Oliver had got up off the chest he was languishing on. ‘Jessica doesn’t want me there, but I’ll accompany you for the ride, my dear.’

She stayed put. So he had started climbing the stairs to change his clothes. No sound of light footsteps followed him. He turned round.

Kerensa was at the foot of the stairs, looking up as if she were elsewhere, her face marked with horror. He sensed that in her mind she was outside, remembering how it had looked as Kane and Harry came hurtling down the steps. Then she saw him. Her ice-cold expression froze his every fibre.

‘How could you do it?’ Her voice came out low and cracked and full of despair.

‘If only I could roll back time, Kerensa.’

‘Even now our son could die! Our grandson may never get over the fright. You may have ruined his life. I’ll not go to Vellanoweth with you! I’ll ask Polly to ride with me, we’ll take the things Beatrice has prepared for Jessica to nurse Kane with. I’ll only come back when I’m sure our son’s life is out of danger.’

Kerensa had stayed at the farm for three days. It had been an agony of loneliness without her. An agony wondering what might be happening between her and Clem Trenchard.

Recognizing Kelynen’s springy step heading his way, Oliver sprang up and met his younger daughter at the study door. Rex bounded into sight, his heavy pads thudding down on the polished oak of the floor. The big black retriever was always several steps behind her, or did the girl’s matchless energy make her several steps ahead of Rex, and everyone else? Although tomboyish in nature, she had the knack of anticipating the unexpected, saw events with a mellow philosophy. She had pointed out that he must accept that the two families, the Pengarrons and Trenchards, were always going to be connected. If only he had listened to her. Now he was being forced to accept cool attitudes from friends and servants. The Beswethericks were staying away from the manor, and Beatrice had dared ask him if he wanted ‘a bleddy medal fer what ’ee just done?’

The stony indifference to his feelings from Kerensa was crushing him.

‘Shelley, beloved, do you know where your mother—’

‘Kelynen, will you please keep Rex under control in the house,’ came Kerensa’s vexed voice behind her. ‘Have a care for Beatrice. I don’t want to see another nasty accident.’

‘Sorry, Mama,’ Kelynen said, taking hold of Rex’s collar. ‘I’ll ensure he walks to heel inside the house from now on.’

‘I’d appreciate that, my dear.’

Oliver’s heart plummeted, the chastisement had been aimed at him more than Shelley, and Kerensa was already walking off towards her sitting room.