He bluntly refused to ride with Adam Renfree to Ker-an-Mor Farm and look into the urgent problem of the theft of several sacks of winter feed. He dealt swiftly with Luke’s noisy demand that he watch him and Kane practise the race for the foal by telling his errant son that his punishment for his misdeed the day before meant he was not to leave the grounds of the house and was in no position to make demands. Luke threw a tantrum. Oliver spanked him and carried him screaming upstairs to his room where he was to remain until lunchtime and be denied any company in his confinement. Then Oliver went straight back to Kerensa’s side.

Everywhere she went he was on her heels. In the kitchen, out in the gardens and even in her sitting room as she worked on a piece of delicate embroidery on a petticoat for Olivia.

‘Tes like ’e’s afeared to let ’ee out of ’is sight,’ Beatrice rasped.

And always he stared at her, hardly speaking. Sometimes a hard accusing stare, then softening, and his great dark eyes looked as if they longed to tell her something.

At length she could bear it no longer. Throwing down her needlework, she said abruptly, ‘I feel restless. I think I’ll go for a long ride.’

‘I’ll come with you,’ he said. ‘With Ameline lying abed you will be glad of the company.’

‘It’s all right,’ Kerensa muttered. ‘You must have something more important to do.’

‘There is nothing else that I want to do – unless you would like to come upstairs with me,’ he said dangerously.

‘No!’ Kerensa’s snap was out before she knew it and she put a hand to her mouth. She was out of her depth again; Oliver was beginning to succeed in totally undermining her.

‘Why?’ he growled. ‘Don’t you want me today either?’

‘It’s not that,’ she choked, her words forming too quickly, forcing her to clear her throat. ‘You know I always enjoy us being together. I simply don’t want to now. I… I feel I must have some fresh air.’

‘You change and get ready,’ he ordered tersely. ‘I’ll get Jack to saddle up.’

A tap on the door was followed by the appearance of Polly. ‘Pardon me, m’lady, m’lord. The Reverend Ivey is here to see you, sir.’

Kerensa did not wait for Oliver to finish the business the Reverend Ivey had with him. She set off immediately for Perranbarvah.

Bartholomew Drannock ambled down the last stretch of the steep hill that led to Perranbarvah’s little fishing harbour and slowly made his way towards two tall fishermen who, like many others, were seeing to the maintenance of their boats.

Paul King saw him and called to his brother across the boat. ‘Here he comes at last, Matt!’