‘Good evening, Miss Swansome.’ His eyes roved my face with rude intimacy.

I nodded and sidestepped him to pass, but anticipating the manoeuvre he did the same, leaving me trapped.

‘You’ve become a stranger. Has the mistress warned you away from me?’

‘I have had no need to make any purchases.’

He laughed. ‘Oh, I think we both know that that has nothing to do with it.’

I pulled my coat closer. ‘There can be no other reason to visit your premises except that I am in need of something.’

‘There are other things that young ladies with no suitors can gain from me,’ he smiled, ‘and they would be free.’

I felt a rush of indignation. ‘I have no need of anything that you can offer and cannot imagine a time when I will.’ I went to move away but he stopped me.

‘It must get a little lonely, just a house of women. All those empty rooms.’ He reached out a hand and plucked my sleeve.

‘I am quite happy,’ I said, pulling away angrily. ‘Excuse me.’

His teeth gleamed and his fingers closed around my wrist, forcing me to look at him. ‘There is no point taking on airs, miss, not here. I know your type.’ His eyes drifted to Iskar. ‘Your predecessor was not so unwilling; indeed, she was not the only one.’

Hettie? Was Paterson one of her alliances? I thought of the brooch and its value. Paterson was one of the few island men who had the kind of wealth to purchase it. I pictured them together, saw the commonality of handsomeness, and knowing Hettie’s nature it was too easy to imagine that they were lovers. I tried to pull away and he laughed, ‘I’ll be waiting. You know where I am.’

A noise behind caused him to remove his grasp and I breathed out with relief. Greer stood there in her cheap hat. Her eyes looked from me to Paterson. At this Paterson gave her a smile, a gentler one. Then he backed away, gave us both a bow, and we walked on.

‘I was glad that you came when you did, Greer,’ I said.

She did not reply.

‘He is very forward. I feel sorry for his wife and children. And right after church. I had heard that Hettie made some affiliations. Was he one of them?’

She glared at me and bit her lip, but there was a flare of knowledge in her look that made me suspect I was right in my assumption. We turned to ascend the path to Iskar. Greer went round to the servants’ door and we met again in the hall.