She laid her hands on his chest, holding on to the last vestige of pride. ‘You walked away and left me yesterday. What changed your mind?’

He released her, smiling ruefully. ‘For once in my life I was trying to do the right thing, but it doesn’t sit well with me. I didn’t realise quite how much you meant to me until I thought I’d lost you.’

She was naked beneath her nightclothes and it was bitterly cold in the hallway. The front door was still open and an icy blast snatched at the thin material of her nightgown. She folded her wrapper around her, even though it was too late for modesty, and she closed the door. ‘Come into the parlour, Jay. There’s something I have to tell you.’ Taking him by the hand she led him into the room. ‘I have a confession to make – I’ve done something you might not like.’

Jay sat in a chair by the fire, which gave out a little heat even if it had burned down to glowing embers, and he pulled her onto his lap. ‘Let me hear this confession and I’ll absolve you from your crime. It can’t be worse than anything I’ve done in the past.’

‘You’re laughing at me, but you might not when you know the truth.’ She smiled despite the sudden frisson of nerves that made her shiver. ‘I told Mr Keyes to give food to the poor, up to the value of thirty shillings for each household, and I said you would pay.’

He threw back his head and laughed. ‘I heard about that and I wish I’d thought of it.’

‘Who told you?’

‘I went to the vicarage before I came here this morning and I hammered on the door until Peabody answered it. We had quite a long chat and he told me what you’d done.’

‘I’m sorry, I know I should have asked you first, but I wasn’t sure if I’d ever see you again.’

His eyes darkened and he held her close. ‘How could you think that? You must know I love you.’

‘I knew that you wanted me. There’s a difference.’

He lifted her to her feet and stood up, his smile fading. ‘I’m not like my father, Daisy. I don’t play fast and loose with innocent girls.’

‘But you went to the vicarage before you came here? Why would you do such a thing?’

‘Because I wanted everything to be above board. My mother suffered at the hands of a selfish man who cared nothing for her or for me. I want to do right by you.’ He went down on one knee, taking her hand in his. ‘Daisy Marshall, I love you more than life itself – will you do me the honour of becoming my wife? The vicar is waiting in the church and Mrs Peabody and her maid are willing to act as witnesses. Please say yes, because I can’t go another day without you, Daisy mine.’