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more convenient.’
    â€˜And you, Desmond?’ said Samuel.
    â€˜Oh …’ Desmond shrugged his thin shoulders. ‘I am happy here. After all, this is the family house and I should like to spend something on repairs, which it badly needs. Also I know no place better for seabirds, which are my principal study … Yes, I am very happy here. That is so long as you do not want it for yourself …’
    â€˜There should be room enough here for more than one brother,’ said Samuel. ‘Or more than one family.’ He looked at Claudine for the first time. ‘You have made your home here, Aunt – and my two cousins with you. Do you have plans to change, to return to London or Bath?’
    My mother said: ‘As you know, Samuel, your father had entrusted me with much of the running of the house – that is since your mother became incapable of doing so. I shall be happy to continue in that way, at least temporarily. But you must tell me what you shall want to do. If you are not likely to use it as a permanent home … and if Desmond wishes to stay, I shall be glad to look after him … until, well …’
    â€˜Until?’ Samuel said.
    â€˜Until he marries,’ said my mother with a sidelong glance.
    â€˜I do not think I shall ever marry,’ said Samuel. ‘There is so much to do in the world. Or not at least until I am forty, when perhaps there may be more time for trivialities … I’m sorry, Edward,’ he said to his brother-in-law. ‘This was not intended in any way as a personal reflection.’
    Edward Carlyon half smiled as he fingered his short moustache, but his wife said warmly: ‘How fortunate that we do not all think the same! The Major, apart from me, has three fascinating trivialities to his name, called Thomas, Edward and George.’
    â€˜Already.’ Desmond, smiling at his sister.
    â€˜Yes, already!’
    â€˜And with that I am more than content! I’ve no doubt, Samuel, when you have a family of your own, you will find just as much time to pursue your profession – and a greater ambition in doing so.’
    Samuel grunted and looked across at Claudine.
    â€˜If my mother does not come back, and Mary decides to live in Truro, you and your daughters will more or less have the run of the place.’
    â€˜Apart from myself,’ said Desmond.
    â€˜Of course, of course, of course … We shall all come here from time to time, meeting at Christmas or some other suitable vacation. But I think it would be only prudent to cut down the permanent staff by half. Extra servants can be engaged from time to time. My mother’s comfort in the special home she is in must come first.’
    â€˜Do we know what is going to happen to Miss Slocombe?’ Mary asked. It was the first time her name had been mentioned all day.
    â€˜Perhaps Papa will have made some provision for her,’ said Anna Maria. ‘We shall know tomorrow.’
    I wondered if he had made any ‘provision’ for my mother.
    â€˜Slade ought to leave,’ said Anna Maria. ‘Perhaps Papa has left him a suitable pension too.’
    My mother said: ‘Many of the servants have been here as long as I have. I hope we can consider them individually rather than making a blanket decision.’
    â€˜Of course, of course, of course.’ It was one of Samuel’s pet phrases. ‘But I have noticed a deal of slackness since I came home. We must see to that.’
IV
    T HE SOLICITOR and his clerk arrived at eleven and read the will. I was not invited in, nor was my mother or sister. The rest of the family emerged at one, but it took time for the details to filter through to us.
    Uncle Davey had left almost everything in trust to his wife, but power of attorney was granted to her children, and of them Samuel was to be the main legatee. On him would devolve the ownership of Place House and all land in or near the Roseland