Chapter 1

When they were ten and twelve respectively, Henry Cavendish and Samantha Scrimgeour became step-brother and sister. Henry's father, Rupert, had divorced his mother two years earlier when she ran off with a Portuguese. Beautiful and talented she was also selfish and did not wish to be saddled with a small son in her new life. Samantha's father, Graham, had died under an avalanche while ski-ing. Samantha and, more particularly, her mother, Henrietta, were devastated. Nevertheless, Henrietta was left a very wealthy widow and the two of them continued to live in their large house in the Drill valley.

The Cavendishes and the Scrimgeours had known each other for years. Both men had served a short service commission together in the Life Guards. Both had then had successful and lucrative jobs in the City. Rupert gave his up early on the premature death of his father and went home to run the family estate at Carlton Parva. His mother moved into the dower house but also died a few years later.

Graham had been the first to marry. He had known Henrietta for years but it was only when he left the army and was spending weekends at home that he struck up with her again. It was two years before they became engaged but it was a period of getting to know each other more deeply and developing a commitment. In the end, their's was a marriage of two souls.

Samantha was born two years after Graham and Henrietta married. Henrietta loved her from the start. They tried for a second child without success. Both agreed that they would not pursue what they considered unnatural ways of producing a second child. They also agreed that while they would love Henrietta even more specially they would never spoil her.

Rupert's Imogen was a blind date. She was the sister of another Life Guards officer who asked him to take her to a regimental dance. She was stunningly beautiful, amusing and flirtatious and Rupert was captivated. He pursued her for three years and it was only when he began earning serious money in the City that she agreed to marry him. Graham observed the romance with deep misgivings. Indeed, he warned his friend that Imogen was flighty but Rupert was confident that when she did succumb to his advances all would be well. She gave birth to Henry fifteen months after the wedding. She showed no inclination to have further children. Henry was clearly a burden once his novelty had worn off which was soon. Imogen did not like to have her sleep disturbed and the last three months of her pregnancy had been a bore. She quite enjoyed being lady of the manor at Carlton Parva in small doses but was always eager to return to their London flat and the brittle round of parties.

Henry and Samantha had known each other from an early age. When Imogen departed for London Rupert seldom went. When he did Henry would stay with the Scrimgeours. Rupert often had them over for the day. The two men had a love of racing and Henrietta would look after the children.

When Graham was killed the last thing on Henrietta's mind was marrying again. For Rupert it was different. Divorce may be unpleasant but not so much as the death of someone you love and in whose existence you are totally bound up. Rupert did not actively look for another wife but the friendship with Henrietta was still there. They could not help but meet quite often either, once Henrietta had decided she could no longer be a recluse. What was a deep friendship centred originally on a love for Graham developed into love for each other.

They both agonised about what effect marriage would have on the children. They agreed in the end that their own happiness was paramount and that the children, being the friends they were, would probably accept it. Nevertheless, they decided to tell the children first what they planned to do.

Both children were at boarding school and so Rupert and Henrietta waited until the holidays and when Henrietta and Samantha had come over to Carlton Parva for the day. They broached the subject at the end of lunch.

Both children stared at them in silence. It was not an antagonistic silence. Neither child had thought that their parents would ever marry again. They were stupefied.

"You don't have to say anything now," said Henrietta gently. "Have a think but we would like to know what you say before Samantha and I go home."

Both children nodded. Henry drifted up to his room. Samantha went to the stables. There was a filly of Rupert's she had become very attached to and she felt she could confide in her.

Henry was confused. Although Rupert had never said anything derogatory about Imogen Henry hated her. She was his mother and yet she had never, ever shown him any affection let alone love. His father was his all, loving and supportive. Why would he want to try life with another woman? She might turn out to be as bad as his mother and yet he could not feel that way about Henrietta. She had always been friendly and, he had to admit, there for him on the odd occasion when things had upset him. Samantha was nearly always happy so she must love her and be loved by her, especially after her father was killed. He wondered whether his father would go on looking after him and loving him in the same way. Probably not because he would have to look after Henrietta and Samantha as well. He thought about Samantha. Even though she was older she never behaved like that. They were friends. So possibly, as they all got on so well together, it might be all right and he would not mind if his father shared his love with Henrietta and Samantha. He wanted to talk with Samantha though. He walked to the stables. He knew that was where she would be.