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'She was an artist, freelance; designed jackets for books; when she was offered employment by a New York publishing house, off she went. Love died like a withering bush, and I vowed, never again.

'You, on the other hand,' he went on before she could
speak, 'had a happy marriage, so felt confident enough to want to put to sea again.'

'I loved my husband, yes,' she said, 'I never ever stopped. I even loved him after death, if you can possibly understand that. I wasn't happy, though; it wasn't like that. It wasn't a happy marriage. Danny hadn't got it in him to be faithful—his affairs were legion but I just kept on, hoping that he'd change.'

'Great Scott, I had no idea!' It was his turn to stare.

'Well, I didn't give you any clues, did I, nor anyone else? My parents knew, and so did Prue, but they were the only ones. I thought,' she went on, recognising that this was plain-speaking time, 'that you might be the same sort of man, partly because I was attracted to you so easily—practically at first sight—and because you were so. . .personable. I thought those were the danger signs.'

'So you went around with Marriner.'

'Only as a friend. He knew I couldn't be anything more—I told him that from the first. Anyway—' her chin lifted '—as we seem to be clearing the decks, what about the trendy Doctor Julia Trafford?'

'She was an amusing companion for an occasional outing; we were never, ever lovers. There hasn't been anyone important in my life for a long time now. Having confessed...' he smiled, but looked anxious as he turned her face to his '.. .will you take a chance with me, Anna? Will you let me look after you, cherish and adore you from this day forward? Will you be my wife?'

'Of course I will.' Her fingers smoothed the frown from his brow. 'Of course I will,' she told him simply. 'You're my dearest, dearest love.'

Then, getting to their feet and linking arms, they went into the house.

* * *

They were married by special licence ten days later, making the Andover Square house their home, and as time went on Prue let the top flat to another artist who liked the north-facing room.

Anna continued with her job, but left it when she became pregnant with their first child. Andrew Simon Easter was born with the minimum of fuss the following summer, and all was happiness. Anna had another child—a little girl—two years later, and in that same year Alex Marriner and Imogen Rayland married in West Beldon Parish Church, causing one or two eyebrows to rise—particularly Amy Benson's, who had always nurtured the hope that one day Imogen would make her home with her.

Anna was delighted for them both... 'But I suppose you're going to say,' she teased Simon when they heard of the engagement, 'I suppose you're going to say that she's far too old for him.. .obsessed as you are with age!'

'It's you I'm obsessed with, and always will be—and what's more, you know it,' he muttered thickly into her hair as he turned out the bedside light.