When Nicholas next returned after a six months’ absence to The Priory, he paid little attention to Clarinda except to sneer at her and tell her sarcastically that she was ‘the cuckoo in his nest’. But she was careful where possible to keep out of his sight and never to be alone with him.
Then three months ago he had come home after his father had been taken ill.
“I need money,” he pronounced roughly to Clarinda. “How much have you got hidden away?”
“I have no money,” Clarinda replied.
“I don’t want your ribbon-pennies,” Nicholas answered rudely, “you have the key to the rents and other income sales from the estate.”
“But you cannot take those!” Clarinda almost screamed at him.
He wrenched the key from her when she tried to hide it from him, emptied the strongbox and laughed when she
