She carved herself a slice of ham, buttered a slice of bread and sat down to enjoy her breakfast. When Guppy brought a freshly made pot of tea she managed a bright smile. ‘Jay tells me that we’re going to Little Creek. If there’s anything I can do to help during the voyage I’m only too happy to oblige.’

Guppy almost dropped the pot as he gazed at her in astonishment. ‘Well, I never! With due respect, miss, I thought you was going to be difficult. I mean, you wasn’t exactly a willing passenger, was you?’

‘No, I suppose not, but I’ve had a word with the captain and I can see the logic of his decision. I can make myself useful.’

Guppy stroked his ginger beard, eyeing her thoughtfully. ‘Now you come to mention it, miss. I believe you’re a medical person.’

‘I’m training to be a nurse.’

‘Well, Cook has a nasty boil on the back of his neck. It’s been plaguing him for days. Do you think you could do anything for him?’

‘I most certainly can. Let me finish my breakfast and then you can show me where the galley is. I’ll need hot water and something to make a poultice. Bread will do.’

‘And I’ve got a splinter that’s gone deep into me finger.’

Daisy smiled. ‘I’m sure I can deal with that, too.’

There were only three crew members apart from Jay. Guppy was the mate, Ramsden the cook, and Lewis was just a boy who did what he was told, most of the time anyway. He attached himself to Daisy, and she only had to ask for something and Lewis would do his best to oblige. He was the healthiest of all of them apart from Jay, who seemed to be fighting fit. Daisy made a bread poultice for Ramsden’s boil and another from soap and sugar for Guppy’s splinter. After three days and several applications both were successful and Ramsden’s temper improved, as did his cooking. Guppy’s finger healed and Jay was full of praise for Daisy’s nursing skill, but there remained a slight tension between them when it came to talking about the future. Jay seemed determined to resist becoming the lord of the manor, and although he listened politely to Daisy’s arguments, he refused to see reason.

They were in the saloon on the third evening, having enjoyed a filling supper of salt beef stew. ‘We should make landfall tomorrow, and I’m a free man.’ He raised his glass of wine in a toast. ‘The squire tried to ruin me, but he’s only succeeded in making me stronger. I can do as I please.’

Daisy sighed. ‘You’re impossible. You can’t go on as before, Jay. You’ve got your mother and your brother and sisters to consider as well as your tenants. It’s not just you now.’

He downed a mouthful of wine. ‘I can do both. Ma and the girls will want for nothing, and I might take Jack on as cabin boy.’