She struggled to her feet in a panic, praying through her tears that the delay had not cost Jack his life.

She dragged herself along, taking one slow, anguished step after another, holding her belly and fighting against the pain. Her whole being consisted now of nothing but pain. Pain in her weakened limbs, the pains of the child making its way out of her body, throbbing pain where Dando had struck her face, and the worst pain of all, the knowledge that if she had not been so stubborn Jack would not be lying, dead or dying, in the dirt.

‘Oh Clem,’ she gasped, ‘where are you? Anybody!’

When she saw the first of the farm buildings, tears poured down her face. She trudged on past the barn and outbuildings and had to skirt round the billy goat on his long tether to avoid it nibbling at her clothes. She was dismayed to find the farmyard deserted. None of Clem’s three children was playing or doing a chore there. Even the wild cats that were usually to be found sunning themselves beside the kitchen wall were absent.

She called out in panic. ‘Clem! Alice! Anyone! Where are you?’

She reached the open kitchen door at the same moment a fierce pain made her cry out and she fell across the doorstep.

‘Who’s there? Is that you, Alice? Is everything all right?’

She recognised the voice of Kenver Trenchard but could not answer him. A strange rolling sound came towards her and she imagined that the house was about to collapse about her. She looked into the kitchen and saw an even stranger sight. Kenver was seated in an upright chair with big cart-like wooden wheels attached to either side, the rims of which were covered with strips of leather. Kerensa was so surprised at the sight she uttered a choked cry.

Kenver was even more surprised. ‘Kerensa! What’s happened to you!’ She had never been Lady Pengarron to him, he had not set eyes on her since before her marriage.

Kerensa stayed sprawled on the doorstep, her back leaning heavily against the door. She tried to gain her breath.

‘I need help… Kenver… for Jack… we were attacked… by thieves up… on the edge of… the fields. He’s lying out there… barely alive. Where is everyone? Where’s Alice? …I need her, Kenver. My baby’s coming!’

Kenver wheeled himself closer. He looked grave. ‘I’m afraid Alice and Rosie have taken the children to a wedding at Perranbarvah. Clem and Father are cutting furze and logs and won’t be back for an hour or so.’

‘But Jack needs urgent attention!’ Kerensa wailed. ‘Isn’t there something we can do?’

‘I’m afraid not, but they won’t be late, they don’t leave me alone for long. Your baby won’t be born for a while yet, will it?’ he asked anxiously, her despair making him feel all the more helpless.