‘What is it?’ He motioned to her to leave, his play taking over his mind. It was almost finished. When he had written the last word, he would go after Cordelia and apologize again for blaming her, as much as he had her cocksure brother, for Alicia fainting that day. With the air cleared she would come back and life would settle down to normal.

He had charged Bartholomew, who had turned up with tiresome regularity these past two weeks, to convey his regret to Cordelia every time he left. What more did she want him to do? Why must she play silly female games and go on ignoring him? And damn Bartholomew. Why didn’t he bugger off on his travels again or at least leave Polgissey in peace. He took far too much interest in Alicia. Well, Alicia was married. Bartholomew must think again if he hoped to entice her away from Jack. Strange behaviour for a man who could see the lady was happily awaiting her confinement.

His thoughts slipped away to Alicia. Apart from an unexplained slip on Midsummer’s Eve, she treated Jack with kindness and respect. She had not set foot outside the grounds since her cliff-top walk, sewing for her baby and visiting the kitchens twice a day. He was no longer suspicious about her, and he no longer wished he had married her. He was happy with the way things were, and would be even more so when Cordelia was back.

‘Sir.’ Amy Curnow reminded him she was still there. Attired once more, she was standing in respectful attendance by the door. Not a light-brown hair out of place under its cap, her dextrous hands folded primly in front of her apron. Somehow characterless, but comely, sluttishly comely.

Luke frowned. ‘Did I not pay you for your consideration?’

‘’Tisn’t that. I thought you should know that Morgan Kinver keeps turning up, even when he’s got no business here, asking when Miss Drannock’s coming back. He’s got an eye on her, you see, sir. And, well, I don’t want to be a teller of tales, but did I overhear un ask Mrs Jack to write her for un.’

‘I see, you did right to inform me, Amy.’ Luke yawned. ‘Did you overhear Mrs Rosevear’s reply?’

‘Aye, sir, she said she couldn’t do that, not her place to and he best forget the young lady.’

Overcome with an awful weariness, Luke fell back on the pillows and closed his eyes. This news wasn’t anything to worry over. Kinver could be easily dealt with, but perhaps it was a good thing Cordelia was being churlish at the moment. Feeling feebly amidst a handful of coins on the bedside table he tossed one to Mrs Curnow.

‘Thank you for your trouble. Close the door quietly behind you.’