‘Is this a problem, Daisy?’ John asked anxiously. ‘Do you want to go ahead?’

She smiled and nodded. ‘It’s just a band of gold. It’s the man who places it on my finger whom I love.’

Jay leaned down to brush her lips with a kiss.

‘You aren’t married yet,’ John said, frowning. ‘May I continue?’

Jay smiled sheepishly. ‘Yes, I’m sorry, Vicar. I got carried away.’

The rest of the service was brief but it seemed to Daisy that choirs of angels accompanied them as they made their way down the aisle, arm in arm. It was snowing again as they emerged from the church and Jay wrapped a heavy boat cloak around Daisy’s shoulders.

‘You’re not travelling back to Creek Manor in this weather, are you?’ Grace Peabody asked anxiously.

‘They’re expecting us,’ Jay said firmly.

‘And I want to see the children open their presents tomorrow morning,’ Daisy added, smiling despite the fact that snow was blowing in her face.

‘But the tide is against you now.’ John Peabody unfurled a large black umbrella and held it over his wife’s head. ‘Why don’t you wait until later?’

‘We’re good at rowing, Vicar.’ Ramsden pulled up the collar on his pea-jacket. ‘Clem and me have coped with worse than this.’

‘Then at least come to the vicarage and have some breakfast before you set off.’ Grace turned to her maid without waiting for a response. ‘Hurry on ahead, Clara. Tell Cook to prepare bacon and eggs for four extra guests, and plenty of toast.’

‘Yes’m.’ Clara wrapped her cape tightly around her and dashed off into the swirling snow.

‘I could do with a bite to eat, guv.’ Guppy eyed Jay hopefully.

‘Of course.’ Jay smiled and kissed Grace on the cheek. ‘That’s very kind, Mrs Peabody. A noble gesture considering the fact that I woke you and the vicar at such an ungodly hour.’

‘Not at all, especially since you’ve become the village benefactor.’ Grace nodded to a woman who was struggling against the snow, staggering beneath the weight of a wicker basket filled with groceries. ‘Good morning, Mrs Gilks.’

‘Good morning, ma’am.’ Mrs Gilks paused, eyeing Jay with a shy smile. ‘Ta, for the food, sir. Me and my family will have a good Christmas, thanks to you.’

‘The thanks is due to my good lady, ma’am,’ Jay said, smiling. ‘She’s the one who realised how bad things were for some people in Little Creek, but that is coming to an end. I’ll do my best to make life bearable for my tenants, and that’s a promise.’

‘God bless you, sir. You, too, ma’am.’ Mrs Gilks bowed her head against the increasingly heavy snowfall and stumbled on towards her cottage.

Daisy clutched Jay’s arm to steady herself as they negotiated the icy path to the vicarage. ‘That was well said. I’m proud of you.’

‘I’m not such a bad chap at heart. You were the first to realise that, Daisy mine.’

She smiled despite the icy shards bombarding her face. ‘You may call me that now. I rather like it.’