Lynley was still fuming when he got back to the house. Everything he saw in there reminded him of Barbara. He poured himself a large drink which he downed quickly followed by a second and then a third. He poured another and sank into his armchair. He did not understand what had happened. This morning they had been happy and now she had left him. It was happening again. All the women he loved left him. At least when Helen died I knew why! He just could not understand. She sounded as if she hated him, truly hated him. He brooded for a while trying to find a reason but none came. He was no longer angry he was just lost. He could not go on without Barbara; that much he knew. Was this the end? He contemplated what note he should leave her and decided it would simply read: Why?

The phone rang and he answered anxiously, "Barbara?" His disappointment was instant when he heard his sister's voice. She immediately sensed something was wrong.

"Tommy, what's happened?"

"It's Barbara, she left me and won't speak to me." He started to cry.

"Why, what did you do Thomas?"

"Nothing. Nothing I swear. I would never hurt her. I don't know what's going on."

"Tell me what happened."

Tommy told his sister everything that had happened that day, including their lovemaking. He wanted her to understand everything had been fine.

"Oh Tommy. For an Oxford man you are not very smart are you? I wonder how you survive as a detective without any powers of deduction."

Tommy was confused. His life was in crisis and his sister was laughing at him. "I...I don't understand Judith."

"I think we might have a little heir to Asherton arriving soon Tommy."

Still he did not understand. "No, no we have been careful and Barbara has just been waiting to start taking…' his voice trailed off. Paris! That first night in Paris. He groaned and Judith knew the penny had dropped.

"It seems it might be possible then?"

"Yeah, it might." It was sinking in and he was elated at the possibility. "But why would she react like that?"

"Remember how you reacted when Helen told you she was pregnant?"

"Yes," Tommy said sombrely into the phone, "but this is different. If it's true I'd be ecstatic."

"Then go and tell her Tommy. Poor Barbara probably thinks you would resent her and feel obliged to marry her. And you know she is more of a snob than you – she will think everyone will believe she trapped you and that you will be miserable and that she will never fit in and everyone will talk behind her back. Need I go on?"

"No, I see. That makes sense. Oh thank you Judith. If this is it then you have saved my life!" Literally.

"Well don't keep talking to me, go and tell her," Judith scolded hanging up the phone.

Tommy put on his coat then picked up his keys and looked at them. He put them down and phoned a cab. He had drunk too much to drive and he was struggling to concentrate. How will I tell her I know? How can I prove I am happy about it? A thousand thoughts raced through his mind. He went to his study and opened the safe and retrieved a paper. He crossed to the desk and made some notations before slipping it into his coat pocket.

Soon he was knocking on Barbara's door calling her name.

"I thought you had left?" she yelled back. She sounded terrible; not angry, not defiant but alone, as if everything in her world had collapsed and she was the only one left.

"Sergeant Havers if you do not open this door now I will call the local constables and tell them who I am and that I have reason to suspect a serious crime has been committed. I'll have them break down your door. It would be much easier for everyone if you just let me in!"

She knew from his tone that he meant it so reluctantly she started to unlatch the door. She was not ready to face him but she knew she had no choice. He pushed it open as soon as he heard the last lock click. She turned away from him and moved into the room. He slammed the door behind him and rushed to her. She struggled to break free but he held her strongly by the arms and turned her to face him.

Now it was his turn to be scared. What he did and said now would affect the rest of his life. In the end he simply said, 'I know." She said nothing but dropped her gaze to the floor. He wanted to hold her but was afraid she would wiggle free. It was safer to keep hold of her arms. He looked at her and although in Paris he had not believed he could ever love her more, looking at her now he knew he did. "It's ok Barbara. So it is true? You are pregnant?"

She nodded before tears flowed down her cheeks and dripped onto the floor. "I didn't plan it I swear. I thought it would be hard for me, after being shot. I had no idea it would happen first time. I know you will disown him but please… don't try to make me get rid of it."

Tommy was crushed. "How could you ever think I would do that? You love children and will make a wonderful mother. I can't believe you would even think that I would want to destroy a child that is blessed to have been conceived out of such love and passion. It's our baby Barbara! I am so happy; don't you see this is wonderful news?"

For the first time she looked at him, her eyes swollen and blurry. Despite the tears also streaming from his eyes she could see that he meant it and she loved him more than ever. "But Tommy, it is so soon; we are not married – and I don't expect you to marry me either; people will think that I did it to trap you; we will be the laughing stock of the Yard; your mother and sister will hate me; you won't be able to acknowledge him as your heir...don't you see what a mess this is?" her head slumped again.

By now he had her in his arms and was holding her tight. "None of that is true Barbara. For a start I don't care what they think at work. Judith helped me work it out and was delighted so I am sure Mother knows by now too. They love you and know how happy I am with you so any chance of an heir will only add to how jubilant they will be. And I will marry you – not because I have to but because I want to! Oh and by the way, it's a girl."

"Well I'm carrying it and I think it's a boy!" For the first time since her doctor had delivered the devastating news that afternoon she smiled. "See we back to bickering again."

Relief washed over Tommy. Everything would be fine. "We just have time to organise it Barbara. We can get married at Christmas."

"Tommy! I don't expect that; I don't need that and I certainly don't want to go through life thinking that I forced you into it."

"You haven't Barbara. I was going to wait until Christmas to ask you," he said and bent down on one knee in the traditional proposal position, "but Barbara Havers will you do me the great honour of agreeing to be my wife; my partner for eternity?"

Barbara hesitated. She wanted to say yes but could not break from the fear that he would regret it. He looked up at her and smiled knowing she needed proof. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a folded paper and handed it to her. "Sergeant I know how you love proof. It won't be ready until the week before Christmas but this confirms my intentions."

She opened the paper to find a receipt date two weeks before pinned to a sketch of a gold ring set with an emerald surrounded by diamonds. She grinned and then started to laugh when she noticed he had scribbled over the price on the receipt. He really was going to propose and he was going to pay way too much!

"Well Sir, in the face of this evidence I will have to agree with you," she teased him before turning serious, "Oh Tommy nothing would make me happier."

His face was radiant and he hugged her to him. They kissed; as tenderly as their first time as he edged them slowly towards the bedroom.