Alex watched her, willing her to say something that would ease his heart.

‘But?’ he urged. ‘But you haven’t forgotten “us.” Have you?’

‘No,’ she admitted unwillingly. ‘I can’t forget that. I’m not sorry we married. We were very happy back then, and I’ll never regret it.’

‘If we had the time over again-you’d still marry me?’

‘Oh, yes. Even knowing how it would end, I’d still do it.’

‘It hasn’t ended yet. We don’t know how it’s going to end.’

‘Alex-’

He took hold of her shoulders, very gently. ‘It’s too soon to say,’ he told her. ‘Don’t let’s rush to part, Corinne.’

She gave a wry smile. ‘I thought we had parted. I should have remembered that no position is ever final until you’ve agreed to it.’

‘Tell me that you don’t love me any more,’ he said insistently.

‘And you’re an ace negotiator, always knowing the other side’s weak spot.’

‘Then you do love me.’

‘I don’t know.’ She sighed. ‘I’m trying not to.’ She added reluctantly, ‘But it’s hard.’

He drew her against him, not kissing her this time but wrapping his arms about her body and holding her close while he rested his cheek on her head.

After a while he felt her arms slowly go around him, and they stayed there peacefully together for a long time.

CHAPTER FOUR

WHEN his tiny illuminated clock showed midnight, Bobby slid out of bed and went quietly into the hall. The house was completely silent and almost dark, except for a faint glow he could see downstairs.

Moving noiselessly, he crept down the stairs and into the room where the tree glowed. On the threshold he stopped and an expression of relief crossed his face.