Heirs of Ravenscar. Barbara Taylor Bradford

and stared at it, caught his breath as he took in the unique beauty of the Renoir. It was marvellous, a painting of two young girls aged about sixteen or seventeen. They were wearing identical orange dresses with black fronts and trimming, sitting on a window ledge against a backdrop of blue sky. Both had hair of a burnished red-gold, swept up on top of their heads. Their gaze was directed at a book they were reading.

      ‘It’s absolutely marvellous!’ he exclaimed, looking across at Jane. ‘Glorious. And the girls remind me of Grace Rose and Bess. Except that these two young ladies look as if they are the same age.’

      ‘It’s called Les Deux Soeurs. Renoir painted it in 1889. And you’re quite right, they are the same age I think. Look at the skin tones, Ned, the beauty of their faces. It’s an incomparable painting. I fell in love with it when I saw it.’

      ‘Which gallery has it?’

      ‘It’s in private hands. It was brought here to London at the outset of the war. For safety, I suppose.’

      ‘And now the owner wants to sell it?’

      ‘Apparently. If you are interested I can take you to see it on Friday.’

      Edward frowned. ‘I was going to go to Ravenscar that morning. But I’ll tell you what, Janey, I’ll take the late afternoon train instead. We can see the painting in the morning hopefully, and then we’ll have lunch. How does that sound?’

      ‘That’s perfectly fine. So you do want it, do you?’

      ‘Of course I do. It’s wonderful. How much is it?’

      ‘I don’t know. I knew you wouldn’t be able to resist it,’ she said, nodding, smiling. ‘I was sure it would remind you of your own little redheads.’

      ‘It does, and as usual your instincts were right. You second-guessed me perfectly. Thank you, darling. And now I have a surprise for you.’ Rising, he hurried out of the parlour, got his briefcase, opened it and took out a package.

      He held this behind his back as he returned, and handed it to her with a bit of a flourish once he stood in front of her.

      ‘What is it?’ she asked, staring down at the package covered in dark blue wrapping paper and then looking up at him.

      ‘Open it and see.’

      Tearing off the paper, Jane found herself holding a dark blue cardboard box. Lifting off the lid, she saw that the box held a jewellery case made of very dark blue velvet. Once she was holding the case she glanced up at him again, shaking her head. ‘By the looks of this, you’ve been very extravagant again. Oh, Ned, you do spoil me so.’

      ‘No, I don’t. Open it.’

      She did. Her light eyes widened when she saw the lacey bib composed of diamonds interwoven with aquamarines. For a moment she was stunned and gazed at him speechlessly. Finally she said softly, ‘Darling, it’s just … beautiful.’

      ‘As are you. I was going to get you an emerald brooch or emerald earrings, and then when I saw this I immediately thought of your eyes … they’re the same colour.’ He picked the necklace up, held it in front of her so that it caught and held the light. ‘Look, Jane, your eyes are this colour exactly.’

      Edward slipped the necklace in his pocket, took hold of her hand and pulled her to her feet. ‘I want you to try it on. Immediately. Now. It won’t work with this dress, so come on, darling, let’s go upstairs. I want to see it on you.’

      She made no protest. He hurried her out of the room, up the stairs, and into the bedroom, and he went on swiftly, ‘Take off your dress, Jane. I want you to put this on.’ As he spoke he took the necklace out of his pocket. ‘Hurry up, I can’t wait to see how it looks on you.’

      Laughing, she did as he said, and in a second stood in front of him in her underwear.

      Circling her, Edward went and stood behind her, put the necklace around her neck, fastened it, and guided her across to the dressing table, pressed her down into the chair. ‘Look at yourself, look how the stones reflect the colour of your eyes.’ She leaned forward, staring at herself in the mirror, and he leaned over her shoulders, regarding her reflection.

      He murmured, ‘The necklace is perfection, and so are you.’

      Turning her head, she gazed up at him, and her eyes filled. ‘Thank you, thank you for this lovely, lovely gift. I will treasure it forever, Ned.’

      ‘As I will always treasure you, Jane. Please remember that, especially when you start getting strange ideas, start thinking you’re too old for me.’

      In a few long strides he had crossed the bedroom floor. He locked the door, took off his jacket, threw it on a chaise longue, and then as he turned around, walked back to her, he began to unbutton his shirt. ‘I’m now going to prove that you’re not too old, that I still desire you.’

      Jane met him in the middle of the floor, her eyes on his. ‘Can you unfasten the necklace, please?’

      ‘No, I can’t,’ he whispered, and took her in his arms, pulled her closer, so that her cheek rested against his bare chest. ‘I want you to wear it tonight. All night. But I will unfasten this,’ he added; his hands fumbled for the hooks of her bra. ‘Let’s find that bed of ours,’ he said against her hair. ‘It’s a matter of some urgency.’

      Jane now saw that he did indeed have a strong need for her, that he wanted her; she shed the rest of her clothes, followed him. He was undressing as quickly as she had. A moment later he took her in his arms, held her tightly. His mouth found hers and he kissed her deeply, passionately, his tongue on hers, his hands sliding down to her breasts. When they broke their long kiss he led her to the side of the bed.

      They lay down together, catching their breath. Eventually Edward propped himself up on one elbow, looked down into her face. ‘Jane, my beautiful, beautiful Jane, you’re such a silly girl.’ He lowered his face to hers, added, ‘You’ll never be too old for me …’ Leaving the rest of his sentence unfinished, he kissed her once more.

      Edward lay on top of her, pushed his hands under her buttocks and brought her close to him as he entered her. It was the same as it always was with them. Desire and an overwhelming need. Passion. Urgency. They swiftly found their familiar rhythm, clinging to each other as they soared together, filled with ecstasy, and the pure joy of being together, possessing each other so completely and with total abandon.

      At one moment Edward stopped abruptly, raised himself up to gaze down at Jane.

      She stared back, perplexity crossing her face.

      He said with a small smug smile, ‘The aquamarines are indeed the colour of your eyes, especially at a moment like this.’

      He lowered himself onto her once more, his face against her neck. ‘Oh, how I love you. Love you, Jane. I’m yours. Just as you are mine. Come now, come to me. Now.’ And she did, calling his name. He echoed her, cried out, sank against her breasts, sighing, ‘Oh Jane, oh Jane.’

      They remained joined together for a few minutes. It was Edward who moved first. He took a pillow and placed it against Jane’s chest. ‘The necklace is a little sharp against my skin,’ he told her, his voice low. ‘There, that’s better … with the pillow between us.’

      ‘I can take it off, darling.’

      ‘No. I want you to wear it tonight. I know you’ll find a dress that has the right neckline.’

      ‘I will.’

      There was a long silence, a lovely quietness between them that lasted for a while. It was Jane who broke it finally when she suddenly said, ‘What did you do about the dog?’

      ‘Dog?’ Edward asked, puzzled.

      ‘Don’t you remember, I suggested you buy a dog