Oliver gave the matter thought, then offered, ‘It’s a little way off the beaten track, by the spring. The body was partially hidden by grasses, heather and ferns, easy to miss unless you knew exactly where to look.’

‘Poor Heather, all the time we was working on the meeting house we never knew she was lying only a few yards away. Sir?’

‘Yes, Jack?’

‘I’ve… I’ve had nothing to do with women since that night, all I want to do now with the rest of my life is to serve you and Her Ladyship.’

Oliver got up and pressed a firm hand on Jack’s shoulder. ‘One day you may change your mind, but do whatever pleases you, Jack. You may rest assured you will always have a place here.’ He left the room; it was time to leave the young groom alone with his grief.

It was evening. Oliver was out in the stable yard. He had stepped outside for a few moments of cool fresh air and to smoke his pipe. He heard boots on the cobblestones and looked up to see Bob rushing to defend his territory from another retriever. He called to Bob and he reluctantly came back to stand obediently at heel; the other dog was a bitch and Bob had smelled some sport.

Clem Trenchard walked up to Oliver, head up, eyes blazing the intention of not leaving until his business for being there was done. He stopped a few short inches away and ordered Charity to lie down.

Oliver and Clem eyed each other, weighing up the other’s mood. Oliver could see Clem had no subservient feelings towards him but he thought that in different circumstances, without the love they both had for Kerensa creating an unbridgeable chasm between them, he could get to like the sulky-faced farmer. Clem took in the changes in the baronet’s appearance and pursed his lips. Oliver knew that Clem would never like him for a moment.

‘I take it you’ve heard about my son?’ Oliver said shortly.

‘That’s why I’m here,’ Clem replied stonily. ‘Alice couldn’t come because Jessica has a bit of a fever and wouldn’t let Alice leave her.’

‘Nothing serious, I hope.’

‘No, ’tis nought but a child’s runny nose but Alice has always run to her. I said I’d come over to see how your boy is. Alice is very worried about him and Kerensa.’ Clem said Kerensa’s name as if he was challenging Oliver to rebuke him. ‘The whole estate’s fair buzzing with the news of the accident, and the finding of the girl’s body, and,’ he looked at Oliver purposefully, ‘your return.’

‘Does my return not suit you, Trenchard?’

‘No, to be honest, but ’tis your place to be here, not gadding off somewhere and allowing your family and servants to fall into all manner of trouble.’