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The winter evening was closing in as they came to a small village in a steep-sided valley. All along the route they had heard the sound of the guns drawing closer but with darkness falling the firing had stopped and camp fires were beginning to flicker around the outskirts. The air smelt of gun smoke and wood smoke. As the wagon drew up in the village square the door of the largest house opened and a man, whom Leo recognised as one of Sasha’s officers, came out. Leseaux jumped down and the man crossed quickly to meet him.

As she clambered clumsily down from the wagon, Leo caught snatches of their conversation. ‘Wasted journey … had to leave him …overrun by the enemy …. Too late anyway …’

She slid down to the ground and as she did so the pain in her stomach returned with a violence that convulsed her. ‘What are you saying?’ she gasped. ‘Where is Colonel Malkovic?’

The officer turned and she saw the shock on his face as he recognised her. For a moment he seemed unable to speak, then he blurted out, ‘There was nothing we could do. I’m sorry. The colonel is dead.’

Leo stared at him and said the first thing that came into her head. ‘He can’t be! I’m carrying his child.’ Then the pain came again and she doubled over with a choking cry.