Chapters (50)
- Cover
- Dedication
- One
- Two
- Three
- Four
- Five
- Six
- Seven
- Eight
- Nine
- Ten
- Eleven
- Twelve
- Thirteen
- Fourteen
- Fifteen
- Sixteen
- Seventeen
- Eighteen
- Nineteen
- Twenty
- Twenty-One
- Twenty-Two
- Twenty-Three
- Twenty-Four
- Twenty-Five
- Twenty-Six
- Twenty-Seven
- Twenty-Eight
- Twenty-Nine
- Thirty
- Thirty-One
- Thirty-Two
- Thirty-Three
- Thirty-Four
- Thirty-Five
- Thirty-Six
- Thirty-Seven
- Thirty-Eight
- Thirty-Nine
- Forty
- Forty-One
- Forty-Two
- Forty-Three
- Forty-Four
- Forty-Five
- Forty-Six
- The Pengarron Sagas
- The Harvey Family Sagas
‘I had not the slightest idea my nephew had turned into the sort of man who could so lightly set out to kill another. If I had not tried to manhandle Clem off my property that day, we wouldn’t have arrived at this point now. I apologize unreservedly to you, ma’am. You are the only one innocent in all of this. You and Philip, of course. You had a fondness for him, I understand.’
‘I shall miss him very much. Clem will have to run the farm single-handed now, although it is to be hoped David, Philip’s twin, will stay a while.’ Catherine glanced at him sharply. ‘You mystify me, Sir Oliver Pengarron. Does it not kill you to know your wife more than likely has her arms around my husband?’
‘It gives me real pain, far worse than the physical kind, but I’ve already let my jealously nearly destroy my marriage. I thank God every minute, that Kerensa realized she loved me more than him. I loathe Clem. How could it be otherwise, when it’s not possible for Kerensa to forget him?’
‘So, you are saying that we should allow them to fall into each other’s arms whenever they meet?’
‘No, Mrs Trenchard, of course not. These are special circumstances today and, well, I’ve put his need before my own.’ Oliver was silent for a moment, then said, ‘I can hardly believe I’m pleading for understanding in the case of Clem’s feelings for Kerensa and hers for him. I’m thinking of the future, when our families come unavoidably together. It would be better if we can meet with some sort of ease. May I call you Catherine?’
‘Why not?’ she replied tartly. ‘Our spouses are on first-name terms.’
‘Catherine, do not feel disgraced in front of your people here because of what’s happening this very minute in your house. Consider this. I don’t think that you and I will ever find peace if we continue with our desire to keep Kerensa and Clem aloof. I have had, against all that I believed sanctified, to allow my heart to grow to the size wherein I can accommodate this. You, dear lady, are feeling, quite rightly, abused and pained, yet I am sure you have a heart that is greater than mine.’
Catherine gazed down forlornly. ‘But Kerensa loves you more than she does Clem. Do you suppose this notion of yours will stop him yearning for her?’
‘I can only hope so. I’ve never been a man to settle for less than full measure, but now,’ he smiled grimly, ‘in the odd moment of compassion, I think about what I forced Clem to settle for all those years ago – absolutely nothing. Thank God he had Alice and now you, Catherine.’