“I cannot thank you enough, I never can. You know how much it means to me to have you stand by me even apart from the money.
“You know I love you, Fiona. I have done so for a long time. This is not the moment to tell you if I had not needed to, but I do, Fiona, I love you with all my heart and soul.”
The sincerity in his voice and the fervour of it suddenly made Fiona feel very weak. She sat down in a chair.
“That is all right, Donald, but please don’t let us talk about it for the moment. I am tired, terribly tired.”
“Fiona, you are ill – why didn’t you tell me? What is the matter, my dear? What has happened to you?”
Fiona shook her head.
“Nothing,” she said, “just nothing. Leave me alone.”
Donald had the sense to do as he was told. He saw that she was very near to tears and he turn
