‘Yes,’ she sobbed. ‘Because of us. Forgive me, Clem. If I had been stronger and not—’

‘You’re not to blame. If I’d stopped being so selfish all these years, looked only to Alice and then Catherine, you would’ve forgotten me. How is it that you’re here, Kerensa?’

Kerensa explained. ‘Oliver’s with Catherine now. Luke’s waiting to see if there’s anything he can do. Jessica and Timothy should be on their way.’

‘And he didn’t mind you coming to me? Can’t quite believe that.’

‘It was Oliver who persuaded Catherine to let me see you alone. I don’t know what will come out of this, but I hope we can all put suspicion and bad feelings behind us, and in future meet as equals. Try not to hate Oliver, Clem, for the sake of Jessica and Kane’s children.’

‘Yes,’ Clem said bitterly. ‘This is the time to be noble, but I’m sorry, I can’t feel anything but hatred for the man who took you away from me, and whose kin murdered my son.

‘Kerensa, stay and say a prayer for Philip, and after, although I’d like you to stay, I must ask you to leave me, for Catherine’s sake. You see, I’ve changed too. I can’t go on putting my own feelings first.’

She felt the tenseness in his hand and took hers away. ‘Very well, Clem. I’ll do whatever you want.’ Bowing her head in a short prayer, she looked at Clem’s fierce face and walked towards the door.

‘Not yet!’ he cried out. ‘Not yet, Kerensa. I thank Pengarron for letting you come to me like this. Just don’t leave me yet.’

She ran to him and wrapped him into her body. They wept together for Philip and everything they had lost.

In the pleasant little garden, Oliver walked with Catherine, somewhat unwillingly, on his arm.

‘What is it you want to say to me?’ she asked, her tone dipping and rising, like the hills they faced.

‘Forgive me, ma’am, I have to ask you, is my nephew’s body still in the bog?’

‘It is, for now. The bog is not so deep that a body cannot be retrieved. The constable will arrange for it to be brought up when he’s taken away all the evidence he requires. I take it that in due course you will dispose of your nephew’s remains?’

‘I’ll get the body away from here as soon as I possibly can.’

Oliver was aware of her using his arm for support. She was growing weaker, probably from shock and numbness. He took her to a painted wooden seat, and rather than stand sat down beside her. He needed to be close to someone himself right now. For a moment he wondered what Luke was doing, then how Kerensa was comforting this lady’s husband.