Sprawled on a boulder, an empty bottle of liquor beside her, Nollie Skewes took the dirty pipe from between her ragged lips. ‘Is it dead? Save a lot of trouble for ’ee.’

‘No, but your daughter is. I’ve laid her out, and Philip will stay here until I can send for someone to take her away and give her a decent burial, for which I’ll pay. You’ll never be able to exploit that poor child again.’ Catherine threw a purse at the foot of the boulder and the woman scrambled down to get it. ‘There’s your money, enough to buy your grandchild and your silence about my stepson’s paternity. You’d better be on your way, Nollie Skewes.’

‘How’d ya make that out? Why should I go? ’Twas ’im what done the dirty deed.’

‘The locals have turned against Philip for fathering the child, and the law, if his crime was reported, may require him to be brought to account over it, but what will people say if I was to tell them you kept your simple-minded, pregnant daughter starved and covered with bed sores? They have a particular way of showing their contempt, you wouldn’t be the first to suffer under a hail of moor stones.’

‘’Ad enough of this place any’ow. Can live somewhere a mite more comfortable now.’

As she swaggered off Philip shouted at her back, ‘Stinking rotten bitch! I hope you drop dead before you can spend a penny.’

The baby gave a weak mewling sound. Catherine lifted the woollen shawl that had once wrapped one of her twins and gazed down at the tiny puckering face.

‘Is it normal?’ Philip asked as if he had a lump in his throat.

‘Appears to be. I must get back and see about providing it with nourishment.’

‘She didn’t even ask if it’s a boy or cheeil. Think it could be mine?’

‘This little girl, even so newly born, looks very much like young Harry Pengarron.’

‘Well, it’s all worked out in the end,’ Philip said, almost nonchalantly. Nollie Skewes was already out of sight, taking the trouble she could have caused him with her.

‘How do you consider that to be so?’ Catherine snapped.

‘Uncle Kenver and Kerris are going to bring her up as their own. Make them happy.’

‘Your father might have something to say about that, as you see fit to shirk your responsibility. And have you forgotten that you and I have to face him as to why we’ve kept your sordid affair a secret? He will not be pleased that you have dragged our name through the mud. The locals have long memories, we will never live this down.’

Twenty-Four

In the grandiose bed, Clem gave Kerensa a final kiss which turned into many. When he lay down beside her, she touched his face.

‘You watch me when we make love.’