So that was it. He knew. The ice seeped into the middle of her heart, spread out and froze solid. ‘I… um… yes… I suppose it could be said he is a little like you.’

‘There’s a very good reason for that, my love. I’ve been curious about Bartholomew for a long time so today I finally made up my mind to ask the Reverend Ivey about it. He told me that Samuel Drannock was my brother, that my father was his father too. It means that Bartholomew and his brothers and sisters are my nephews and nieces, Kerensa. Our children are their cousins—’

Oliver stopped. Kerensa’s reaction was not what he had expected. Where was the shock? She did not even seem surprised. And why had her body stiffened? She should be bubbling over with excitement with what he was telling her and yet she was standing like a block of granite. She pulled in her bottom lip and said nothing.

‘Did you hear what I said, Kerensa?’ His voice began to rise. ‘I have just told you that Samuel Drannock was my half-brother!’

‘Yes, yes I heard you.’ She pulled away and turned from him. ‘It took me by surprise, that’s all… I… I… the Reverend told you, you say?’

Oliver said bluntly, ‘Are you really surprised, Kerensa?’

‘What? Yes. Of course I am. It takes some getting used to… I…’

Another wave of shock coursed through Oliver. ‘You knew, didn’t you?’

Kerensa did not reply.

‘You knew!’ Oliver snapped, pulling Kerensa roughly back to face him. ‘You knew! God help you, woman, I believe you knew about this before I did!’

Kerensa trembled, her mouth too dry to speak. She felt sick to the core. She had always hated keeping Samuel Drannock’s secret from Oliver. She had kept quiet for Samuel’s sake then in fear of Oliver’s reaction to her keeping it for so long. It hadn’t occurred to her that Oliver might become curious himself and ask questions. What a fool she had been. She could only nod weakly at him now.

Oliver could hardly bring himself to believe it. ‘How long?’ he hissed. ‘How long have you known? Answer me!’ He shook her once. It was enough to force out an answer.

‘When we first married… Samuel told me… he stopped me from visiting Jenifer and giving food and clothes to her for the children.’

‘He told you himself? All that time ago?’ he said incredulously. ‘So the man stopped you giving charity to his wife, that doesn’t explain why he should tell you the truth of his parentage. Why did he do that? What was the reason? What was it?’ Oliver was shouting. His face was red, a small vein on his neck prominent and purple from the heat of his fury.

‘Let go of me, Oliver.’ Kerensa tried to sound calm. ‘Let me go and I’ll tell you all about it.’