‘You don’t know all the facts, Hezekiah.’ Oliver drained his crystal glass in one rapid angry movement. ‘I have no care if at this moment I’m related to Peter Blake! My chagrin comes from the fact that since the early days of our marriage Kerensa has known and seen fit to keep it from me.’

Hezekiah remembered the deep sadness in the small delicate face a few minutes ago. If the little dandy-like sea captain could feel a modicum of humanity for anyone it was for Kerensa Pengarron.

He said: ‘Presumably she had good reason, Oliver. One would be hard pressed to find such a loving and loyal wife as Kerensa.’

‘She had no good reason at all!’ Oliver slammed his fist down hard on the arm of his chair. ‘She is my wife, Hezekiah. I believed we shared everything, knew all there was to know about each other. She knew I’d always cherished the thought of having a family, she realised how lonely I was in the past.’

‘I don’t quite understand—’

‘Samuel Drannock is dead! Drowned at sea on the very day you remarked on his son’s likeness to me! I had a brother, all my life I had a brother and now he’s dead. A brother and a sister-in-law, Hezekiah, nephews and nieces, who need not have had to live in miserable poverty. I could have done something for them, saw they ate good food, had sufficient clothes on their backs, given the children a good education. If Drannock had not allowed me to set him up as a gentleman I could have at least bought him his own boat. He told Kerensa he would never take anything from me, but who can truly say if he would always have felt that way? What man doesn’t want to improve the lot of his family, given the chance? But thanks to the misguided feelings of the Reverend Ivey and my dear wife, Samuel Drannock will never have that chance and I have been denied the chance to know him as my kinsman for ever.’

‘What has Bartholomew Drannock to say about this?’ Hezekiah asked carefully.

‘He doesn’t know yet. I cannot bring myself to approach him or his mother right now and haven’t made up my mind when or how to.’

‘You will inform him, though?’

‘Oh yes, there is no doubt of that.’

‘And all this accounts for your lack of affection towards Kerensa tonight,’ Hezekiah said as though he was talking to himself.

Springing up Oliver paced the floor. ‘I shall never forgive her betrayal,’ he said heatedly.

‘I think betrayal is too strong a word, Oliver,’ Hezekiah responded, risking Oliver’s wrath. ‘Why exactly did Kerensa say nothing to you?’

‘She says she was afraid of the way I would take the news,’ Oliver replied with a dismissive wave of his hand.