‘You can’t take that man on, Daisy. He’s too rich and powerful.’

‘I know that all too well. He’s still holding the threat of eviction over my aunt and uncle, and I decided that it was time I stood up for the people who were too afraid to speak for themselves. I persuaded Billy to drive me to Creek Manor.’

‘I’ll have words to say to that boy when I go home.’

‘Billy didn’t have much choice. Anyway, when I arrived at the manor house I was too late. Jay had already spoken to the squire, and Jay left in a fury after a terrible row. He stole the squire’s favourite horse, and I arrived in time to see him being pursued by a small army of estate workers and grooms.’

‘I hope you told Billy to take you home.’

‘Everything happened so quickly. Jay took me on the horse and it was a wild ride, ending up at the cove where the Lazy Jane was moored.’

‘So Jay ran away to sea, leaving you to sort out the tangled web of lies and deceit that had been built up around him. How typical.’

‘It’s easy for you to stand there and criticise his actions. You know who you are and everyone loved and respected your father. How dare you set yourself up in judgement against someone who was supposed to be your friend?’

‘Don’t let Jay fool you into thinking he cares about you, Daisy. He’s selfish, as I said before, and if you allow yourself to fall for him he’ll ruin your life.’

‘I’m disappointed in you, Nick. I thought you would be more loyal and understanding.’

‘I’m just trying to protect you, Daisy.’

‘I can look after myself and I don’t need you to act as my conscience.’ Daisy turned away at the sound of voices. ‘Here come the others. Don’t spoil their day out. Try to look as if you’re enjoying yourself.’ She greeted them with an attempt at a smile.

‘You two look serious,’ Toby said cheerfully. ‘We can’t have that. This is our afternoon off and we won’t get another for heaven knows how long. Let’s do a couple of turns of the lake and maybe take a boat out, and I’ll treat us all to ice cream.’

Daisy silenced Nick with a warning look. ‘That sounds lovely.’

The rest of the afternoon passed off pleasantly enough, but Daisy was still angry with Nick and he treated her with a hint of reserve. Their argument over Jay had left her feeling ill at ease in Nick’s company. Perhaps she did not know him as well as she had thought, but at least it had had the effect of taking her mind off Julian’s sudden reappearance, albeit temporarily.

When Daisy returned to the lodging house she left Minnie and Ivy heading for the parlour, still chatting about the lovely time they had had in ‘Vicky Park’ and giggling like a pair of schoolgirls. Daisy made an excuse of needing to change her shoes and she went straight to her room, where she unlocked her jewel case and took out Julian’s ring. The diamond sparkled in the early evening sunlight that filtered through the haze of city grime and bird droppings on the windowpanes. It was a pretty thing and the most expensive piece of jewellery she had ever possessed, but it held no sentimental value now. She wrapped it in a handkerchief and tucked it into her reticule. Tomorrow morning, first thing, she would take it to the shop and leave it with Jonah, making him promise to keep it for Julian Carrington. Ordinarily she would not have entrusted him with anything of value, but she knew Jonah well enough to be certain that he would not do anything to offend a possible client, and if there was one thing that Jonah Sawkins respected it was money and the Carrington name.