‘And then you discovered that you were in the family way.’

‘I told him and he called me a whore. He said I couldn’t prove that he was the father, but then I grew desperate and threatened to tell his father, who was an old man with failing health.’

‘He said he gave you money.’

‘He wanted me to get rid of the baby, but I had been walking out with Lemuel for quite a while, and when he asked me to marry him I saw a way out.’ Mary buried her face in her apron and her thin shoulders shook. ‘I was desperate.’

‘I can understand that,’ Daisy said gently. ‘So you didn’t tell Lemuel.’

Mary raised her head to look Daisy in the eye. ‘I didn’t have the courage to admit what I’d done. I let him think that he was the father, but when Jay was born it was obvious that he wasn’t a seven-month baby and I’d lied.’

‘What happened then, Mary?’

‘Lemuel was furious. He dragged me from my bed and beat me until I was almost unconscious, and I feared he was going to kill my child. I pleaded with him and he stormed out of the cottage. He didn’t return for two days and when he came back he was a different man. The Lemuel I knew had gone for ever, and I found I was married to a stranger. He said he would acknowledge the baby as his son, but my beautiful little boy was the spawn of the devil and must be treated as such. It’s broken my heart to see Jay treated so badly, but there was nothing I could do about it.’

‘How can you live with a man like Lemuel?’

‘What else could I do? I had no family to support me and a baby to bring up. As time went by I had my other children to feed, although I lost three babies to diphtheria, but I had to protect my girls and Jack. We all have to live with the consequences of our actions, Daisy. I just wish I had had the courage to tell Jay the truth before the squire filled his head with poison.’

Daisy put her arms around Mary and gave her a hug. ‘Jay loves you, and he wouldn’t hear a word against you. Of that I’m certain.’

‘How do you know all this?’ Mary wiped her eyes on her apron. ‘When did you see my boy?’

Daisy pulled up a chair and sat down beside her.

‘… So you see,’ she said when she had finished relating the events of earlier that day, ‘Jay refused to believe that you were in any way to blame. One of the last things he said to me was that he loved you and always will. That won’t change.’

‘He loves you, too,’ Mary said slowly. ‘Do you love him?’

‘All I know is that I care for him deeply. I want him to be safe and happy. Maybe that’s love, but I let him go. Maybe that was a mistake.’