‘I would suggest that we purchase your farm the moment Gordon’s father passes. It can then be absorbed into the estate prior to any sale. With that money, you would be free to leave here and start a new life either somewhere else in the country, somewhere where no one knows you – knows of your past, or your son – or you might wish for a greater adventure, and start afresh in … America, perhaps. So many opportunities over there for someone with a little money and ambition. We would take Tom north and he would start his new life with us. So you see, no one around here need ever know about our arrangement.’ She pauses, trying to decipher Gwen’s expression.

‘The fact is this, Mrs Ellison, you are still a young woman. You have your life ahead of you. This marriage of convenience I suspect you have arranged can no doubt be dissolved, one way or another – perhaps that was part of the plan all along? With what I have suggested, you would be a woman of independent means, able to marry for love this time and start a new family of your own. You are, in some ways, more at liberty than I am. You have the potential of bearing more children. I know now that I shall never have a child of my own. I know we could adopt, but one never really knows what one is getting … whereas with Tom, I do at least know that he is partly my husband. I know therefore that I could love Tom, love him as if he were my own. And at the end of the day, he is my husband’s son, his rightful heir.’

‘He is not your husband’s son …’

‘Oh, come now, Mrs Ellison, we both know that is not true, however many times you say it.’

‘It is true.’ Gwen fights to keep her voice even. ‘He has no claim on him.’

‘Mrs Ellison.’ Lady Helen’s mask of amiability is starting to slip. Gwen senses her patience is wearing thin. ‘If you insist on playing this game, I must warn that you my husband is prepared to go to great legal lengths to secure custody of the boy. I can hardly think that will be an enjoyable experience for any of us.’

‘He is not his son. Those letters prove nothing.’

‘Perhaps, perhaps not. But there are other means of proof available to us.’

Gwen’s blood runs cold. ‘What means?’