It was about half a mile through the fields to Trecath-en’s farmhouse. A ten-minute walk in normal circumstances but Kerensa knew it would take her much longer today. She expected to have two or three contractions on the way. There was no need to panic, it wasn’t her first baby. When the pains came she would stop and wait for them to subside, then carry on her way. Alice would be there at the farm. She would know what to do. She had had babies of her own. And it would be hours yet. Time enough for Clem to put Jack on the farm cart and take them back to the manor for the birth and to fetch Dr Crebo for them both.

The trek across country was more difficult than Kerensa had counted on. The ground ran downhill and every step she took was heavy and jarred her tender stomach and persistently aching back. She was in shock from the attack, her mouth was dry, she felt sick and black edges round her eyes threatened to cut off her vision. She stumbled over protruding comers of granite rock, slithered over pebbles. She was brought often to her knees, each time finding it more difficult to get back on her feet.

The contractions were closer together and more painful than she had anticipated. Suddenly she could no longer stand but lowering herself onto the short green corn was an agony she’d never known before. She closed her eyes tightly and tried to breathe evenly. Once, she opened her eyes and looked down and saw the pointed whiskery features of a tiny field vole. It turned its head to the side and sniffed the air, its bright, curious eyes seeming to ask what she was doing there. It was the only sign of life she could see and in her desperation she asked it to go and fetch help. But the field vole only scuttled away. She laughed and cried together when she realised what she had done. Now if the little creature had been a dog it might have worked and she cursed herself for not bringing Bob along.

Then fresh hope brought her to her feet again. She had an idea and shouted ‘Charity!’ as loudly as she could. If Clem was working in the fields then Charity would be with him and, with her sharp ears, would alert Clem. But even though Kerensa shouted until her throat was hoarse and felt fainter as the effort starved her brain of oxygen, no big black retriever came barking and bounding towards her voice.

She tramped on, but not for long. She woke up on the ground sweating and cramped all over and she knew she had fainted. She did not know how long she had lain there, her face pressed to the ground.

‘Jack!’ she cried out. ‘I’m going, Jack, I won’t let you down.’