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A spasm contorted Gray’s face, but he said quietly:

'I didn’t want to see him because I knew if I did I wouldn’t be able to give him up. I’ve often dreamed of a son, an heir to Crawfords, a boy who would love the sea and boats as I do. But I won’t take him away from you, Fran, that wouldn’t be fair.’

Frances gave an exasperated sigh.

‘My dear man, there’s no need to punish yourself to that extent!’ she exclaimed. She again dropped on her knees beside him, seizing his hands, those scarred hands that had once been so beautiful, and gazed appealingly into his face.

‘Oh, Gray, can’t we forget all the ugly things that have happened and start again? You and I and Robbie?’

Then Gray broke. He bowed his head upon their clasped hands, the proud, bitter man who had faced so much disaster with fortitude bent his neck at last. Freeing one hand, Frances gently stroked the fair hair as something like a sob shook his frame.

‘Don’t, Gray, don’t,’ she whispered. ‘It's all right.’

He lifted his head and she saw his eyes were wet.

‘I was so beastly to you.’

'I've forgotten it. I only remember I love you, Gray.’

‘If I loved you before I worship you now,’ he said humbly.

‘Don’t be so extravagant,’ she chided him gently. ‘It’s .. . out of character .
..' She
laughed shakily, but her heart swelled with thankfulness and joy, for Gray’s eyes gazing into hers were shining with the light of love. ‘If I know you, this ... er . . . humility won’t last long, you'll soon be your old imperious self.’

He smiled wryly. ‘I’m afraid you’re right, Fran, eating humble pie is not my natural diet, but my pride and arrogance have caused you to suffer. Are you quite sure you wouldn’t prefer a gentler mate?’

‘Absolutely certain, You are my one and only love.’

‘Then since you refuse to be warned, you must take the consequences.’

He scooped her up on to his knees, and encircling her with his arms their lips met in a long satisfying kiss.

Later they stood by the cot in Frances’ room in the dim radiance of the nightlight. Sensing something unusual was going on, Robbie opened sleepy eyes. His small legs shot up into the air, displacing the carefully tucked in bedclothes, and he gurgled mischievously.

‘That’s a favourite trick of his,’ Frances told his father. ‘Since you’re awake, my precious, let Daddy have a look at you.’

She lifted him in her arms, and leaning against
her shoulder, Master Robert Crawford stared at his sire. He waved a chubby arm towards him, and as Gray held out his hand, clutched his finger with a surprisingly strong grip. Gray looked at the tiny digits in wonderment.

‘So small, and so perfect!’

‘Of course he’s perfect, he’s our son,’ Frances declared. Gray’s free arm went round her, drawing her close with the baby between them, and Graham Crawford, the hard-bitten cynic, said fervently:

'This is heaven. God make me worthy of you both.’

Harlequin
Plus

THE FASCINATION OF GLASGOW

Elizabeth Ashton’s romantic hero, Gray Crawford, makes his home in Glasgow—and Glasgow, though not a place one would normally consider romantic, is nevertheless a fascinating city. Sprawling on both banks of the River Clyde, Glasgow is an important cosmopolitan seaport and city of contrasts.

Once it was called the Second City—second only to London in size and importance. Originally a center of ecclesiastics and scholars, its enormous medieval cathedral and ancient university, founded in 1450, dominated its activities. Much later, in the eighteenth century, Glasgow’s broad streets and elegant squares compared very favorably indeed with the “smelly huddle” that was old Edinburgh town.

But it was Scotland's rich iron and coal fields that helped shape Glasgow’s destiny, and during the Industrial Revolution it began to grow into a huge industrial center for ship-building, engineering, chemical plants and distilleries. Now the old and the new, the cultural and industrial blend to make Glasgow one of the most interesting, energetic and productive cities of the north.

Glaswegians, as the Glasgow born are called, have a reputation for being a realistic, down-to-earth people with a natural argumentativeness. (Is that, you may ask. the real reason for the problems Frances faces with Gray?) But it’s said that a sense of humor is their saving grace, and most endearing characteristic.