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irrelevant. Such an alliance would not be of advantage to the family and nothing you say will persuade me differently.’
    ‘I would still say that Katherine has the matter correctly,’ Simon continued to develop his argument,‘however much I might disapprove of her manner of saying it—such forwardness in a young woman is to be regretted. And I would hope that in marriage to my son she would learn to conduct herself with more seemly dignity and respect for those who know what is best for her.’ He ignored the flash of anger in Kate’s eyes as she strove to remain silent, but kept his own cold gaze fixed on her uncle. ‘But I agree with her that to unite with this Royalist family in the circumstances is despicable. I would have thought better of your sense of loyalty to the cause, Sir Henry. Do reconsider before it is too late.’
    ‘I will not.’ Sir Henry was not to be moved from a decision that had lost him some little sleep.
    ‘Then I have nothing further to say on this topic.’ Simon all but spat the words. ‘It is beyond my comprehension that … But it is not my wish to quarrel with you, Sir Henry, so I will take my leave. If you would arrange for my carriage … I find it difficult to express my displeasure in mild words.’
    He struggled to his feet, wincing at the pain that attacked his twisted limbs, Lady Philippa hurrying to retrieve his sticks from beside the chair. He took them from her without comment and sketched a clumsy bow before hobbling from the room, his rigid shoulders expressing his intense disapproval.
    Sir Henry sat silently for a long moment, contemplating his clasped hands, and then with the slightest of shrugs continued where he had left off before SimonHotham’s departure. ‘It is a matter of inheritance and politics.’ He fixed Kate with a stern stare. ‘The future of Winteringham Priory is still in doubt. If your father had been more aware of his domestic duties and had been present to fight off the attack in 1643, this would never have occurred.’
    ‘But we did not give up our land willingly. No one could ever say that. Why should it not be restored to us now? Who can possibly have a better claim than I have?’
    ‘I am sympathetic to your family pride, Katherine, but we have to face the realities of the situation.’
    ‘Surely the reality is that the house was snatched from us: we were driven out with Royalist cavalry at our backs.’
    ‘Very true, my dear. And it became to all intents and purposes a Royalist estate, used by Viscount Marlbrooke to aid the King and his cause. Where do you think the rents went in the years before Charles was defeated? Why do you think there is no trace of the family silver? Sold! Or melted down! The result is the same.’ Sir Henry shrugged, extracted a document from a pile before him and held it out to Kate. ‘Here is the latest intelligence from London concerning the settlement of claims. If you can understand the legalities!’
    Kate carried the letter to the window to struggle through the legalistic words and phrasing. The implications were only too clear.
    ‘I understand,’ she finally admitted with a sigh. ‘Itseems that my inheritance will be given to whoever has the largest purse or the loudest voice at Court.’
    ‘Exactly. It will not be the Harley family, I fear.’ Sir Henry retrieved the document from his niece with a slight shrug. ‘A female claim is always unsatisfactory. And, of course, your father left no will, presuming that the entail would stand. If the land had been willed to you, it might have been different. But as it stands, there is little hope.’
    ‘What about Richard?’ Lady Philippa had recovered from her bout of tears and had followed enough of the discussion to see the possibilities for her favourite nephew. ‘Is he not the male heir to the Priory?’
    ‘Never! A foolish suggestion, which would be a disaster for the family. Besides, his claim is also through a female line, through his mother. But it