Then he made her soul soar up to meet the colour-splashed sky. ‘But you I hold the highest of all, Corrie.’

That evening, entertaining his father at his table and then up in the tower room, which he used as his study, and with Jack fidgeting in a chair near the door, Luke proudly talked of his play and his plans for the next one, then gave the history of Polgissey and its last owner.

‘I got it for a very agreeable price. According to our family lawyer, Cecil Doble was an inbred fool anyone could exploit. His wealth was in steady decline and he’d been forced to sell his shares in the East India Company and just about everything else he owned. There’s a few pieces of eastern art in the house Livvy might find interesting. I shall add my own things in due course. By the way, Father, how are your shares?’ Luke didn’t pause to find out. ‘This coast is savagely wild, isn’t it, Jack? Never experienced anything so stimulating. The village will celebrate a very noisy festival as well as the usual bonfires on Midsummer’s Eve. Something about the legend of a sea monster. Needs to be kept at bay or it’ll annihilate the village or something, eh, Jack?’

‘’Tis the evil spirit of a dead pirate the folk of Porthcarne sent to a deserving death a century back. Must be drummed out to sea every year or it’ll eat the babies and carry off the women,’ Jack said, shuffling his feet.

‘It’s the custom of the landowner to provide the ale and rum, so I’ve been informed. Well, I don’t mind that. Should be good fun,’ Luke rejoined enthusiastically. ‘Might prove useful inspiration of a sort for my plays.’

‘Absolutely fascinating,’ Oliver said, and not as he could have done: ‘Yes, I know all this.’

Helping himself to more brandy, he noticed Jack watching the clock. ‘Looks as if Jack’s about ready to retire. I take it I’m welcome to stay the night?’

‘Tonight and any other night. I intend to stay up late and write,’ Luke replied, then, ‘Yes, Jack, off you go. Tomorrow will be a busy day for you.’

‘What will he be doing?’ Oliver asked, when he and Luke were left alone.

‘Carrying on with an inspection of all my properties, but first he’ll start the training of one of the Kinver brood as stable boy.’

‘I’m so pleased you’re all happy here. I’ve noticed how well Cordelia gets along with Mrs Rosevear. Now Luke, I’ve had some discreet enquiries made in London about Lord Longbourne’s death. The official verdict is accidental death, also of his mistress. He’s been buried on the family property. There is very little talk about it now.’

Luke looked grim. ‘We can rest easy then. I’ll inform Jack and Alicia tomorrow.’