It had been a week since the attack and Richard was nearly back to normal, apart from a few aches and pains. He was in the drawing room looking through an old photo album when Audrey came through the door.

"What are you doing darling?" She asked sitting down next to him.

"Just looking at some old photos."

Intrigued Audrey leaned across him looking at the album "Ooh are they of you? Are there any embarrassing ones?"

Chuckling Richard moved the album closer to her "A few, here look that's me as a baby with mother"

"She looks very beautiful"

Audrey turned the page and saw a tall man dressed in a suit with the same eyes as Richard "Who is this darling?"

"That's my father, he died a few months after that was taken."

Audrey took his hand, her fingers entwining with his. She didn't want to upset him but she couldn't help wanting to know more about her husband's father. "What happened to him?"

Richard let out a sigh "To be honest, I don't really know. I was just a boy at the time and mother got so upset every time I mentioned him I just stopped. Silly really I mean I could find out I just never have"

The look on Richard's face made Audrey squeeze his hand "Darling are you alright? I'm sorry I shouldn't of asked"

"No it's fine, I want you to know these things. It's just Brabinger and I had a chat a few days ago about some things, anyway my father was mentioned and since then I've been wondering..." Richard paused not sure how to continue.

"About what darling?"

"I've been wondering if I will be a good father. I mean what if I don't know how to be one or don't know what to do?"

Audrey moved the photo album to the table then sat herself on Richard's lap, wrapping her arms around his neck. "Oh Richard, you are going to be a fantastic father to our children. You don't need to worry about that darling"

He slid his arms around her waist hugging her to him "You will help me though won't you darling you've had more experience with children. All those nieces and nephew of yours have given you a lot of practice"

"Of course I will help you but I'm sure I'll need your help too darling" she pressed her lips to his in a gentle kiss.

"Actually you will have a chance to practice your parenting skills next week. Marton's brother and his wife are going away for a week to Africa, I just got off the phone from them they want to know if we could take their son Adam for the week, what do you think?"

"Oh yes of course that's fine, how old is he?"

"He's just turned 4, perhaps we could take him to play pooh sticks, I've got the guides on Wednesday so you'll have to find something to do with him for the afternoon"

Richard wasn't sure that he could look after a child on his own, seeing his expression Audrey reassured him "Don't worry darling I'm sure you'll be fine and Adam will love spending time with his Uncle Richard"

She stroked his face her fingers tracing the healing cut above his eye "Oh I forgot to ask did you have your check up with dr Horton?"

Richard nodded "Yes, I went down there this afternoon. He gave me a clean bill of health, all stitches removed, bruises healing nicely."

"That's wonderful darling, I'm so sorry I couldn't go with you" she moved her hand to his cheek.

He put his hand over hers "It's fine darling, you had your little girl guides waiting for you and I must say the uniform on you is really rather nice" his fingers tracing over her thigh.

Audrey chuckled getting up from his lap she walked over to the fireplace "Is it just us for dinner?"

"Yes, mothers gone to the theatre with her old people's club, honestly she spends more time out of the house than in at the moment"

"Perhaps she's found a handsome gentleman to sweep her off her feet" Audrey joked walking towards the door

Richard laughed then turned serious "Darling...you don't really think that do you" Audrey shrugged then walked out the door.

Richard went after her but she was already half way up the staircase, "Audrey, do you know something I don't?...darling?...darling"