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Back Pengarron Dynasty
Chapters (50)
  1. Cover
  2. Dedication
  3. One
  4. Two
  5. Three
  6. Four
  7. Five
  8. Six
  9. Seven
  10. Eight
  11. Nine
  12. Ten
  13. Eleven
  14. Twelve
  15. Thirteen
  16. Fourteen
  17. Fifteen
  18. Sixteen
  19. Seventeen
  20. Eighteen
  21. Nineteen
  22. Twenty
  23. Twenty-One
  24. Twenty-Two
  25. Twenty-Three
  26. Twenty-Four
  27. Twenty-Five
  28. Twenty-Six
  29. Twenty-Seven
  30. Twenty-Eight
  31. Twenty-Nine
  32. Thirty
  33. Thirty-One
  34. Thirty-Two
  35. Thirty-Three
  36. Thirty-Four
  37. Thirty-Five
  38. Thirty-Six
  39. Thirty-Seven
  40. Thirty-Eight
  41. Thirty-Nine
  42. Forty
  43. Forty-One
  44. Forty-Two
  45. Forty-Three
  46. Forty-Four
  47. Forty-Five
  48. Forty-Six
  49. The Pengarron Sagas
  50. The Harvey Family Sagas

‘My dear, is there anything I can get you? You’re obviously in shock, unwell. You and Jack must stay here for the night, mustn’t they, Oliver? We insist. Thank God, you’re all safe, thank God.’

‘I am in your debt, Lady Pengarron, Sir Oliver,’ Alicia said in her well-modulated voice. ‘I’m just dreadfully weary. I’m happy to be wherever Jack is, his cottage will do us very well. I’m afraid my clothes were all destroyed in the fire. Your housekeeper is kindly finding me something to wear for the night.’

‘We shall raid our clothes presses for you,’ Kelynen interjected.

Oliver was standing at the back of the huddle, his mind on something learned at a gentleman’s coffee house in Marazion earlier in the week. Surely his son and his groom had not been involved in something so sordid, deceitful and dangerous? Yet Luke had a reckless streak in him, he was headstrong and rebellious, his disability was proof of it. It was hard to believe it of Jack, but he and his wife were distinctly mismatched. ‘Was anyone unfortunate enough to have died in this fire, Luke?’

‘The landlord’s son and two of the guests perished, Father,’ he replied immediately.

‘I see.’ Oliver’s penetrating eyes fell on Jack, who made a jerky movement backwards. A guilty reaction? ‘Her ladyship has offered you and your wife our hospitality, Jack. You shall receive it. And I shall have a long talk with you by and by.’

Again Jack and Luke’s eyes met. ‘About what, may I ask, m’lord?’

‘You may not. The lax manners of the capital city will not do here, Jack Rosevear.’

‘I’m very sorry, sir.’ Jack looked down.

Kerensa shared Oliver’s suspicion that there was more to Luke’s story but now was not the time for more interrogation, and not with Kelynen and Cordelia present.

‘I’ll ring for Polly to prepare a room for Jack and Mrs Rosevear. Sit down everyone. Luke, I’m sure you’ll be interested to hear all about the precious little nephew you’ve not yet seen.’

Six

On the other side of Mount’s Bay from the Pengarron estate, at Gulval, up on high ground and surrounded by lush landscape, was Vellanoweth Farm, the home and property of Captain Kane Pengarron, Kerensa’s adopted son. The sprawling, well-kept house and husbandry buildings faced the bay, all vantage points from which to view St Michael’s Mount, a small island a short distance out in the green waters.