She curled up, turned on her side and closed her eyes.

Daisy was awakened by someone tapping gently on her door. ‘Yes? Who is it?’

‘It’s Lewis, miss. I’ve brought your dress.’

She sat up. ‘Come in, Lewis.’

He opened the door, holding the gown in front of him and turning his head away.

‘It’s all right. I’m perfectly decent.’

‘I got some of the stain out, but not all of it,’ Lewis said apologetically.

Daisy took it from him and examined the bodice. There was a faint pink shadow but the worst of the stain had been washed away. ‘Thank you, Lewis. You’ve done a splendid job.’

His cheeks flamed but he smiled shyly. ‘I tried, miss.’

‘Are you looking forward to going home? You must miss your family.’

‘There’s ten of us at home. I doubt if they’ve noticed I’m not there.’

‘I can’t believe that. Your mother will worry about you, I’m sure.’

‘Ma’s always got another baby to fuss over. It’s Benny’s ma who’ll be sad, miss.’

‘Yes, I’m so sorry for her loss. Does she live nearby?’

‘She lives in the pig man’s cottage. My dad let her stay on after Uncle Isaiah died.’

‘Was Benny her only son?’

‘Yes, miss.’

‘How terrible. It will be a bleak Christmas for her, but you must tell her that Benny received the very best care at the London Hospital.’

‘Yes, miss. I got to go. I’m helping Cook with breakfast.’

‘Of course. I’m sorry I kept you from your work.’ Daisy waited until the door closed on him before getting up. She took off Jay’s shirt and folded it neatly, laying it over the end of the bunk. After a quick wash in ice-cold water she slipped on her dress, which was now warm and dry and she brushed her hair, allowing it to hang loosely around her shoulders.

It seemed important to leave the cabin as she found it and she moved about the small area, tidying it so that virtually no trace of her remained. The memory of Jay’s embrace was still fresh in her mind, as were the feelings he had aroused in her, and now she must face him over breakfast as if nothing had happened.

To her intense relief he was not in the saloon, although breakfast had been laid out as usual. Lewis brought her a pot of tea and some toast.

‘Thank you, Lewis. Has the captain eaten yet?’

‘I took him some coffee earlier, but we’re heading into the creek. We should be at anchor within the hour.’ He left her to eat her breakfast in solitary silence, and when she had finished she wrapped her cloak around her and went up on deck.

The air was icy and a bitter east wind tugged at her clothes and slapped her cheeks as the ship glided silently towards the shore. She clutched the rail, squinting as her eyes grew accustomed to the cold white light reflecting off the snowy banks, and the gleam of the pale winter sunshine on the steely grey waters of the creek. It was a black and white landscape, apart from the odd evergreen tree in the woods, and the sudden and startling contrast of the bright scarlet berries on the holly bushes. Daisy had been longing to get ashore and back to normality, but suddenly life on board the Lazy Jane felt like reality and returning to Little Creek was a step into the unknown.