‘No! Kane is my son, mine and Sir Oliver’s. You signed a legal document to that effect and didn’t even say goodbye to him, remember? How dare you come here now! Don’t you dare to ever come near him!’

Kane’s sailor father put his head on one side and rubbed at the wet matted mess of his beard with his finger and thumb. Water was dripping off his greasy bald head and making him squint. You are hideous, thought Kerensa fleetingly.

‘I can’t really say I want to see the little bleeder,’ the sailor said, a tone of menace coming into his voice, ‘but’ll cost ’ee plenty to keep me away from un. I bet e’s all well set up, livin’ like a little lord in the manor house. Be a bit of a bleddy fright fer un to see ’is real father, don’t ’ee think, my pretty?’

Kerensa kept her head held high. ‘Kane knows his origins, you can’t hurt him that way, you wretched beast.’

‘Oh, can’t I now? Are ’ee sure about that? If yer thinks of me as a vile creature an’ wretched beast, what will ’e think, eh? What will yer other young’uns think? Bit diff rent to the ’an’some Sir Oliver, ain’t I? An’ who knows, mebbe the boy might fancy life at sea, seein’ the world an’ that, eh?’

Kerensa fully understood the thinly veiled threat. ‘All right, you despicable swine, what is it you want?’ she got out, as though she was being strangled.

‘Well now, let me see. A pretty lady like yerself would be most enjoyable in the sack.’ He sniggered at her violent shudder. ‘Not partial to the idea, eh? Don’t ’ee find me a fine figure of a man, then? Or do ’ee want to keep it all fer Sir Oliver? No, a nice bit of money is what I want, then I can buy meself the favours of the local ’ores an’ ’ave a drop o’ drink.’

‘How much?’ she asked, unable to conceal her contempt.

‘Reckon my silence is worth at least… five ’undred guineas.’

‘What? Don’t be so foolish! I can’t get hold of that kind of money. If I asked my husband for it he would want to know what it was for, he’d come after you and you’d be in more trouble than you’ve ever dreamed of.’

The sailor’s ugly face fell and he swore heartily. ‘Fair ’nough. I’ll take what you’ve got in your purse fer now and you can bring me fifty guineas ’ere tomorrow. Don’t ’ee tell me you can’t manage that,’ he scowled.