Polly appeared and Kerensa ordered the tea, insisting Bartholomew join her, and as an afterthought asked for a plate of cakes and biscuits. Polly was relieved, she had had a hard task trying to get her young mistress to eat since the master had so mysteriously gone off.

Bartholomew finished off all the cakes and biscuits after Kerensa had taken her own meagre helpings. He also drank the teapot dry and the one after that. Then assuring Kerensa his hunger and thirst were fully satisfied, he spoke of his immediate plans.

‘I’m to receive one thousand pounds by the end of the week. I can’t imagine what so much money will look like, ’tis enough to set up several families for life. I’ve decided to buy Mother and the young’uns a house in Marazion. There’s one for sale close to Dr Crebo so he’ll be close at hand when he’s needed. Mrs Parkin, the woman I hired with the money you lent me to look after us and the cottage, has agreed to live in as housekeeper. Naomi and Hannah will leave the service of the Sarrisons at once. The old brothers have been good to them but there’s no need for them to skivvy for anyone any longer and Mother will be glad to have them with her to nurse her rather than strangers.’

‘I agree, Jenifer deserves the best of everything,’ Kerensa stated, becoming serious, ‘and thank God she will receive it in her present condition.’

‘Mother won’t last the year out, we’ve accepted that, but ’tis a blessing her last days will end in comfort and dignity. I thought it would be a devil of a job to get her to leave the cottage but she says as long as she can look out over the sea where Father died and rests, she’ll die content. I’ve made another decision too, to hand over my share of the Young Maid to the Kings. I haven’t really had the heart to fish from the boat that cost my father his life. The Kings can prosper from our good fortune too.’

Kerensa gave a satisfied smile. ‘You’ve matured a good deal in the last months, Bartholomew. You deserve your good fortune. I’m very proud of you.’

‘Thank you. The strange thing is, I can’t stop myself from wondering what Sir Oliver would think, though there’s no reason for him to take any interest in me.’

‘I think he would be very pleased for you and impressed by your good common sense at such a young age.’ A sudden strong thought made Kerensa doubt the existence of Bartholomew’s great-uncle Obadiah and caused her to swivel in her chair and look out of the window. For one terrified moment she feared Bartholomew would read her mind.

‘Are you all right?’ he asked, half rising from his chair. ‘Shall I ring for Polly?’