Although chaste until her wedding night, a woman could not be married to a warm, sensuous man such as Peter Blake without knowing something of the male mind, and Rosina was aware of the interest she aroused in the dark eyes across the room, but she was not offended. Indeed, very few women had looked upon the face of Oliver Pengarron and not found pleasure in his strikingly fine looks and flattery in being the subject of his perusal. Rosina knew he was one half of a very happy and successful marriage, but she wondered if Sir Oliver included fidelity in his perception of what made a good husband.

‘If you’d be good enough to tell me why you’ve called wanting to see Peter,’ she said, breaking the silence, ‘then perhaps I can be of some help to you.’

‘You are not expecting him back home shortly?’

‘Not for at least two hours. He’s taken our son, Simon Peter, over Trevenner way. You may have heard he’s having a house built for us there, close to his half-sister’s residence.’

‘I have heard and I’ve seen the builders at work. It will be a splendid dwelling when completed, and you have a fine son to grow up within its walls. Now, to come to the reason for my presence here. It concerns the Perranbarvah fishing tragedy of two months ago. Indeed we were both in the parish churchyard only yesterday paying our last respects to one of the unfortunate victims.’

‘It’s all so sad,’ Rosina said mournfully, unable to repress a shudder. ‘I didn’t know Samuel Drannock very well but I’ve known the King family practically all my life, particularly so from the Bible classes up on Lancavel Downs.’

Oliver leaned towards her. ‘I’m certain you will agree with me, Mistress Blake, that people in our position must do all we can to help the bereaved families.’

‘Yes, of course, I wish we could do more. The collection of monies raised must have run out by now and unfortunately you can’t keep sending food and things, people have their pride and it would be cruel to step on such sensitive feelings.’ Rosina brightened and looked at him optimistically. ‘You have an idea of some sort how to help, Sir Oliver? Is that why you’re here?’