‘At last,’ he said, chuckling. ‘Someone who believes in me. It’s good to see you again, Daisy.’

‘I’ll take this little one into the kitchen.’ Dove pushed past her brother, giving him a warning look. ‘Don’t cause trouble, Jay. We’ve had enough of that in our family.’ She carried Pip inside and closed the door.

Jay stood with his thumbs hooked into his belt, his head on one side as he gazed at Daisy with an irresistible twinkle in his eyes. ‘Are you collecting orphans, Daisy? I’ve just seen Mrs Bee with two little girls and a young child, and my sister has another in her arms.’

‘Their father was killed in a collision with an omnibus and their mother is in hospital. I promised to see that her children were cared for until she’s well enough to look after them.’

‘I seem to have missed something. This couldn’t have happened in Little Creek. The most dangerous vehicle is the brewer’s dray, and that doesn’t go fast enough to catch a snail.’

Daisy stifled a giggle. ‘You always manage to turn everything into a joke.’

‘I’m serious now, and I’m sorry for the children, but I’m still confused. Where were you when this happened?’

‘I’ve just started as a probationer nurse at the London Hospital, and I witnessed the accident. Hilda – that’s the children’s mother – had to be admitted to one of the wards and she was frantic with worry. I promised to help if I could.’

‘So you decided to bring them here?’

‘When I found the children living in appalling conditions with no one to care for them I didn’t have much choice. They’re here with Nick’s permission, of course.’ Daisy met his amused look with a frown. ‘Why am I explaining myself? More to the point, why are you here? If you’re in trouble with the authorities you could get Mrs Bee and Dove into trouble.’

‘I was going to steer clear of Little Creek, but I had a brush with the squire and he’s threatened to evict my family from their cottage.’

‘He also owns the freehold on Creek Cottage and the lease will come up for renewal before the year is out. He’s threatening not to renew it and it’s obvious that the squire wants my aunt and uncle out, too,’ Daisy said with feeling. ‘That man is pure evil.’

Jay’s smiled faded. ‘I agree, and something needs to be done.’

‘He’s a magistrate. He does what he likes.’

‘No one is above the law, not even Tattersall, and I intend to bring him down, one way or another.’

‘I don’t see what you can do. Get on the wrong side of him and he’ll have you up before him on some trumped-up charge.’

‘I’ll work something out, don’t worry.’

‘I wish I could stay to help, but I have to return to the hospital tomorrow.’

‘Has Nick got anything to do with your decision to stay in London?’

The question, asked outright, brought a blush to her cheeks. ‘No, certainly not. I’d been thinking about taking up nursing, and I decided it was the right time. Although I suppose it might have appeared that I was running away.’