‘We do not know. I, for one, do not care.’

‘And your brother? Does he care?’

Amelia turned the page of her book as she searched for the place she had last paused in her reading. ‘I don’t know. I do know that he no longer trusts so easily and I firmly believe that he will never get over losing Margaret.’ She looked up at Grace. ‘I think she has ruined him for anyone else.’

Grace frowned. ‘I don’t understand.’

Amelia closed the book and traced the letters of the title as she replied. ‘She absorbed all the love he had to give, Grace. There is very little left for anyone else other than me . . . his crippled, dependent sister.’

* * *

‘What are you doing here? You are spending more and more time here.’

Talek looked up from the ledger he had been studying. His business partner, Henry, stood in the doorway looking puzzled. He couldn’t blame him. He usually preferred the solitude and peace of his study at home. However, recently he had come to notice that the silence was no longer an asset and when he ventured outside he was at risk of bumping into their new houseguest. Today, he had heard her laughing with his sister, which in itself was not at all unpleasant. However, although he should be pleased that his sister had a female companion and was in high spirits, it only seemed to underline the uncomfortable feeling that he was beginning to feel marginalised in his own home. Not that his sister was actively seeking to do this, or Miss Kellow — Grace — come to that. In fact, Grace did her very best to melt into the background whenever he appeared, which only resulted in him being even more aware that she was there.

Talek pushed the ledger away. ‘I thought I would take a look at the accounts.’

‘And did you find everything in order? I suspect you understood very little of it.’

Talek conceded with a smile. ‘I cannot make head or tail of your writing.’

‘There is nothing wrong with my writing if you understand what you are looking at.’

‘I swear you make it unnecessary complicated to keep me from reading it,’ grumbled Talek.

Henry reclaimed the large leather bound book. ‘Damn, I didn’t think of that. The truth is that my process is very simple compared to many. However, I have a head for figures and you do not, which is why I am responsible for the task.’ Henry frowned. ‘You look out of sorts. I don’t think my mathematics is responsible for your sullen look. What is really bothering you? Is Amelia unwell?’

‘She’s well. She has a live-in companion now, so I’m able to spend more time at the mines.’ Talek noticed his friend’s smile slip. ‘You do not want my company?’

‘If it is as sullen as it is now, then no, I do not.’

‘Take care. I could take offence.’

Henry laughed and slapped him on the back. ‘I know you will not.’

The two men, brought together by a joint inheritance, had learnt to work together and a solid friendship had slowly developed. Would they have become friends if it was not for the mines they jointly owned? Probably not. The mines had brought them together in a partnership that neither was willing to give up. Learning to work together had been difficult. Henry had two years of experience running the business before Talek and Amelia inherited their share. Talek and Henry’s share were equal at forty per cent each, however, Amelia also had a small share of twenty per cent and as she always looked to her brother for guidance, her smaller share gave Talek the authority he required when decisions were agreed. Henry came to accept this far easier than Talek would have done if the balance of power had been tilted in the other direction, this was partly due, Talek believed, because he had worked hard to understand the business, quickly gaining more knowledge about clay production than Henry. Despite this, it was Henry’s early acceptance that made Talek warm to him in a way that Henry’s poorly planned, grand schemes for more profit, could not.

‘You have come to know me too well. Little offends me these days,’ replied Talek.

‘Apart from being accused of murder.’ Henry sat on a chair opposite him. He crossed his legs and cradled the ledger in his lap. His eyebrows lifted to await his friend’s reply.

‘She angered me. I had all but forgotten the incident.’

Henry chuckled. ‘I drop in to spend a pleasant afternoon with you and Amelia, and I am forced to listen to you venting your anger about what had happened at Hel Tor.’

‘I was not angry.’

‘You were affronted.’

Talek considered the word and grudgingly agreed. ‘Yes. I was affronted, but I think I had every right to be.’

‘I don’t know why you let her bother you. It’s not as if you will ever see her again.’

Something in Talek’s expression made Henry sit up. ‘Have you seen her again?’

‘She’s Amelia’s new companion.’

‘She is living with you!’ Henry burst out laughing again. ‘This explains everything.’

Talek felt a headache coming on. ‘There is nothing to explain.’

‘You are hiding here.’

‘I’m not hiding. Now that Amelia has company I can be on site more often.’ It was time to refocus Henry. ‘The contracts with Morgrave and Shelby Potteries are up for renewal, but Caradon Potteries wants exclusivity.’

Henry sobered. ‘Caradon is the biggest pottery in Staffordshire. So your trip was worth it.’

Talek nodded. ‘They will be sending a representative before they confirm the contract.’

‘I will see to that.’

‘They are the biggest producer of ceramics, Henry.’

‘So why do I hear concern in your voice?’

‘I’m concerned about the exclusivity.’

‘And if you don’t grant it?’

‘They will go elsewhere. Cornwall is littered with other companies who would be only too happy to sell their clay to them.’

‘Then we have no choice, but to accept. They are one of the biggest potteries, Talek. We cannot let this opportunity go.’

Talek had thought of little else, when his mind was not on Grace. He reluctantly nodded.

Henry slapped his own thigh. ‘This will be a good deal, Talek. We need to ensure a good price. Can you imagine how much money the clay from both our pits will bring in?’

‘Bothick Mine produces good quality clay, but I don’t believe that Stenna Pit will produce the right type of clay for porcelain.’

‘But the pit could earn so much more if it was included in the contract, Talek. How would they ever find out?’

‘You just have to look at Stenna Pit. Its walls are tinged pink from the iron and is not as white as the others. Their representative would never accept it and I would not blame them. I can’t risk our good name for good quality clay production. We will only use the clay from Bothick.’

‘I assume there is no point in asking for a vote on this. Amelia will only side with you as she always does.’

Talek looked at his friend. ‘I’m sorry, Henry. You must understand where I am coming from in this?’

Henry reluctantly agreed. ‘I just wish Stenna showed more profit.’ He brightened. ‘However, hats off to you, Talek. Caradon Potteries is one of the finest and we must ensure their representative is pleased with what he sees so they cannot say no.’ Henry stood up. ‘Let’s get out of here. I’ve not seen Amelia for some time and I’m curious to meet your new employee.’