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keep your confidence.’
    Annabel stared into her grandmother’s lovely dark violet eyes; eyes that were so like her own. Now, the once black hair had turned white and wrinkles lined Martha’s face, but her
loving nature still shone in her face and a smile rarely left her lips. Had life not pitched her into the class of society it had, Martha could have taken the London Season by storm and, no doubt,
would have had a string of suitors. But she had wanted nothing more out of life other than to marry the man she adored, work side by side with him on the farm and bring up their family. They both
loved children and had hoped to have a large family but only one child, Sarah, had come along. After her birth, which had been a difficult one, Edward had been advised that there should be no more.
Their hopes had been centred on their only daughter; they wanted her to marry a farmer and one day run the farm. But that day had never come, nor would it; Sarah had hated the country life, not
seeing beyond the cold, the wet and the long, arduous hours for little return. Her eyes and her heart were closed to the joy of tilling the earth, of watching growth and rebirth every season. She
couldn’t appreciate animal husbandry nor find contentment, at the end of a long working day, in watching a glorious sunset. Her sole ambition was to rise in the world and she had spurned the
simple life. The meeting between Sarah and Ambrose Constantine had brought together two ruthlessly ambitious minds and now their sole endeavour was to see their daughter married into the upper
echelons of society. It was a plan of which Edward and Martha were, as yet, unaware.
    ‘I know,’ Annabel whispered in reply. ‘But – but you might think badly of me.’
    ‘Never,’ Edward declared and Martha even chuckled. ‘Whatever it is, my dear, we will stand by you. There’s always a home here with us. You know that.’
    Annabel bit her lip and decided that she could confide in them. ‘I – I’ve been meeting a young man, Gilbert, who is – was – employed as under-manager in
Father’s offices.’ She hesitated and then took a deep breath. ‘In secret.’
    The two elderly people glanced at each other, but they didn’t seem surprised. ‘Why in secret?’ Edward asked.
    ‘Because Father wouldn’t approve.’
    ‘Why not? What’s wrong with him – the young man, I mean?’
    Annabel smiled wryly. ‘He’s not high enough up the social ladder, Gramps.’
    Edward made a noise that sounded suspiciously like a snort of contempt. ‘And who does he want you to marry? Lord Somebody-or-Other, I suppose.’
    ‘I wouldn’t be at all surprised.’
    ‘And this young man?’ Martha prompted. ‘How did you meet him?’
    ‘Father sometimes takes me to the docks and I met Gilbert on one of those visits. He took me round, showed me everything. He was so kind and courteous and when the visit ended, he asked if
he might call on me. I – I said I would meet him somewhere as I wasn’t sure what Father would say – although, of course, I did know
exactly
what would be said – by
both Father and Mother. But I didn’t want to hurt Gilbert’s feelings.’
    ‘Wouldn’t it have been kinder to have refused him there and then?’ Martha said gently.
    Annabel sighed. ‘I liked him, Gran. Really liked him – I still do – but I’ve never been allowed to mix with other young people – not girls or boys. I – I
suppose I was bowled over by his – attentions.’
    ‘Aw, lass, you haven’t got yourself into trouble, have you?’ Edward asked, with a break in his voice.
    Annabel shook her head and said firmly, ‘No, Gramps, I may be a silly young girl whose head has been turned by the first man to pay compliments to her, but I’m not stupid. He kissed
me – yes – but that was all. I promise.’
    Edward sighed with obvious relief. ‘In your father’s eyes, I expect even that would be bad enough. Just be careful, love, there’s a good girl.’
    Tears