‘What’s it like all the way down there, Barty?’ Sir Decimus ran circles with a pointed fingernail on the other man’s wrist, where the end of a tattoo depicting a bird’s tail was evident. ‘Your cousin couldn’t wait to scuttle off home with his precious servant chappie. They spent so much time together, you know, I thought they were of my persuasion, but on the only occasion I managed to prise them apart, darling Luke disappointed me. After that he left his chappie at Longbourne’s house and made a point of plundering every bitch he could lay his hands on. Such a waste. Luke is,’ he kissed his fingertips, ‘simply divine.’

Bartholomew Drannock withdrew his hand, his dark face stern. ‘Cornwall has its own beauties, sir.’

‘Oh tush! You continue to walk the straight path too, eh? Shame, shame, you’re nearly as delicious as Luke. Your dark colour spoils you a little but I like the gold earring. You wouldn’t consider coming over to the other side just for one night?’

Bartholomew Drannock kept a heavy-lidded expression. Letting out a deadly laugh, Sir Decimus beckoned to a youth of about thirteen who had been lolling against the wrought-iron spiral staircase and giving him his eye for several minutes.

‘So be it. Bitches for you and whelps for me. You know what to do when you see your cousin? You’ll not be swayed because he’s kin?’

Bartholomew Drannock leaned back in his chair, grave and unyielding. ‘I know where my loyalty lies, Sir Decimus.’

‘Excellent, if only I could be sure all our members were as reliable as you, Drannock. You’ve borrowed enormous sums of money over the years and always repaid it promptly. Go, I shall expect word from you shortly.’

Sixteen

Ben Penberthy helped Kerensa climb up into the Vellanoweth trap, then got up into the driver’s seat of the four-wheeled carriage.

Reluctantly, Jessica handed up Harry to Kerensa.

‘Don’t worry, I’ll take very good care of him.’

‘I know.’ Jessica reached up and arranged her son’s bonnet to keep the sun off his face. She was worried to be letting him off the farm without her for the first time. ‘You’ll bring him back in plenty of time for his next feed?’

‘I promise, Jessie.’ Kerensa’s smile also fell on Clem. Because she had his grandson in her arms, he was within his rights to come forward, and watchful eyes could make nothing wrong out of it. ‘You’re taking him to the manor, m’lady?’

‘To Ker-an-Mor.’

Clem said nothing. His eyes flickered to her face conveying a chaser to his note. Where can we meet? She had destroyed the note for safety’s sake but re-read it in her heart every day. So far she had given him no answer.