Bartholomew’s eyes opened wide and he blurted out, ‘I know why you’ve come here today.’

Jenifer let out a small gasp. ‘Bartholomew! Where are your manners? That is no way to speak to Sir Oliver.’

But Oliver was amused by the youth’s perceptiveness. ‘Yes, I rather think you do.’ He glanced at Kerensa and raised his brows lightheartedly then looked at his attentive nieces and nephews.

‘Shall we all sit down and let your brothers and sisters in on our secret, Bartholomew?’

Jenifer had asked Mrs Parkin to put extra chairs in the room and Oliver waited for the older girls to sit in a row next to Kerensa. Their eldest brother sat on the wide window ledge where he was joined by Charles, while Jack and Cordelia climbed up to nestle by their mother. He had a sea of faces all looking at him.

Jenifer was ravaged by the malignancy that was sapping her life, but she looked strangely content. She cuddled her two youngest but held on to Kerensa’s hand and he knew the revelations he was about to impart would have the same effect on Jenifer as if she was about to set out on an exciting journey. Hannah and Naomi, aged fifteen and sixteen, looked something of what Jenifer had as a girl, fair, medium build, good figures, and with their mother’s influence they held themselves well. Charles was eleven years old now, he had Samuel’s moody countenance but owned a good sense of humour. Jack and Cordelia were most like Bartholomew to look at, and thus most like their Pengarron relations.

‘Well, shall I tell them or will you, Bartholomew?’ Oliver asked his nephew.

Heads all turned to Bartholomew, but suddenly overcome with embarrassment he motioned the task back to Oliver.

‘Your brother,’ he spoke to the others, ‘as you probably know, has for years, on the strength of his physical resemblance to me, wondered whether he might have Pengarron blood in him. I know that he has even made some inquiries into the possibility.’

Bartholomew coloured but gave his two grown-up sisters a superior look.

‘The truth of the matter is that he has, and not only him, but all of you have. My father, Sir Daniel Pengarron, was in fact the father of your father, Samuel, not Caleb Drannock. You are all Sir Daniel’s grandchildren and my nieces and nephews.’ Oliver looked from face to face. The younger ones just stared at him, not really taking it in. Naomi and Hannah were obviously stunned and Bartholomew beamed all round the room. Jenifer smiled confidently and Kerensa took Naomi and Hannah’s hands.

‘I hope you will welcome joining the family,’ Kerensa said encouragingly.

‘But it’s incredible,’ said Naomi, dramatically waving her other hand about. ‘Us! Related to you, Your Lordship.’

‘I’m rather hoping you will call me Uncle Oliver,’ Oliver replied, coming across the room and standing in front of her and Hannah.