Kerensa watched the movement of her shoe and smiled to herself. She liked Bartholomew Drannock and if she’d been in the company of any other young man she would have firmly stopped his flow of speech.

‘Well, I would certainly say you’re strong-minded, Bartholomew,’ she said, with little nods of her head. ‘Are you happy as a fisherman or is there something else you would like to do with your life?’

Bartholomew studied Kerensa with suspicion; was she really interested in him or merely idly curious? Or even out to make trouble? He had never trusted anyone but his mother and the events of his life so far had given him no cause to think differently. Sweeping his dark eyes from her face and down her delicately curved form he stared at her small bare feet. Surely a lady, if not by birth then by marriage, would not stay here alone beside him in a manner others would think unseemly if it was not genuine interest. His eyes lingered on the way back up until they met her own, and drawing back his lips he gave her the smile that could render a female speechless with admiration.

He wanted to talk more about her beauty but he knew she would not allow too many liberties and he wanted to stay. Apart from his mother, she was the only woman who seemed to be able to hold a reasonable conversation, let alone an intelligent one. Lying with a woman was good, but before and after the relieving of his youthful lust their futile prattle and hints of marriage drove him to distraction.

‘I hate to be away from the sea for long, but ’tis a hard life.’ He glanced around the cove. ‘Grandfather and Josh King were washed up here.’

‘Yes, an estate worker found them. Does it worry you? That you could be lost at sea?’

‘No, not really. ’Tis a risk but life’s full of them. It’s the thanklessness of the job that gets me angry at times. You can never get out of poverty. Most fishermen will never make enough money to buy their boats and the owners take the best part of the profits. The fish buyers get another heavy cut of what’s left while we fishermen have more expenses – tackle, nets, the upkeep of the boats to pay for. We get the least reward for the hardest work, while you’re safe asleep in your bed.’

‘But if you’ll forgive a direct question, don’t you have part ownership of your own boat now? Isn’t that some help to you?’

Bartholomew looked deeply at Kerensa. ‘Word’s got around, I see.’