Catherine had left, and they had finished breakfast and washed up. Harry's adrenalin, was at an all-time low and as much as he would dearly have loved to take Ruth back to bed, he knew that anything other than sleep, was quite beyond him.

She on the other hand looked very perky as though the recent encounter with Catherine had been a day to day occurrence. Women, he thought, will I ever understand them?

So far Harry hadn't mentioned Catherine's visit and Ruth was getting more and more curious. It looks as though it has to be me then, she thought, it was like dragging blood out of a stone at times where he was concerned.

'Harry, did you know that Catherine was calling this morning, I know you haven't rung her?' Harry appeared to be considering what to say, why was everything with him so complicated? 'I'm surprised she took it so well, finding me here, is there something you're not telling me?' she ploughed on.

Harry took a deep breath. 'Well, to be honest, it might not have been quite the surprise you think. She saw us yesterday evening at the hotel,' he mumbled.

'What!' exclaimed Ruth, 'at what point in the evening are we talking about?'

'Um, well I don't really know, 'it could have been at any time. I imagine that she was probably there all the time.'

'As in when we were dancing, Oh God this is awful, we were practically having sex Harry, doesn't that bother you?'

'It bothers me in that I can't remember it,' he tried, 'maybe you should start leaving me notes from now on.'

'Stop being flippant, this is no joking matter and while we're on the subject, when did you see her?'

'She came into the conservatory just before midnight, and I already knew that I was going to kiss you. In that moment, it was that or speak to Catherine and to be honest,' he trailed off, ' I can pacify my daughter at any time, today, tomorrow, in a week or a month, but kissing you at midnight on New Year's Eve, is something that I can only do on one night every year.'

'Oh,' said Ruth, completely floored, 'so what do we do now?'

'As in now this minute or as in when we see Catherine next week, because as I see it, we have plenty of time to discuss next week,' said Harry and I seem to remember you wanting to be dragged back upstairs as soon as we'd finished breakfast.'

How did he do it she wondered, all the cheesy lines and he had her just where he wanted her. This was so new, so lovely, she alone was enjoying the real Harry and she'd be a fool to ruin the day. Tomorrow they would be back on the grid and he would switch back into work mode to face whatever life threw at them.

'Come on then' she said 'what are you waiting for?'

Gone was the frantic need that had been there the previous night, today they had all the time in the world.

This time, it was Ruth who woke first. Harry was asleep beside her, his arm curled loosely around her waist, his face so untroubled, it took her breath away. This was her Harry, principled and dedicated to his job and so very precious to her. She remembered what Jo had said, only few days ago. She was right, Harry did love her and what once had been so difficult for him to say, he did now in a heartbeat. She looked across at the clock, they had been in bed for hours, but dinner could wait as could all else that might follow in the week to come.