‘Well, he’s too ill to travel, at least for a while, but there’s Clem, Rosie, Kenver and Father and me to take turns tending and sitting with him. Dr Crebo is going to call in regularly and I daresay Beatrice will make her way over somehow to pass on her opinion. Matthias Renfree is holding a meeting to pray for his recovery tonight, so he’ll have the best of care from all quarters.’ Alice looked Kerensa directly in the face. ‘You must come over often to see him, and bring all the children. ’Tis high time yours and mine met properly and played together, even if it means they fight like cats and dogs. What do you say, Kerensa? There’s no reason for you to stay away, is there? There’s no one to say you can’t come…’ Alice smiled to herself, ‘And I think I can get Clem to change his mind.’

After witnessing the change in Alice and Clem’s relationship Kerensa was sure Alice could do that. She wasted no time in thought. ‘You’re right, Alice. We’re friends and our children should have the opportunity to become friends too. As soon as mine are used to having the baby in the house I’ll get Nathan to ride over with us,’ she promised, then grinned, ‘Be really interesting to see what will happen with so many strong-willed children playing together.’

She looked soberly at the wild flowers in the fields and on the roadside and it seemed most of them had died in the last two days. There was no one to say she shouldn’t ride over to Trecath-en Farm or anywhere else. She was looking forward to seeing Kane, Olivia and Luke, wanting to spend lots of time with them and allay any fears they’d had of losing their mother in the aftermath of the attack. They would be there to greet her and their new little sister, but apart from that her home was an empty and lonely place to return to.

A sudden burst of sounds and voices made Kerensa jump and cry out.

‘Tis all right, Kerensa,’ Alice said soothingly. ‘It’s only the children with Cherry and Polly coming to meet you.’

Kerensa wiped her misty eyes as she watched Olivia, Kane and Luke running towards the cart, waving and shouting to her excitedly. Morley stopped the cart and they clambered on to it. Alice told them to watch out for the baby as they all tried to hug their mother at once.

‘We’ve missed you, Mama,’ Kane said seriously, then gave Kerensa a bright smile before gazing over Alice’s protective arm at his new sister.

Olivia did much the same but Luke eyed Kerensa sulkily. ‘You shouldn’t have gone off and had the baby somewhere else,’ he said accusingly.

‘Mama couldn’t help it,’ Kane said at once, snuggling into Kerensa’s side and holding her hand.