‘Aye, m’lady, I’ll do that,’ Matthias assured her in his quiet, soothing voice. ‘Your presence and support has already been very much appreciated. I’ll have a quiet word with Matthew. He’s been badly shaken up by the tragedy but I’m sure he’ll be able to take over from his grandfather and keep the family together. He has a lot of responsibility now with his own young family and Jonathan’s motherless brood, but they’ll get through with the Lord’s help and that of the community.’

When Matthias had gone, Oliver put two firm hands on Kerensa’s shoulders. ‘Are you all right, my love?’ he whispered into her ear.

She turned her head to look up at him and her face quickly became sprinkled with raindrops. They mingled with the tears in her eyes and she was surprised to find herself trembling. ‘It’s all so terrible, Oliver. Whatever will they do?’

Oliver looked at the mounds of freshly dug wet earth. With the last King buried, and when the ground had settled, he would have a large headstone erected with all their names inscribed on it and the date of their tragic deaths, the twelfth day of April, 1761.

‘We’ll do what we can to ease their pain and provide for their comfort, Kerensa,’ he said dully, ‘as much as the Kings and Drannocks feel able to accept. They’ve lost so much and the parish has lost some of its best characters. While you were talking to Renfree I was having a word with Matthew King and Lowenna, his wife.’

‘How is Paul?’ Kerensa asked at once, rather fearfully. ‘Did you ask them? Did they say if he’ll pull through?’ Only hours after the terrible accident, Paul King had succumbed to a severe bout of pneumonia.

Oliver smiled and tenderly stroked her cheek. ‘His fever has abated at last, my love, don’t you worry. Dr Crebo has told the family he has every chance of fully regaining his health.’

Kerensa’s slender form sighed. ‘Thank the Lord for that, at least. Another funeral would be unbearable.’

‘Matthew King has told me something that both he and I find wholly unbearable,’ Oliver said, his features hardening. ‘Peter Blake will not allow him and Bartholomew Drannock to take over the Young Maid when she is repaired. Not only is he denying them the means of their livelihood, the swine is demanding compensation for the damage, too.’

‘Oh, Oliver, no! How could he be so cruel?’