‘The children? Oh, the little ones are with the neighbours. Cordelia’s with the Roskilleys and Charles and Jack with the Laitys. Hannah and Naomi, my older girls, are away at Marazion working for the Sarrison brothers, Mr Alfred and Mr John. They took them both on after the accident. They are very good to my girls. It means I have two less mouths to feed, and there’s a little bit of money coming in.’

All you have at the moment, Kerensa thought, unless Bartholomew’s been smuggling. ‘Has Bartholomew arranged for someone to come in and sit with you?’ she asked. ‘Should he leave you alone like this?’

‘I prefer to be alone, my dear.’ Jenifer gave her the faintest of smiles. ‘Bartholomew tried to get me to agree to having one of the other women in with me, but I’d rather be alone. He had to go to Marazion, he and Matthew King, to see Mr Blake.’ She said no more and as Kerensa knew why the two young fishermen had gone to Marazion, she asked no questions about it.

‘Jenifer, will you be all right?’

‘Oh yes. You see, I always knew this would happen one day… and I’m glad he hasn’t been found, I pray to God he never will be.’ Jenifer stared into space. ‘Samuel would want to stay in the sea, to rest in the deep, not be buried under the earth.’

The door was opened and Ruth and Esther King came in, both carrying aprons. They bobbed Kerensa a curtsy, unfolded the long lengths of crisp white cotton and put them on.

‘We’ll soon clear this up, m’lady,’ Ruth said in a hushed tone, inclining her head of mousy brown hair at the room.

‘It’s very good of you both,’ Kerensa said, ‘and I’m greatly relieved to hear Paul is over the worst.’

‘’Tis thanks to Sir Oliver for sending over the doctor and paying his fees,’ Esther asserted, pushing back straight hair the same colour as her sister’s under a cap.

‘And one of Beatrice’s potions,’ added Ruth. ‘It looked and smelled ghastly but just one big spoonful and his fever nigh on went at once.’

‘I’ll call on your mother tomorrow. And Paul when he’s well again, if you don’t think he’ll mind that,’ Kerensa said.

‘I reckon he’ll be tickled, having a lady come to call on him. He’s some weak at the moment, m’lady, but is able to sit and sip at a bit of broth.’ Ruth was looking around as if she was impatient to get on with the clearing up.

The King sisters were tall like their menfolk and their presence had made the little cottage seem crowded. Kerensa knew it was she who was in the way.

‘Jenifer will appreciate your help here today,’ she said.