‘Hours. He said not to disturb you. All’s going well then?’ She was carrying his leather folder of writing implements. ‘You’ll finish the whole play by the end of the week at this rate.’

‘Not so, sweeting. Better ideas come into my mind all the time and there will be restructuring and amending to do, but I’m satisfied today’s work will do mainly as it is.’

‘Have you based your main characters on anyone?’

‘Not really. I’ve led no romantic life to have formed such creatures. They love too deep, too ardently.’

‘May I read what you’ve written today?’

‘No, I’ll read it out to you some time. Saints be, I’m famished. What are we eating? I trust not a menu you and the fair Alicia have concocted between you, especially with Father here.’

‘No, we’ll let Mrs Curnow have sway with the kitchen from now on.’ Cordelia’s heart dropped like a rock, Luke never called her ‘fair’.

‘Don’t be disappointed, Corrie, you were both brave to try, nearly as brave as my Lia, who faces all manner of heartbreak and danger.’

Soon the roof and chimneys of the house came into view, and with each step they climbed, more of the building was seen. At one end was a tower-like construction, the windows containing over five hundred panes of leaded glass, a viewpoint from the sea and something of a landmark. Luke paused to savour his cliff-top home.

With its hint of stately importance, Polgissey excited his blood like nothing else had before. Bought from the last of the Dobles, an old Cornish seafaring family, Mr Doble now permanently resided in Bath. Luke felt it was his presence that had breathed first life into the house. As if he had lit a bright candle of hope inside its solid walls that would last a lifetime. He felt empowered by it, and with its feeling of being a safe haven, he wouldn’t be surprised to see angels hovering over it. Here he would weave his dreams and build his fantasies.

‘You hold Alicia in high regard,’ Cordelia said, hiding her jealousy as they approached the rough path to the front door. Luke was expecting a consignment of gravel so the ladies would not be troubled by dusty or muddy shoes or skirts.

‘You’ve not let that fact pass you by then.’ Luke hugged her playfully.

Cordelia felt enriched to be an important part of his life, and she was enjoying her new position as mistress of the house, but she despaired that he would ever see her as anything other than a former childhood companion, the little cousin he liked to protect and cosset, or as someone to lean on and take for granted. She had not the slightest notion how to go about changing the situation.