The children fell into step with Rosalind, and Bob raced on ahead. Gradually and without alarming them, Rosalind encouraged them to talk about their hopes for the future and their feelings about their new home. By the time they ended their walk she was satisfied that they were both happy and had adjusted to their new way of life without any damage to their wellbeing. Tommy was gradually putting the horrors of his short career as a climbing boy behind him and he spoke enthusiastically about helping Gurney with the horses. He had developed a bond with Bob and it was obvious that he had a way with animals. On the walk home Tommy shyly slipped his small hand into Rosalind’s, smiling up at her with genuine affection. Rosalind felt an almost overwhelming desire to protect the little boy and she squeezed his fingers. No matter what the rest of the family said, she would make sure that Tommy had a decent start in life, and was given the affection that he obviously craved. There was a refinement about Tommy, both in looks and manners, that set him in a category of his own, and something vaguely familiar about the way his soft dark blond hair waved back from his forehead and the golden lights in his brown eyes. The more she grew to know him the more determined Rosalind became to see the child develop to his full potential. She felt the same for Nancy, but to a lesser degree. There was a streak of independence in Nancy that Rosalind admired and would nurture but, if she were to admit it, Tommy had a special place in her heart.

Despite his promises, Piers spent at least one week every month in Cornwall, or else he was travelling to different parts of the country promoting the china clay business. Rosalind was kept busy with matters concerning the tenant farmers, although she allowed Ralph Lambert, the steward, to take over much of the work that she had done herself in the old days when she used to ride from farm to farm collecting the rents. It had brought her closer to the tenants, and if there had been a poor harvest or if disease had struck their livestock she had often let them off their payments. She suspected that Lambert was not so generous, but Piers was pleased with his work, and by midsummer Rosalind was beginning to slow down as her pregnancy progressed. However, that did not prevent her from taking the pony and trap and driving herself to visit friends and neighbours and call upon the poorer tenants who might need help.