‘There’s nothing you can do, Clem,’ she stated. He moved closer and with the end of the blanket she carefully dried his rain-spattered face. ‘But it will help me to confide in you.’ .

He tenderly kissed her chilled hands and tear-wet face. ‘I’m listening.’

A heavy weight seemed to be lifted from her shoulders as the tale of her woes left her lips. Even the worst of them didn’t seem quite so terrible. Except for the Reverend Ivey there was no one else she could confide in like this, and she found she could tell Clem more than the old parson. He didn’t interrupt or change his expression except that his eyes became a much deeper blue. Kerensa looked into those wonderful soulful eyes and couldn’t remember moving and putting herself back into Clem’s arms. She only knew she was there, warm and comfortable, his body strong and capable, and she was safe.

‘Was I wrong, Clem? Was I so very wrong not to tell Oliver what I knew about Samuel?’

Clem stirred, unwilling to have the spell broken, having her close to him again, keeping her secure in the confines of his love. He thought back over what she had told him.

‘I don’t know, my love. I hate him for treating you so cruelly and yet I can understand how he must be feeling – up to a point. If Samuel had been dead for many years it probably wouldn’t have seemed so bad, but with him only being drowned a few short weeks before he was told, well…’

‘You’d feel cheated?’

‘Perhaps,’ he said carefully, not wanting to tear at her vulnerable feelings.

‘It’s what Oliver says. I’m beginning to think he’ll never forgive me, Clem. One moment he’s the same as he’s always been, then he gets moody towards me. Just lately he’s got worse. Except for the children anyone can be at the nasty end of his tongue.’

Clem ruffled the silky hair at the crown of her head and kissed it there. ‘He can’t keep it up for ever, Kerensa. No one can love you and stay angry with you indefinitely.’

‘That would be true if it was you, Clem,’ she muttered in her misery.

He lifted her chin and smiled at her. ‘It will be with him too, you’ll see.’ It was an effort to say it, but his love was too deep not to offer her a crumb of comfort.

‘I hope you’re right,’ she said lamely, trying to return his smile. ‘Talking of the children just now, I really am sorry about Luke’s bad behaviour yesterday. Please believe me when I say I’m not making excuses for him but he’s been very unsettled lately. I think he senses Oliver’s ill humour.’