During a daring robbery of a train that Andrews had been driving, he had been badly injured and there had been a string of related crimes. Colbeck had not only solved them, he had rescued Madeleine when she was abducted by the men responsible for the robbery in which her father had almost died. Drawn together by adversity, Colbeck and Madeleine had something far more than a friendship yet somewhat less than a formal betrothal. While she was happy to accept the situation for what it was, her father was not. He waited until the meal was over before he returned to the delicate subject.

'I'm your father, Maddie,' he said, softly. 'It's my duty to look after you. I know that you look after me most of the time,' he went on with a chortle, 'but this is different. I have a responsibility.'

'I've told you before, father. You can rest easy.'

'You don't want to be stuck here with me forever.'

'I'll do what I feel is right.'

Andrews was tentative. 'Is it to do with his job?' he wondered. 'I know that it's dangerous work and that he has to work even longer hours than I do. Perhaps he thinks it would be unfair on you to ask you to be his -'

'That's enough,' she said, interrupting him. 'I don't wish to end the day with an argument.'

'I'm not arguing, Maddie. I have your best interests at heart.'

She heaved a sighed. 'I know, Father.'

'I'm bound to feel uneasy at the way things are.'

'Well, you have no cause.' She got up and cleared away the dishes before turning to face him. Folding her arms, she weighed her words with care. 'All I can tell you is this – and it's strictly for your ears only. I don't want any more gossip about us.'

'I'll be as silent as the grave,' he promised.

'You must be, Father. If you keep prying, you'll upset Robert as well as me. As I've told you a dozen times,' she went on, 'we're close friends but there's a point beyond which our friendship never goes. He hasn't put it into words but I sense there's some kind of obstruction. It's to do with his past.'