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She paused by the gates, eyes drawn to the yolky yellow heads of dandelions in bloom. The leaves, they did have purple spots. It wasn’t just that they were filthy.

She stained her gloves scrabbling in the dirt, levering the whole plant out. The footman’s eyes widened to saucers as he opened the door for her to climb back into the carriage.

She smiled at him.

If she took the train tomorrow to Plymouth, overnighted in a hotel, caught the first train the next morning to Truro, and changed at the station to the West Cornwall Railway, she would get to Penzance before St. Peter’s Day.

She had so much light on her side.

—

This Golowan, the house was overfull with Traymaynes. The dining room couldn’t hold the whole boiling of them. The children didn’t stand still long enough for a head count, but Neal knew they numbered nine, if he didn’t include the one Nessa and Cyril were expecting.

Nessa had made their happy announcement the previous afternoon on the quay. Neal’s mother had been walking slowly, one hand on her Newfoundland’s shaggy back, the other arm linked through Neal’s, head turned to watch the children load into a boat. Before she let him go to embrace her daughter, Neal felt her tremor.

She was smiling, but her eyes brimmed.

Bittersweet, these few golden summer days together. By the time the season came around again, they’d celebrate a new life among them.

But Heddie Traymayne. Where would she be?

It was a metaphysical question, or a religious one. Or a scientific one, as Neal sometimes thought. The body went back to loam, and flowers grew. Reverend Curnow might say she’d be with them still in spirit, looking down with her beloved husband at her side.

Neal didn’t believe it, not quite in those terms. But ever since he’d arrived in Penzance, he’d been hearing his father’s voice. He’d heard it loud and clear right then.

Well, my lad, when will you make your happy announcement?

He didn’t know how to answer. Did he have a happy announcement? During his last imaginary conversation with his father, he’d boasted about his future wife. A lot had changed since that afternoon in Kyncastle.

He hadn’t known what to say, when Emmeline had asked after Muriel at dinner on the day he’d arrived. He’d stuttered under his mother’s gaze, which made things worse. Tomas and Loveday leapt in to sing the praises of Muriel Pendrake.

“She’s in London,” he said at last.

His mother had leaned forward eagerly, but before she could speak, Molly, Alice’s middle child, burst into the room, soaking wet. The turkey had chased her into the pond.

“Because she’s got dirty feet!” yelled her brother, John, running in behind her. No longer the center of attention, Neal had risen to help Kelyn and Loveday carry empty plates into the kitchen.

Today, the family roved outdoors, crossing the brook and wandering up through the orchards and across the fields to the sea. The adults picnicked while the children—and Neal—splashed in the water. After Neal changed out of his wet clothes, he found Perran, Jory, Nessa, Cyril, Jenni, Kelyn, and Emmeline gathered on the lawn in chairs set up in the shade of the elm trees. The twins had been caught eating grasshoppers, and Perran and Jory were assuring Kelyn that no harm ever came of consuming insects.

Neal caught Jenni’s eye, and she stuck her tongue out at him.

“You used to eat flies,” she said. “Do you remember?”

Ah, the family’s favorite game was about to commence. Tease baby Neal. He knew how to play, though.

“I still eat flies,” he said, and smiled blandly. The sound of wheels on gravel made him turn his head.

A cab was rolling up the lane. Neal glanced at Perran, who shrugged his shoulders.

Their mother’s sisters, nieces, nephews, and cousins had visited for St. John’s Day and gone on to Uncle Arthur in Penryn. Everyone else was here, except William, who’d stayed behind in Kyncastle with the cows.

Was it William come to join them?

The cabman reined the horse and jumped down. The trunk he lowered onto the grass looked familiar. The cab door opened, and Lavinia stepped out, cradling a hatbox.

Neal stood, heart pounding. She was standing down the slope from them. Had to look up at the boiling clan. Thank God they weren’t all on the lawn. She would think a mob confronted her.

Emmeline ran forward before he did. “Muriel!”