Penmarric VI

Philip finds himself talking more intimately to Trevose, and tells him that his marriage is a failure. Alun suggests that he and his friend might like to go to the pubs and restaurants in St Ives, which has an artistic community. He makes it clear that he thinks in terms of picking up men, not women. Philip is a little shocked, but says that he does not mind what Alun does for amusement. But he has no interest in that sort of thing, and there's also the risk of blackmail. But in due course, he begins to see that he has always cared for Trevose more than anyone else, and he and his friend become lovers. He has reached his early 30s without ever suspecting his own homosexuality, but he and his friend have a year or so of happiness. He doesn't tell Helena what is going on, nor his mother, but he spends more time with Trevose. Then another disaster strikes. An earth tremor hits the mine and several miners, including Trevose are drowned. The sea has rushed in, and floods the lower levels. Philip was over ground, to meet a visitor, though he usually tried to spend as much time in the mine as possible. The water makes it impossible even to bring the bodies to the surface. Philip's brief time of personal happiness is over, and he knows that the mine, Sennen Garth, can never be reopened. It would cost too much and would not be safe. He has lost his life's work and his lover. Howatch was one of the first writers to use the technique of using a historical background as a basis for her story. With Philip who is Richard I, she works it very well, Philip's obsession with the mine mirrors Richard's desire to fight in a crusade and take Jerusalem. His marriage to Helena is a failure, as it seems was Richard's with Berengaria which produced no children.