‘But you don’t have to acknowledge us, Sir Oliver,’ Hannah said, meeting his eyes squarely. ‘We know all about gentlemen having illegitimate children. We don’t expect you to feel obligated. It’s just one of those things, as folk do say.’

‘But I want to acknowledge you, my dear,’ Oliver returned, ‘and not just privately. I want to announce you as my kin, and I’m hoping you will all agree to my doing so. I also want any of you, at any time you may desire it, to come and live at the manor house on equal standing with my own children. There are plenty of empty rooms, plenty of space to be yourselves if that is what you want.’

Cordelia tugged at Oliver’s coat. ‘Are you really my uncle, Mr Sir?’

Oliver laughed and lifted her up into his arms. She was as light as a feather and stared at him uncertainly from large dark eyes.

‘Yes, young lady, I am your uncle. Ask your mother, she knows all about it.’

‘All that Sir Oliver has told you is completely true, my dears,’ Jenifer said, and in a breathless voice she filled her children in on all the details.

‘But Mother,’ Charles spoke up, his face screwed up anxiously, ‘if we’re not really Drannocks then the money great-uncle Obadiah left doesn’t actually belong to us. We’re not entitled to it. The rightful heirs will have to be found and we’ll have to give everything back!’

‘No you won’t. Have no fears about that, Charles,’ Oliver said quickly. ‘There is no such person as Obadiah Drannock. It was I who arranged to have that money sent to you. As I was away at the time I wanted to be certain you’d accept your “inheritance” so I invented a great-uncle for you.’

‘You did that?’ Bartholomew exclaimed and blew a short whistle. ‘I never guessed it, it never crossed my mind.’

‘Well then, you don’t know everything,’ Jack said cheekily.

‘Are you my aunty then?’ Cordelia chirruped, wriggling towards Kerensa and holding out her arms. Oliver passed her over, and Jack, who missed having his father about, plucked up his courage and shyly held up his arms to his uncle. Oliver cheerfully obliged.

‘I hope all of you are happy with what I have told you,’ Oliver said. ‘Your Aunt Kerensa and I will be glad to have you over to the manor to spend the day as soon as your cousin Luke is well again.’

‘I don’t think any of us have any objections, but it takes some getting used to,’ Hannah said, and tears were forming in her eyes.

Bartholomew looked out of the window and wondered how the good people of Mount’s Bay would view him now. ‘I always knew it,’ he murmured.