Sam actually laughed. ‘Well done; you are more of a country woman than I knew,’ he said approvingly. ‘But though I may be only a seaman, I trust I am still a gentleman, and a gentleman does not let a young woman go off on a long walk alone. Suppose the Evanses’ old bull should take fright at seeing a stranger walking along the lane and decide to challenge you? Suppose a badger comes out of his sett and scares the life out of you? Suppose clouds race across the moon and the snow starts again? My dear Miss Trent, a thousand and one things could make your walk more perilous than pleasurable. Don’t deny me the satisfaction of seeing my children’s saviour safely back to her lodgings.’

It was said lightly, but Glenys knew an olive branch when she saw one, and she realised she would have to accept his offered companionship, though it went against the grain to do so after he had been so rude. Across the lamplit kitchen the old couple were listening intently, and she knew they were hoping she would not deny Sam the chance to make amends. Accordingly, she smiled at them and then began to push her arms into her coat and do up the buttons. ‘Thank you, Mr Trewin. I had not thought of any such obstacles to a simple country walk, and I shall be glad of your company.’

Sam shrugged himself into his duffel coat, pushed his feet into his boots and held open the door for her to pass into the yard. Then he turned to his in-laws. ‘The snow may have stopped but there are a couple of inches on the ground still, so it’s as well I’m accompanying our friend here,’ he said. ‘When snow lies on ice like that, one wrong step can mean a broken ankle, so you may be sure I shall be careful.’

‘That’s a good fellow,’ his mother-in-law said approvingly. ‘We’ve got enough on our hands without having to nurse an invalid. If I were you I’d link arms; that way you can hold one another up.’

‘That way we can pull one another down,’ Glenys said humorously, making no attempt to take the arm Sam was offering. ‘Goodbye, Mr and Mrs Griffiths, and thank you so much. I promised Jimmy I’ll keep in touch but I doubt I’ll be able to visit. However, it’s been a pleasure knowing you. Now, Mr Trewin, off we go!’

They crossed the yard cautiously, Glenys uneasily aware how extremely slippery snow on ice is, and Sam swung the big dilapidated gate open. He ushered her through, then took her hand in a firm grip, saying as he did so: ‘Better safe than sorry, Miss Trent. This is treacherous weather and I imagine quite treacherous country when the snow hides the pitfalls one could easily avoid in fine weather. Now, why don’t you tell me a bit about yourself.’

Glenys raised her eyebrows and looked up at the dark face above her own. He wasn’t exactly handsome, but despite the way he had treated her she thought him an attractive man. He might look grim, but when he smiled his whole face changed, and not only could she see a likeness to Jimmy, but there was a gentleness in the way he smiled down at her which gave the lie to his previous behaviour. Mrs Weather had been right; it was shame over the way he had neglected his children which had made him behave so unpleasantly towards her. ‘There’s nothing much to tell,’ she admitted. ‘Why don’t you tell me about your life? It has to be more exciting than mine because you’ve travelled. You’ve seen New York, Mexico – even the place where you were attacked – Malvonia, wasn’t it? As well as Ireland, Portsmouth, Norway . . . oh, a heap of different places, all of which I should love to visit one day.’