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 intend to stay and support the family and look to my property. I’ve done a few things for Polgissey and the estate but much needs my urgent attention. I’m sure Cordelia and Morgan Kinver will agree we’ll all rub along together.’
‘Luke, I’ve been thinking. The Countess of Kilwarth has a great liking for the theatre, she knows a lot about the profession. Why not send her your play and ask her what she thinks about it? That way it wouldn’t be gathering dust. Start on the next one too. You need to do that, not just concentrate on work.’
‘Thanks for that, Jack. It’s good to be back sharing in each other’s lives. I’ll do all you suggest. Now, let us not give the unfortunate people here more burdens, and see to the horses for those of us who are soon to leave here.’
Forty-Six
Clem and Kerensa had come out from their private vigil and met Oliver and Catherine. There had been no unpleasantness. Gaunt, crushed, Clem merely gave Oliver a curt nod and looked lingeringly at Catherine.
Jessica had flown to her father, giving full release to the grief she had held back on the journey.
‘Your brother’s at peace, sweetheart.’ He had wound his arms around her tightly. ‘Don’t upset yourself too much, you’ve got the baby to think about. Perhaps the Reverend Lanyon will take you in to see Philip. Your stepmother and I will join you in a while.’
‘Of course,’ Timothy said quietly. Leaving Catherine’s side, he placed a consoling hand on his brother-in-law’s shoulder.
The two couples were left alone. Oliver wanted to go to Kerensa and take her back, but stayed his ground. He and Catherine exchanged glances of affinity.
‘I’d like to express my heartfelt sympathy to you, Clem,’ he said in a solemn, sincere voice. ‘Please, will you allow me to attend to the matter of my nephew with the constable? That way, you need only attend to your family and your grief.’
Clem stared at him. Pengarron had never called him by his first name or offered him help before. Did he suppose all that had happened gave him the right to patronize him? He felt Kerensa’s fleeting touch, reminding him how she had been allowed to go to him. Then she went to her husband.
‘I thank you, Sir Oliver. Stay and take a meal, if you will, before you and Lady Pengarron and the others start the journey home.’
‘We welcome your hospitality,’ Oliver said.
Clem studied him and Kerensa together. The picture he had kept inside his head all those long, lonely years of her and himself like that, close and belonging together, was gone. Perhaps it was because of his grief, or that he had accepted at last that fate had never meant him and Kerensa to be joined.