“Don’t worry. I can find my own way,” Uncle Francis said. “I used to come up here a lot when I was a boy. I was friendly with Ferrers Trefusis—the one who was so tragically killed in that air crash. We used to run all over this place. Knew every nook and cranny. And the parties! What a great house for sardines, what?”

For a moment he had been smiling, then the smile faded. “I hope you’ll bring it back to life, Rose. That’s what we need around here. Gaiety, laughter! I also bid you farewell, niece. Enjoy your wealth while you can.”

Then he stomped out, brushing against a statue of a Hindu god and making it teeter on its table.

Chapter 14

OCTOBER 17

TREWOMA

Belinda has suggested we go tomorrow morning. I couldn’t agree more. Having that little fracas with Uncle Francis was the last straw! What an unpleasant relative. If Belinda had had to put up with him and her stepmother, no wonder she wanted to get away from family. I always felt that Fig was bad, but not that bad! Golly, if I’m thinking fondly of Fig, I must be homesick.

“I must apologize for my uncle,” Belinda said as soon as he had gone. “Horrible man. I always thought so.”

“I have to confess that I did too,” Rose said. “I wasn’t going to say this but when I was visiting once he trapped me in the hallway outside the kitchen and he groped me. He ran his hands over my front and told me I was developing nicely. I was so shocked I never told anyone but I made sure I stayed out of his way after that.”

“I had similar experiences,” Belinda agreed. “If he calls again I’d have the servants tell him you are not home. And warn Tony about him too.”

Rose shifted uncomfortably. “The trouble is that he has been raising all the local fees and he’s put a lot of backs up around here. Old men who have moored their boats in a particular spot all their lives now suddenly have to pay double. I did suggest it wasn’t going down well, but Tony just said that they need to move with the times. You know what Cornwall is like. Nothing ever changes.”

The embarrassment gradually melted away as a new plate of warm scones was brought in.

“Perhaps we shouldn’t mention your uncle’s visit to Tony,” Rose said when his voice was heard in the foyer. “I don’t like to upset him after he’s been working all day.”

That was strange to hear, I felt. At one second she was saying she feared he was going to kill her, but this sounded like a caring wife, concerned for her husband.