An hour later, Louisa and Barnaby sat in the formal dining room having lunch at a highly polished mahogany table that could quite easily seat twenty people – and frequently had in the past.

‘I had a look at the account books today,’ Barnaby informed his wife proudly as he sipped at the tasty lobster soup starter. ‘And it appears that the boats and the shipyard are doing well. The new trawler that was ordered should be finished in a week or two.’

Trying her best to hide her boredom, Louisa kept her eyes downcast, wondering why, whenever she and her husband got together, they always ended up discussing business. She would much rather have discussed the latest fashions and hairstyles.

‘That’s good isn’t it, my love?’

Louisa glanced up as she realised that Barnaby was expecting a reply. ‘Yes, yes, you are very clever,’ she replied a little sarcastically.

Realising that she wasn’t in the least interested he changed the subject. ‘With regards to the baby, I was thinking perhaps this time we ought to send for a doctor from London to keep an eye on you? We don’t want anything to go wrong with this one, do we?’ he said gently.

When colour burnt into her cheeks, Barnaby rushed on, ‘You mustn’t get worrying, I have a good feeling that all will be well this time. And you must promise to take extra care of yourself, my darling.’

Louisa nodded numbly. Barnaby could always have this effect on her. Sometimes, she rued the day she had agreed to marry him and although she knew it was wicked to have such thoughts, she often wished he would just die.

As soon as the meal was over and she could excuse herself, Louisa left Barnaby and hurried up to her room where she found Ruffy waiting for her with her new afternoon gown laid out ready on the four-poster bed.

‘Barnaby is already talking about fetching a doctor from London,’ she said bitterly as she stamped her small satin-slipper-clad foot on the floor.

‘Calm down, my love.’ Ruffy hurried over to her and planted a gentle kiss on her forehead before helping her to undress. ‘At least he’s showing his concern for you.’

Louisa pouted and once she had taken off her gown, she slipped on a silk robe and lay down for a short nap. The bed was draped with thick, pink velvet curtains to match the ones that hung at the window, and a deep pile carpet of a slightly paler colour covered the floor. The walls had been decorated in a soft dove-grey silk wallpaper which she had ordered from London, and the furniture was all highly polished rosewood. Everything had been chosen by Louisa before her marriage, and the room was beautiful and luxurious and never failed to make her smile. She just wished she didn’t have to share it with Barnaby whenever he came to demand his marital rights.