Having read Harry's letter, William Towers is putting on a remarkably good performance which suggests that as Alec and Beth do, he believes that Harry will be sitting behind his desk at Thames House in a couple of weeks' time. Because in line with the writer, the letter is to the point and without the waffle that is common to most politicians including himself. That he will miss Harry's ability to run rings around him, albeit to spare him accountability, he knows is because he has grown fond of the man he had once described as the man the myth and the legend.

What he can also understand and feels privileged to have been told is Harry's real reason for leaving. Which he could so easily have buried amongst suggestions that he has done his bit, or that the losses of colleagues over the years have affected him, both of which would have been more than adequate. Instead of which, his straightforward announcement that he has finally come to his senses and is putting his personal feelings above those for his country, he thinks is a perfect way to end what has been a lifetime of dedicated service.

That Harry has also asked him to do his best to ensure that Alec White whose reputation suggests that he needs to be rat arsed in order to function replaces him, when he himself comes back into the room having popped out for what has been a lengthy chat with one of his colleagues, to find both he and Miss. Bailey waiting patiently, is a good enough reason to think that Harry has given the matter some thought. Backed up by the fact that Harry trusts him to back Alec and his team during the current situation which he has described as an affront to the memory of Ros Myers, by visiting her mother for no reason other than to put pressure on her. Before signing off with a flourish to suggest that he was smiling when he wrote it. A genuine smile rather than one of those smiles which used to leave him wondering how Harry had succeeded in getting him to agree to doing something he had been strongly opposed to.

.

In contrast to the previous morning when Harry opens his eyes it is to find that he is the one who has slept in. How long Ruth has been up he has no idea, or which radio station she is listening to. The fact that she is, along with the comfort of knowing that by now Alec will have delivered his letter to Towers and Ruth will be bringing him a cup of coffee, so their future is officially sealed with no constraints on their time or how they spend their days, is reason enough to indulge himself with the thought that the clock on the bedside table which had annoying kept pace with their love making the previous evening, might get a brief reprieve before they take it to a charity shop.

Not that Ruth has forgotten the previous evening or ever will, had been her first thought when she had woken up in feeling more relaxed than she ever had. Because what yesterday had been a house that they were buying, after only one night feels like a home. That it differs in every aspect from her imagined house in Sussex, as have their circumstances, is making her see things differently. Primarily that in order to be accepted that they need to make themselves known to their nearest neighbours who according to the map are half a mile away. If for no other reason than she is confident that within a week, she and Harry will have made enough decisions to be able to avoid the subject of what was, in favour of what is. That and as they are more than half an hour by car from Norwich, the village shop will be essential and as such will be an outlet to meet people as will be the pub. In the same way that with Christmas just around the corner, if they go to Midnight Mass, not only will it give her a chance to sing, but for them as a couple to stand side by side in a church without it being at a funeral.

And is why, 'what do you think?' she asks a grinning Harry, having handed him his coffee and then verbally thrown her ideas at him before climbing back into bed.

'I'm just grateful that gardening isn't on the list.'

'Yes, it is just not in the physical sense. It comes under the heading of visiting a garden centre. You can spend a whole morning in one of those if you need as much as we do. That and in the panic of leaving London I forgot your birthday.'

'How does this afternoon sound?' he suggested, and not just because her enthusiasm is a reminder of the days when she used to burst into his office without knocking. Because when all is said and done, it had been out in the garden that he had chosen to tell her his news. A garden which in this case is very much an extension of the house and where during the summer months, he has already been envisaging them spending a quiet evening after a day on the beach. That and she has been the one to come up with answers that will ease them slowly into village life.

.

An hour after they arrive, not only is Harry is enjoying himself but he's in no hurry to leave. Because unlike large supermarkets, where nine times out of ten you need the right change to get a ticket from a machine that is at the furthest point from where you park your car, only to find when you come back, that idiot parked alongside has blocked you in, this is in every aspect how it is described online. Including a more than adequate café which serves food all day plus plenty of room to walk around and find what you are looking for. Which at this moment are large selection of lawnmowers.

Only for Ruth's phone to ring and disturb them. One look and the fact that it says number unknown and the euphoria from the morning, which has spilled over to be so much more since they arrived here has gone. She hands the phone to Harry.

Mouthing 'Alec' he grabs her hand and without making it obvious to other customers that something is wrong, he propels her towards the exit. Waiting until they are sitting in the car before saying, 'tell me,' then adding, 'just a second I'll put it on loud speaker so that Ruth can hear.'

'Dimitri has been following Lucas for days and up until a few moments ago he hadn't done anything or been anywhere to suggest that he thinks you're not where I've told him you are.'

'And now?'

'He's on the M25 heading south, which as we all know is where our mutual friend lives.'

'Which means he thinks Malcolm knows where we are and not forgetting he's got Caroline with him.'

'What do you want me to do?'

'Get Dimitri to follow him and do whatever you think is appropriate when he gets there. Leave it to me to call Malcolm and tell him that he and Caroline need to leave as soon as possible. I might even suggest that they come to us.'

'Thanks Harry and I'm sorry if I've ruined your day. Take care of yourselves.'