‘Perhaps. We’ll see.’ Jay came to a halt, shaking his head. ‘No more back doors for me. We’ll enter through the front door, Daisy. I dare say I might get used to this, in time.’ He patted her hand. ‘Do you see yourself as lady of the manor?’

‘I see myself dying of lung fever if we don’t go inside soon. It’s snowing again, unless you hadn’t noticed.’

‘I see nothing but your beautiful face, Daisy mine.’

She snatched her hand free. ‘Don’t call me that.’

He slipped his arm around her waist. ‘You do realise that you’ve been on my ship for several days without the benefit of a chaperone, Miss Marshall. You’ll have to marry me to save my good name.’

‘You are ridiculous.’ They were both laughing when Molesworth opened the door to the main entrance. His eyes widened and his mouth dropped open.

‘Good day to you, Molesworth.’ Jay ushered Daisy into the hall. He stopped to gaze at his surroundings. ‘So this is what it’s like to be lord of the manor. I’ve always had to creep in through the servants’ quarters.’ He took off his hat and greatcoat and handed them to the startled butler, while a young maidservant hurried up to take Daisy’s cloak and bonnet.

‘We weren’t expecting you, sir,’ Molesworth said stiffly.

‘Well, as you see, I’m here and so is Miss Marshall. Unfortunately the weather seems to be closing in again, so you’d better ask Mrs Ralston to have rooms made ready for us.’

‘There’s a fire in the drawing room, sir. Shall I inform Mrs Tattersall that you are here?’

‘Mrs Tattersall?’ Jay stared at Molesworth, a frown puckering his brow.

Daisy grasped Jay’s arm. ‘Your mother must be here, Jay. I was hoping that the girls could persuade her to move in.’

‘Lead on then, Molesworth. I’ve been here dozens of times but I confess I’ve never been above stairs before. You’ll have to show me round.’

‘I know where to find them,’ Daisy said hurriedly. ‘Perhaps Molesworth could arrange for us to have some refreshments. My hands and feet are frozen and I’d love a cup of tea.’

Molesworth’s disapproving expression softened slightly. ‘I’ll inform the kitchen, miss.’

‘Thank you, Molesworth,’ she said, smiling. ‘Come along, Jay. This time I can show you the way.’

There was something different about the old house. Perhaps it was the log fire that blazed up the chimney at the far end of the entrance hall, or maybe it was the vases spilling over with holly and ivy that had been strategically placed so that the splashes of colour broke up the austere wainscoting. As they made their way to the drawing room there were signs that children were residing in what had previously felt like a house of doom. A hoop and stick had been abandoned in the passageway together with a bat and ball, and someone had put a top hat on the head of an alabaster bust of Julius Caesar with a striped woollen muffler tied around his neck. Jay did not seem to notice as he strode along at her side, but Daisy sensed his eagerness to see his family and she quickened her pace. When they reached the drawing room she threw open the double doors. Jack was sitting on a rug by the fire playing cards with Judy Begg, while Molly kept Pip and Nate occupied by pushing them round the room on a battered-looking wooden horse that someone must have unearthed from the attic. Mary and Hilda were seated on either side of a roaring fire, but Mary leaped to her feet and ran to throw her arms around her son.