps she did. All she knew was that her baby was safe inside her, and she herself was strong and vital and would soon be back to normal.

Deep inside she was thrilled that Gideon was thrilled. His response to the news had been genuine, and there was no question in her mind that they would now be able to work things out. Especially after today.

Her parents were due at any moment, and she had decided she was going to tell her father the truth about Robin. He would find out one day anyway, and in the not-too-distant future, and so she felt the necessity to explain everything to him in advance. Forewarned was forearmed, wasn’t it?

‘Are you all right, sweetheart?’ Gideon called across the room, interrupting his conversation with Robin.

‘I’m fine and dandy,’ she shot back, smiling at him, ‘I just needed to be upright, to stretch. My ribcage gets a bit…uppity.’

He laughed with her and turned back to Robin, delved back into their conversation about terrorism. Robin had been talking about the attacks on New York and Washington. As a former Member of Parliament Robin knew what was what, still had a lot of important connections. Gideon always thought of his great-uncle’s knowledge as being fine tuned, very much the truth. Having been an MP for most of his adult life, he certainly knew enough men of power in the government today to get some quick and honest answers.

Evan, standing near the window, watched them talking for a moment or two longer, smiling to herself. Gideon would be a father in seven months and Robin a great-grandfather. Her child was going to be well blessed. She wondered if she were carrying a girl or a boy? She would know the sex when she went for the amniocentesis test.

At this moment she heard a car in the driveway, and walking back to the card table she said, ‘I think Mom and Dad are just arriving, I heard a car pulling up.’

‘Did they drive?’ Gideon asked, sounding surprised.

‘Oh yes, Dad insisted. He said he knew the way. The night we had dinner, when they first arrived in London, he told me he’d been to Yorkshire as a child.’

Robin looked as if he was about to say something, and then obviously changed his mind. Rising, he walked over to the window, stood next to Evan, and putting his arm around her, he said, ‘Let me second-guess you, my dear. You invited me because you’re going to tell him who I am, aren’t you?’

‘Do you think I’ll have to, Robin?’

‘What do you mean?’

‘You two look very much alike. Don’t you agree, Gid?’

‘Afraid so,’ he laughed, and joined them; laughing again, he added, ‘And we look like a very formal church welcoming committee, the way we’re standing here looking so serious.’

‘I’m just more comfortable standing at the moment,’ Evan explained, leaning against Robin.

Margaret appeared in the doorway and said, ‘Oh hello, Gideon, I didn’t know you were here.’

‘I just crept in like a little church mouse, Margaret,’ he answered, his manner jovial, ‘like I’ve done all of my life.’

‘Aye, that you have,’ she shot back, and then looking across at Evan she continued, ‘Your parents have arrived, Miss Evan, I’ve shown them to their room. They’ll be down in a moment or two, they’re just freshening up. I told them where the library is. I’m going to bring the tea-tray in straight away. They must be parched. Not to mention famished.’

‘Thank you,’ Evan replied as Margaret disappeared.

‘I’d better move those few things off the coffee table,’ Gideon muttered almost to himself, hurrying over to the fireplace. He removed an ashtray, a bowl of flowers and a book, placed them on a side table, then pulled two chairs closer to the sofa. ‘There, that’s fine, we can now seat five. In a circle.’

Margaret returned with a large wooden tray laden with the tea things. After placing it on the coffee table, she told them, ‘Back in three shakes of a lamb’s tail with the nursery sandwiches, scones and one of my cream sponge cakes.’

‘My mouth’s watering already,’ Gideon told her, offering Margaret a winning smile. ‘And your jam-and-cream sponge is the best in the world. None like it anywhere.’

‘You’ve always been a flatterer, Mr Gideon,’ she muttered and left the library again. Returning a few moments later the housekeeper came back with a second tray of food, which she placed on the desk. ‘Do you want me to stay and pour, Miss Evan? Or can you manage?’

‘I think we’ll be all right, Margaret. Thanks anyway.’

‘I’m a dab hand at pouring tea and passing cake,’ Gideon reassured Margaret, who nodded and was off again, hurrying to the kitchen.

Gideon said, ‘I’m glad I’m here to witness this, Evan. How’re you going to do it?’

‘I’m not sure…play it by ear, I guess.’

‘It’s up to you, my dear,’ Robin ventured. ‘Don’t do it for me…’

‘I want to do it for myself, for my child, for Gideon, and for you, Robin. The truth matters to us all, don’t you think? Especially under the circumstances with my child on the way.’

‘Indeed it does,’ he responded, looking at Gideon. ‘I’m sure you agree?’

‘I certainly do. Are you going to tell them about the baby, Evan?’

‘Maybe.’

‘In which case, let me just say this…since we’re engaged I am expecting you to marry me, and as soon as possible. Please say yes.’

‘Yes!’

‘Yippee! We’re finally getting married!’

Listening to them both, Robin smiled to himself. They were going to be all right, these two, definitely all right. And very happy together, if he knew anything at all about human nature. They were well suited.

Suddenly Owen and Marietta were hovering uncertainly on the threshold of the library, staring into the cavernous room.

‘Mom! Dad! Come in, come in,’ Evan cried, hobbling forward, her face full of smiles. ‘It’s wonderful to see you both.’

Her mother rushed into the room but embraced her gingerly. ‘I know all about broken ribs,’ she whispered against her hair. ‘Oh Evan, thank God you’re all right. I’ve been so worried about you.’

‘I’m great, Mom, really fine.’

A moment later her father was kissing her cheek, grabbing her hand. ‘We’re so glad to see you, honey,’ he said, his bright blue eyes warm and loving as they searched her face. ‘You’re sure you’re all right? No internal injuries?’

‘Don’t be silly, Dad! The doctor wouldn’t have let me come out of the hospital if that were the case.’

Gideon was suddenly by their side, hugging her mother, shaking her father’s hand. ‘It’s good to see you both, Mr and Mrs Hughes. Welcome to Pennistone Royal.’

‘We’re glad to be here,’ Marietta answered, giving him a wide smile. ‘We’re only–’ Marietta stopped speaking as she caught sight of Robin standing near the fireplace. She stared at him, then looked at Owen swiftly.

Not missing a thing, Evan saw her opportunity, took hold of her father’s hand and said, ‘I want you to meet someone, Dad. This is Robin Ainsley, Emma Harte’s son.’

Leading Owen over to Robin, she went on, ‘Grandfather, I want you to meet your son at long last. Dad, I hope this is not too much of a shock but this is your biological father…he and Glynnis were together during the war.’

Robin put out his hand.

Owen took it, staring at Robin, recognizing himself in the older man. For a long moment he was unable to speak.

It was Robin who spoke the first words. Releasing Owen’s hand, he said, ‘We met once before, so long ago I’m sure you’ve forgotten it. Here in this house with my mother, your grandmother, Emma Harte. Glynnis…your mother brought you to see Emma, and I stopped by, quite unexpectedly. Do you remember?’

‘Vaguely,’ Owen replied quietly, staring intently at Robin. ‘We’d come up to Yorkshire because Mom loved it so much. We came here to tea. Yes, I do remember. But I didn’t know…you were my father. I thought Richard Hughes was my father.’

‘And he was, Owen, he was! He brought you up, loved you as his own. He was your father and a wonderful one,’ Robin told him in all sincerity. ‘You must understand that.’

Owen simply nodded.

Marietta came forward, edging closer to Owen, and he said quickly, ‘This is my wife, Marietta.’

‘I’m pleased to meet you.’ Robin took her hand in his, smiled at her.

‘My goodness, don’t you look alike,’ Marietta exclaimed after a moment. ‘I always thought Owen resembled Richard. But he’s the spitting image of you.’

She had been remarkable. So remarkable, in fact, she had startled him. And brave…to be as honest as she had been had taken bravery. She had spoken out, left nothing to chance, speculation or innuendo, and it had worked. Perhaps because of her genuineness and simplicity. And she had been so straightforward, had not dressed her words up, and that counted too.

Now she lay stretched out on the bed next to him, propped up by pillows for comfort, dozing in the dim light of early evening. She had been so tired all of a sudden, he had helped her upstairs to her bedroom, and stayed with her…because he didn’t want her to be alone, and because he himself had felt so utterly alone of late, so lonely and solitary without her. Their differences had created distance between them…but now, thank God, that distance had closed, and no matter what happened in their life together, he would not let anything come between them ever again.

Gideon propped himself up on his elbow and looked down at Evan’s face. Calm in repose, and lovely. How could he have ever doubted her? Through his own stupidity, of course.

He had known when he first met her nine months ago that she was different from the other women he had known, that she was as straight as an arrow, a young woman with moral fibre and ethics, and great intelligence. It had been her ambivalence of late that had put him off. That, and her attitude to her father. But her adoration of Owen was only natural–he felt the same way about his own father, didn’t he?

He moved a strand of hair away from her face, and she opened her eyes and looked straight at him.

He stared back at her, a smile playing around his mouth, his clear green eyes filled with love, spilling that love for her.

‘Penny for your thoughts, Gideon Harte.’

‘That’s simple. I was thinking how much I love you.’ He placed his hand on her stomach gently. ‘And how much I love this child of ours growing inside you.’

A smile brought a surge of happiness to her face, and her blue-grey eyes seemed light-filled and translucent at this moment. ‘Me too.’

‘Oh Evan, darling, I’m so sorry I was difficult these last few weeks. Forgive me?’

‘There’s nothing to forgive. I was being very difficult.’

‘But today you were courageous, telling your father about Robin.’

She made a face. ‘Telling the truth can be hard. But in the end it’s worth it, because it’s the right thing to do. How awful if someone in the family told my father about Robin before I did. Imagine how he would feel–betrayed, I’m certain of that.’

‘He didn’t bat an eyelash when you said we were pregnant and getting married in January. And you hoped he and your mother would come to the wedding, that it wouldn’t be the same without them present. You were so matter of fact, even I was startled for a second.’

‘I knew I had to get it out, say it, just tell them, in the most down-to-earth way. I didn’t want a lot of free-floating emotion getting in the way.’

‘He took it very well, Evan, I must say, and your mother was just over the moon about the baby. “My first grandchild” she kept saying, and in the end your father was smiling, too. And he didn’t ask one question. But I have one, darling.’

‘Yes, what is it?’

‘Why January? Why can’t we get married sooner?’

‘In a way, I’d like to, Gid, but we can’t upstage Linnet. We really can’t, and even if we had a quickie wedding at a registry office, or eloped, it would still upstage her marriage to Julian, don’t you think?’

‘Yes, you’re right. But you’re going to look…very pregnant when we tie the knot.’

Evan began to chuckle, nodding her head. ‘I am, yes, but I don’t care, and anyway, I want a small wedding. Just your family and mine.’

‘Mine’s quite large, and it’s yours as well, come to think of it.’

‘True. There’s another thing, Gid. People are a little nervous about travelling right now, wouldn’t you agree?’

‘I know what you’re getting at…your sisters might not want to fly the Atlantic with terrorists in the news, and perhaps in the air.’

‘Exactly.’

‘January it is then,’ Gideon agreed, and glanced at his watch. ‘I think I’d better go downstairs and see what’s happening. Are you coming?’

‘Yes, I think I’d better, I’d like to know what’s transpired between Robin and my father.’

The three of them were sitting in front of the fire in the Stone Hall. Her mother, her father and her grandfather. She had called Robin grandfather to make a dramatic point earlier, but now she wondered if he would mind if she called him that all the time, instead of Robin. She would ask him later, when they were alone.

Three pairs of eyes gazed at them as Gideon helped Evan to the big armchair, but it was her mother who asked, ‘That cast must be unwieldy to drag around, honey, isn’t it?’

‘It sure is, Mom. And tiring.’ Looking from Robin to her father, she then said apologetically, ‘I was rather blunt earlier, Dad, but I thought it was the only way to tell you about Robin and Glynnis.’

Owen hurried over to her, kissed the top of her head. ‘You did the right thing, Evan. It was only a question of time before I discovered the truth. Better coming from you, honey. Your mother and Robin agree. And I’m a grown man, not a kid. I can handle the truth, however unexpected and startling it is.’

‘I know that, Daddy.’

Aware of the time, Gideon said, ‘I’m afraid I do have to leave, Evan.’

‘Oh, but it’s such a long drive!’ she exclaimed. ‘You’re going to be tired.’

‘No, I won’t be, because I’m taking a helicopter from Yeadon Airport. I’ll be in London before you can blink, almost.’ Gideon kissed her on the cheek, telling her, ‘Don’t get up, sweetheart. I’ll call you later.’

‘All right, Gid,’ she answered, smiling up at him. Kissing her fingertips, she then pressed them against his mouth. ‘I love you.’

‘And I love you.’

He took his leave of the others and was gone, and Evan leaned back in the chair, enjoying the comfort of its roominess and the cushions, the warmth of the fire, the lambent light. It was very cosy here in spite of the vastness, the high-flung ceiling, and she was relaxed and suddenly happy sitting here with her parents and Robin…her family.

The three of them had cocktails and chatted amicably as she sipped a glass of orange juice, thinking about the baby and Gideon and the future they had together…Her overwhelming joy and happiness seemed unreal for a while.

Later Margaret came in and announced that supper was served in the breakfast room, and her father helped Evan up out of the chair; it was Robin who led them out of the Stone Hall, chatting to her mother about horses, of all things. She had never known her mother liked horses and horse-racing. She wondered why not. But then there was so much she didn’t know about her mother. And about her father. This afternoon it had come out that he had met Robin before, had been to this house…Why had he been so mysterious? Well, she knew the answer to that…

Evan was so bone-tired after dinner she asked her mother to help her upstairs, excusing herself to her father and Robin. Once she was undressed and in bed, Marietta sat down on the edge of the bed and took hold of her hand.

Clearing her throat, looking serious, her mother said, ‘I’m glad you told your father about Robin, and about the baby, Evan, but most especially about Robin. He needed to know.’

Frowning, Evan looked at her mother alertly, and said slowly, ‘You say that in the strangest way, Mom, almost as if you knew already.’

There was the merest hesitation on Marietta’s part before she answered, ‘I did, actually, although I never told your father.’

Evan’s eyes opened wider, and she drew closer to her mother. ‘Who told you? Why do I ask that: it must have been Gran, who else.’

‘That’s right. Your grandmother told me, but not in so many words.’

‘I’m not following you.’

‘I realize that. Give me a moment, I’ll be right back.’ As she spoke Marietta was heading for the door, and she went out without saying another word.

Evan had barely had time to ponder on her mother’s sudden confidences when Marietta came back to the bedroom, closing the door behind her quietly. She was carrying a package, and, returning to the bedside, she sat down and put the package in Evan’s lap.

Looking down at the brown paper parcel, Evan then glanced up at Marietta and asked, ‘What’s this?’

‘Letters from Emma Harte to Glynnis, written over the years. Glynnis kept them all, and one of the last things your grandmother asked me to do was to retrieve them from her apartment. She told me I had to give them to you, not to your father, and only to you. She made me promise not to break faith with her, and of course I did.’

‘You read them, though.’ It came out sounding like a statement rather than a question, and Evan’s brows lifted.

‘Most of them, yes. The package wasn’t sealed like this. I wrapped them up. I knew, deep within myself, that she wouldn’t mind…We had a special relationship, and your grandmother loved me, trusted me.’

‘I’ve always known that, Mom. So, you read the letters and discovered that Dad was Robin’s son.’

Marietta sighed. ‘Yes…and other things. But she did insist I give them to you, and so here they are…’

Evan leaned back against the pillows. ‘She wanted me to know everything, didn’t she? But why?’

‘I have always believed that the truth sets you free…and I think that was her reason…she wanted you to know the truth about her, about her life long ago, and your father’s heritage.’ Bending towards Evan, her mother lovingly and tenderly kissed her on the cheek. ‘They’re yours now, honey…to read whenever you feel like it. But remember, they’re not for anyone else’s eyes…just yours.’

‘I understand, Mom, and thank you for bringing them to me. But are you sure Dad doesn’t know anything about them, that he hasn’t peeked whilst you’ve been here?’

‘Oh no, I’ve kept them in my bank-deposit box,’ Marietta reassured her.

Evan couldn’t help laughing. ‘Mom, you constantly surprise me!’

Once she was alone, Evan couldn’t resist looking inside the parcel tonight, even though she was tired. After untying the string, she found a large cardboard box filled with letters. She pulled one out at random, and began to read; and slowly, for the next two hours, she continued to read the letters from Emma to her grandmother…reading and digesting until she could hardly keep her eyes open. And what she read startled and amazed her, sometimes made the tears well up.

Eventually she had no choice but to put them away, turn out the light and go to sleep. But it was not a restful sleep for her and her dreams were filled with Emma and Glynnis and everything that happened over fifty years ago…