Moira was a fast learner, Liam discovered after he'd called her back.

Anyway teaching a slavey how to write her name was more amusing than doodling or adding up columns of numbers – the look of concentration on her thin face as her hand made the loops and whorls of "M" over and over again was droll.

This was how his father found them, Liam coaxing Moira through the complexities of "cow".

"Liam! You call yourself a Christian?" the man roared down at them, "Letting her think she'll be more than a slavey when the likes of her never will? Look at this! Look! At! This! She's soiled my ledger!"

So Liam went into the wine cellar and got drunk to show his father exactly what he thought of servants, Christians and ledgers.

Moira was sent to the cellar to fill a pitcher for the evening table.

Liam raped her.