Oliver was serious for several moments. ‘Does the woman make Jack happy? She is hardly his kind.’

‘You sound as though you don’t approve of her, Father, but let me assure you she’s a very remarkable person. Sometimes I wished I’d married her myself.’

‘You are lonely in that respect?’ Oliver puffed on his long clay pipe.

‘Not for the cares and burdens of a wife. I don’t want to socialize until I’ve accomplished my play and offered it to the theatres, but I miss having a woman available. I don’t want the bother of running a mistress, and after some of my experiences this year of brothels they no longer hold appeal.’

Wryly, Oliver shook his head. ‘Do you know how hard done by you sound? The answer to your problem is obvious, it stares you in the face.’

‘What? I can think of no solution.’

‘Just wait awhile, son, it’ll come to you.’ Holding up the empty brandy bottle, Oliver swapped it for a full one. ‘This is good. Untaxed, I presume? Did you know there’s a really good smuggler’s hide on your land?’

‘Hal Kinver, the villager you saw today who shares your height, has mentioned something of the kind. I’ve assured him his operations will get no opposition from me, but God help him if my name is attached to any.’ Suddenly Luke became forthright. ‘Father, we’ve talked of many things tonight, about all the family, but you haven’t mentioned Mama once. When are you going to make your peace?’

Sighing, Oliver hunched his thickly muscled body over his knees. ‘Have you not seen her of late?’

‘She was here two days ago, with Polly O’Flynn and Beatrice – the Lord alone knows how her old bones stood up to the journey. They brought us a wealth of gifts and household things. I couldn’t get a straight answer out of Mama either. Surely you’ve not fallen out of love with her?’

‘That, Luke, is impossible.’

‘I’m relieved to hear you say so. I suppose you don’t want to talk about it?’

‘No, there would be little point.’

Luke was alarmed. ‘But surely this estrangement is only temporary?’

‘I hope so.’

‘Hope so?’ Luke was on the edge of his seat, fervent, waving his hands in exaggerated circles. ‘Make it so! You and Mama have a love most others would never find if they searched a lifetime. You can’t possibly let her go. No amount of achievement, lands or titles could match having a woman like Mama. Damn it, Father, I was going to write a play based on the love you both shared.’