‘It’s Nathaniel.’ Rose didn’t look at Alexander as she spoke, keeping her eyes on the man in front of her. When she had last seen him outside the bakery shop he’d still looked like the man she remembered. Older, harder, but he had still been handsome. Now he looked unkempt, and his nose had taken on the red veins associated with heavy drinking.

‘Aye, it’s Nathaniel. Alive and breathing, which will be more than can be said for the three of you in a few minutes.’ His voice was mocking. ‘Although, having seen Betsy again, I think I’ll have a bit of fun with her before I let her join the two of you. She’s bonny, your daughter, Rose. Young, fresh, not like you. How many men have you had in your time, eh? Too many to count or remember?’

Alexander made a sudden movement and Nathaniel jerked the rifle higher. ‘I wouldn’t, Major. Make the most of the few seconds you’ve got left, don’t throw them away. I won’t be leaving any witnesses, I can promise you that.’

Rose could sense Betsy trembling, and along with her own fear and loathing, anger was rising. How dare he frighten her daughter? How dare he? ‘You’ll never get away with this. You know that, don’t you?’

Nathaniel smiled. ‘Now I’d take a bet on that but as you won’t be around to pay, it’d be pointless, wouldn’t it. I’m in the army now, see. The great faceless horde. Not using my real name, oh no, I was too canny for that, because I’d planned to settle with you for a long while and knew I’d have to disappear after. Robert Fletcher’s the name, doing his bit for King and country.’ He clicked his heels together but the rifle aimed at Alexander’s chest didn’t move. ‘Poor old Nathaniel Alridge killed himself last year because he couldn’t face being called up. At least that was the conclusion everybody came to when they read the letter I left and found the body in the woods some time later. Been messed about by wild animals it had, the face all gone, but it had the remains of the clothes I’d been wearing and was the right height, so . . .’

‘You killed someone?’ Rose murmured.