‘Very well,’ Nick said grudgingly. ‘I have a couple of calls to make and then I’ll come to Creek Cottage on my way home. I hope you’ve got a good explanation because your disappearance has caused a great deal of trouble.’

‘Just a minute,’ Daisy cried angrily. ‘You have no right to criticise me when you don’t know the facts.’

Nick blinked and stared at her in surprise. ‘Well, I …’

‘Help me down, Mr Massey.’ Daisy held her hand out to him. ‘I refuse to argue in public,’ she added, noticing that the postmaster was standing in the doorway of his cottage, taking in the scene with apparent interest. ‘Thank you for bringing me into the village, but I’ll go with the doctor on his rounds.’

‘No, really, Daisy,’ Nick protested. ‘That isn’t necessary.’

She alighted from the trap and climbed up to sit beside Nick. ‘But it is. You have no right to judge my actions until you hear my side of the story. Drive on.’

He flicked the reins and they started off very slowly across the treacherous ground. While he concentrated on the road ahead Daisy told him the reason for her sudden disappearance, and he grudgingly agreed that there was nothing she could have done.

‘There’s one thing I don’t understand, Nick.’ Daisy turned her head to stare at his stern profile. ‘Why are you so angry with me? I thought you would be more reasonable.’

‘I was worried about you and I suppose I felt guilty.’ He shot her a sideways glance. ‘There’s something I have to tell you.’

‘Yes, I know. Linnet told me that you and Dove are more than friends.’

‘I’m sorry, Daisy. We grew close after you left for London, but I still care about you and I was frantic with worry when I heard that you had seemingly vanished off the face of the earth.’

‘You don’t have to worry about my feelings, Nick. I’m glad that you’ve met someone who makes you happy.’

‘I wouldn’t go so far as that, Daisy,’ Nick said ruefully. ‘I’m very fond of Dove, and she’s good company, but …’

‘It’s nothing to be ashamed of. You can’t always choose the person you love.’

‘But you and I were a perfect match, Daisy. I honestly thought so and my regard for you hasn’t changed.’

She sighed with relief. At last it was out in the open. ‘Nor mine for you, but my heart lies elsewhere, too.’

‘With Jay? I might have known it. Is that why he abducted you?’

‘I’ve already explained that, Nick. It wasn’t planned. It all happened because of a dreadful accident to one of his crew, and then it was the weather that prevented him from putting me ashore. You might say that Jay and I have been thrown together.’

‘Does he love you?’

‘I think so.’

‘If it’s true, why did he abandon you just before Christmas?’

‘Jay wasn’t to know that my aunt and uncle are in London. He thought he was doing the right thing.’ Somehow she could not bring herself to admit that her brief romance with Jay might be over. That would be too painful.