Daisy took her place at his side, and he curled his fingers around her hand. She gave him an encouraging smile. ‘Tell your mother everything, Jay. She deserves to know the truth.’

‘Go on, son,’ Mary urged when he remained silent.

‘When I came out of prison Molesworth met me at the gates. I was taken to an inn where I met with the squire, and what he offered me sounded reasonable enough. After all, what chance would an ex-convict have of finding useful employment?’

‘What was this offer?’ Mary asked suspiciously.

‘The squire owned a ship, the Lazy Jane, and I paid for my freedom by doing the squire’s dirty work. He made a fortune from free trading, as he liked to call it, and I have to admit that I enjoyed the excitement of keeping one step ahead of the authorities.’

‘That’s how you knew about the tunnel,’ Daisy said slowly. ‘You brought smuggled goods here.’

‘And people, too.’ Jay chuckled. ‘The squire didn’t care how he made his money or who suffered as a consequence of his greed. Although why he chose me to carry out his plans I’ll never know.’

‘Perhaps he took pleasure in the fact that he could make you do what he wanted.’ Daisy raised Jay’s hand to her cheek. ‘I don’t know how he could have treated his own flesh and blood in such a callous way.’

‘He was a cruel man.’ Mary laid her head on Jay’s shoulder. ‘I’m so sorry for all that you’ve suffered.’

‘It wasn’t your fault Ma.’ Jay gave her a hug. ‘You did your best for me. Although I’ll never understand why you married the old devil.’

‘I did it for you. I thought I was doing the right thing by pretending that Lemuel was your father. I wanted to give you a better chance in life, but I know now that I was wrong.’

‘I can look after myself, Ma,’ Jay said tenderly. ‘The squire and Lemuel Fox treated you badly and both of them let you down. You were the one who suffered most and now you deserve better.’

‘I know what you’re saying, Jay, but this place feels haunted,’ Mary said, shuddering. ‘I see ghosts everywhere. I remember myself as a young and innocent girl with my whole life before me, and it was ruined by that man.’

‘Not all of it. You’re still young enough to have a good life, and I’ll see that you do. I’ve been a bad son, but I’ll do what I can to make up for the years when I should have been taking care of you.’

Hilda took her hanky from her pocket and blew her nose loudly, and Daisy had to wipe a tear from her eyes.

‘Will you give up the evil trade, son?’ Mary asked softly. ‘I can’t live here if you’re paying for it by risking arrest and imprisonment or even transportation to a penal colony.’

‘Your mother’s right,’ Daisy said hastily. ‘Surely the squire must have left a fortune, even if it was gained from his illicit dealings.’