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sprang to Annabel’s eyes as she blurted out, ‘Gilbert’s gone and I can’t find out what’s happened to him.’
    ‘What do you mean – gone?’
    ‘He was supposed to meet me a week ago but he never came. The next day I went to the office with Father but Gilbert wasn’t there. I went again on my own – well, not quite on my
own; Jane was with me.’
    ‘Where is Jane? She usually comes with you.’
    Annabel grimaced. ‘She wasn’t allowed to this time.’
    ‘That’s a pity,’ Martha murmured. ‘I think Les is rather sweet on her and she’s such a help to me in the kitchen.’
    ‘And what happened on your second visit?’ Edward prompted and Annabel recounted the details ending, ‘The rumour is that he had a big row with the office manager – Mr
Smeeton – that he came into some money unexpectedly, and that he’s gone to America. He – he could have said “goodbye” even if he wanted to end our – our
friendship.’
    She saw the glance that passed between her grandparents and the little nod that Martha gave. Edward took Annabel’s other hand into his huge, calloused paw. She was comforted by his warm
touch as he said softly, ‘We guessed you were meeting someone sometimes when you stayed with us.’
    Annabel’s tears flowed again. ‘Oh, I’m sorry. I – I shouldn’t have deceived you.’
    ‘You didn’t. You’re a grown young woman and have every right to come and go as you please. We trusted you and besides, Jane was always with you.’
    Martha chuckled. ‘We didn’t have chaperones, did we, Edward?’ The old man’s eyes twinkled. ‘Indeed, we didn’t.’ The love still flowed between the
elderly couple and Annabel smiled, heartened to see it. How she longed for that same devotion from a man she could love in return. Her chin trembled again. ‘But you think he’s gone
away, don’t you? That – that he doesn’t want to see me again?’
    Her grandfather was silent for a moment before saying slowly, ‘I’d like to know what that quarrel in the office was about. And where this “unexpected” windfall came
from.’
    ‘Miss Tate wouldn’t say. I’ve no doubt she feared for her job if she divulged too much and I wouldn’t have wanted to put that in jeopardy. I just wish—’
    ‘He’d let you know himself,’ Martha finished the sentence for her and Annabel nodded.
    ‘Perhaps, my lovely, he wasn’t able to,’ Edward said soberly.
    Annabel drew in a breath and gazed at him, wide-eyed with fear. ‘You don’t think something’s happened to him?’
    ‘No, no, I didn’t mean that. I should have said, perhaps he wasn’t
allowed
to get in touch with you.’
    ‘You mean by Mr Smeeton?’
    ‘No, I was thinking of your father.’
    ‘Father!’ Annabel knew only too well about her father’s ambitions for her, that she should marry well and produce a grandson, who would one day inherit his company. That was
why she’d feared he would not look kindly on a liaison between his daughter and one of his employees. If he had somehow found out about her meetings with Gilbert, then why hadn’t he
confronted her? She couldn’t believe he would be so devious as to dismiss Gilbert and prevent him from even saying goodbye to her.
    Again the two older people exchanged a glance, then Edward went on, ‘Annabel, your parents are both – though it grieves me to say it about my own daughter – ruthlessly
ambitious and, now, perhaps not only for themselves.’ He was speaking slowly, thoughtfully, as if only just coming to the realization himself. He sighed. ‘Your granny and I married for
love. She could have done so much better for herself than an impoverished farmer’s son.’
    ‘Tut, tut, Edward,’ Martha frowned, but her merry eyes were twinkling, ‘perish the thought.’
    ‘And,’ Edward went on, ‘we wanted the same for our daughter and though it pained us that she took no interest in the farm and all that we had worked so hard to build up for
her, we still wanted