Kerensa smiled and laughed a lot. She appeared to be enjoying herself and joined in many of the dances and at one point got up to sing with Nathan O’Flynn, who had his own brand of fine Celtic voice, a love song in honour of the bride and groom. But there was not the usual sparkle in her eyes or healthy glow to her cheeks. Although she spoke to many, her expression was far away. It was one he recognised well, it looked back at him if ever he saw himself in the mirror.

Rosie and Matthias seemed at last to be holding a conversation of mutual interest and Clem excused himself to stand alone. His feelings for Kerensa were mixed. He didn’t want her to be sad but she was rightfully his and he didn’t want her to be happy with the man he hated. He helped himself to a tankard of ale. It was almost knocked out of his hand by a rushing child.

‘Hey, hold on there,’ he called out good-humouredly, grabbing the child to stop him falling to the ground. ‘Oh, ’tis you, young Kane. You’re in a hurry.’

Kane, slightly breathless, looked up from his permanently startled-looking brown eyes. He grinned when he realised whom he’d ploughed into. ‘Sorry, Clem, I’m playing hide and seek with Philip and David. Where can I hide?’ The red-topped head bobbed from side to side, searching up and down the barn, and returned to look hopefully at Clem for suggestions.

Clem liked Kane Pengarron. He had been interested in Kane from the time Kerensa had brought him, as a badly ill-treated infant about to be sold by his terrible father in the marketplace, to live at the manor. News soon after that of Kerensa’s first pregnancy had hurt Clem but when the child turned out to be a girl he’d felt rather smug knowing that Oliver Pengarron longed for a son and heir. But, according to Alice, Pengarron had not minded at all that his firstborn was a girl, and the following year when his son was born Clem had harboured an instinctive dislike for the dark-eyed, black-haired child. He was fond of Olivia, so like Kerensa, and having met Kane on various fair days and at Marazion market had become friendly with the boy.

He bent to whisper in Kane’s ear. ‘If I sit down on a bale of hay you can hide behind me. My boys will never think to find you there.’

‘Good idea, Clem,’ Kane said enthusiastically.

Philip and David ran into the barn soon afterwards. They searched the faces of the people there and on finding their father ducked in and out of the dancers to reach him. To join in Kane’s game, Clem pretended not to notice them but he was quickly forced to.

‘Tas, Tas, come outside!’ they shouted in unison, tugging at Clem’s coat.