Her 47th birthday. A decision.

She wrote to him to say how unhappy she was. He knew, as she did, that it could not go on like this, so he thought of a plan which he believed may cause the least suffering to H, yet allow them more time together and eventually a free life together.

He would tell H how unhappy he had become, that he wished to have more freedom and believed they should live their lives more separately. Over time, she would become accustomed to this, and when it seemed H had come to terms with living more independently he would tell her he had fallen in love with someone he wished to share his life with - whilst assuring H he would continue to provide for her as he had promised.

He stressed that this may take some time, maybe a year or more. He had to make sure that H had adjusted, to leave too soon may upset her so much that she had a stroke or heart attack - or worse. H had saved his life all those years ago when he was in such despair over the loss of his wife. He must make sure she was content.

"My leaving H could destroy her. If it did, I could never again look into your eyes and feel we deserved one another," he had said.

When they reached this decision, it was the day before her 47th birthday, and the best gift he could have given her. At last, a way through. At last, she could endure this because she knew a proper life together lay before them. She now had hope. Real hope.

So the month of March began. As H was to be 80 in late April, they decided the best time for him to speak to her would be after then. The first weeks after telling her would be the hardest, he could not cast a shadow over the big family party that was planned. However, he did arrange a meeting with H's daughter to talk with her about what he planned to do. She understood, and was not surprised as many people had been aware for some time, that things were not working.

There was nothing more to be done now but wait.