He stared straight into her eyes. ‘I saw Clem Trenchard. Yes,’ he repeated, piercing her again with his black eyes, ‘I saw Trenchard.’

Kerensa thought she knew the reason for his disquiet. ‘Oh, where?’ She tried to sound impartial, but felt a flicker of excitement at the thought of Clem actually being here in Mounts Bay. She regretted the emotion, for the severity of Oliver’s gaze told her he had sensed it.

He answered as if he had something bitter in his mouth.

‘He was skulking about Trecath-en Farm, trespassing as if the Almighty Himself had given him permission to do whatever he wished.’

Her next question was asked a little anxiously. ‘Did unkind words pass between you?’

‘Naturally.’

‘Oliver, I don’t want there to be an atmosphere on the day of the baptism for Kane’s, Jessica’s and Harry’s sakes.’

‘Then you must hope Trenchard’s behaviour gives no rise to unpleasantness.’

A few minutes ago, as if touching something vile and contaminated, he had secured the farmer’s lock of hair back in its hiding place and closed the dressing-table drawer firmly. He would not reveal to Kerensa that he knew of her secret hoard. But he would be watching her, to see if, indeed, he had the need to feel as devastated as he now did.

He smiled at her, as if he was as content as when he had risen that morning. ‘Now, my dear love, how long until dinner?’

Five

Hours later as dusk fell, three riders, weary, hungry and travel-stained, hobbled into the stable yard.

The two men of the party looked all about them, bewildered.

‘Where is everyone?’ Luke said.

Jack could see enough in the thickening gloom to be satisfied that everything outside the stables was in good order. Not that at this moment he cared much. Was it really only a year ago he had mounted a Pengarron mare and ridden off with Luke, excited by the fact he was to see something of life at last? Luke, accusing him of being an old spinster and a dullard, had roused his sense of adventure. By God, how he wished he had not.

Yet he could not really say he wished that, otherwise he would not have met Alicia.

It was a relief to toss away the reins tormenting his blistered hands, and place his feet on familiar ground. Approaching his wife, he gently rubbed her gloved hand. Her body snapped upright. ‘What? Where are we?’

Luke, breathing in the tangy-sweet air, heard the fear, the miscomprehension in her voice. ‘We’re safe at last, Alicia, and thankfully at the end of our journey. We’ll go inside and eat and get warm.’

Michael and Conan, who had drifted off to sleep due to their extra labours, crept forth from their accommodation over the stables.

‘Hello, who’s there?’ Michael, the slightly braver of the two, and Jack’s acknowledged next in command, called out cautiously.