382 CHAPTER 43
South of Keetmanshoop, German South West Africa, 1906They slept in each other’s arms, but Blake woke before dawn, a soldier’s habit, and washed himself and dressed. He made tea and woke Claire, who greeted him with a grin and a kiss.
‘We need to be ready if your husband shows up,’ he said, handing her the cup.
She gave a wave with her free hand. ‘I don’t care if he finds out. I still like him but it’s been over between Peter and me for a long time, Blake. We live together out of convenience these days.’
‘All the same, it’s a complication we’d do best to avoid at the moment.’
Claire nodded and sipped.
They ate breakfast and Blake went outside to brush, feed and water his horse. He saw a dust plume on the horizon and fetched his rifle. It was one man, mounted. The doctor
