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unfathomable.
    ‘I’m sorry,’ Eline said, ‘I was afraid you wouldn’t see me if I was announced.’
    ‘Your fears are well founded. What do you want?’
    ‘To talk about the divorce. You are still going ahead with it aren’t you?’
    ‘Why?’ Calvin said bitterly. He moved closer to her. ‘Not regretting leaving me are you, Eline?’
    She looked down at her hands. ‘I hurt you, Calvin. You are a fine, decent man. You deserved better.’
    He caught her shoulders abruptly and drew her close, his mouth hovering above hers. ‘You are tired of your life of poverty, you want to come back to Stormhill Manor, is that it?’
    She shook her head. ‘No, my home is one room in World’s End and that’s just where I want to be.’
    She saw him flinch. He was frowning as he released her abruptly. ‘What then, is it money you want? Your motive in coming here is not one of love and I see no regret in your eyes. Clearly you are happy as you are. Surely you haven’t come just to ask futile questions?’
    ‘I don’t want your money, Calvin. We don’t live well but we manage. I just want to know when the divorce will be over and done with, that’s all.’
    ‘So that you can marry your cobbler, is that it?’ Calvin said fiercely. ‘What if I were to deny you, Eline, keep you tied to me?’ He turned and caught her close to him once more.
    ‘You are a fool coming here. I could claim my conjugal rights and not one man in the world would blame me.’ His voice was harsh.
    Eline looked up at him without fear. ‘You won’t do that, Calvin, you are far too much of a gentleman to force yourself on any woman, especially me.’
    His mouth came down on hers, crushing, bruising, and he held her close to him. There was no tenderness in him and yet Eline felt no fear, simply pain that she had wounded Calvin yet again.
    She drew away from him. ‘I’m sorry, I was wrong to come,’ she said. ‘I have no right to ask you anything.’
    She walked to the door, her head high and Calvin’s voice stopped her.
    ‘Eline, you will have your divorce, I’ve set the process into motion. It’s only a matter of months and then you will be free to marry your cobbler. One thing more, I have disowned your son. If you wanted to fight me in a court of law I dare say you would have grounds, the boy was born in wedlock after all.’
    Eline turned and looked at him. ‘I think you know that I won’t fight it. I accept you have no responsibility for him.’ Her voice faded as she saw his pain. ‘I’ve done enough to you. All I hope is that one day you will find someone else to be happy with.’
    He gave a harsh laugh. ‘I love you, Eline,’ he said and there was a note of despair in his voice. ‘I’ve tried to conceal that fact from myself but now that I have seen you again, held you in my arms … For Christ’s sake why are you torturing me, just get out of my sight.’
    She left the house quickly, tears burning her eyes. She had her answer, she would soon be free but at what cost? She hurried down the drive, no longer revelling in the soft sounds and sights of spring. She had ruined Calvin’s life by her faithlessness and that was something she would never be able to forget.
    That evening, Will sensed something of her mood and took her gently in his arms, pushed back her hair and looked down into her eyes.
    ‘What is it, Eline, why the long face?’ He pressed his lips against hers for a brief moment and then held her away from him. ‘Tell me, I know something is worrying you.’
    ‘You are not going to like it,’ Eline said softly. ‘Promise you won’t be angry.’
    ‘Come on, stop prevaricating,’ Will said, ‘spit it out. I’m not going to take up wife-beating just yet.’
    ‘I went to see Calvin today.’ Her words seemed to fall into a well of silence and Eline almost felt the tightening of Will’s muscles.
    Very slowly he released her and moved away, standing at the window although it was far too dark to see anything out