Elliot recoiled as if Jack’s childish admiration for another man had been intended as a slur on himself. ‘Or you could be a teacher, like me. You have to work hard at your lessons if you wish to succeed, Jack.’

Jack shrugged. ‘If you say so, sir.’

Daisy went to sit beside him. ‘The main thing is to keep you occupied until your arm has healed, and then you can go back to school with your friends.’

‘Well said, Miss Marshall.’ Elliot beamed at her, his sallow cheeks tinged with pink. ‘You obviously have a way with children.’

‘I was a governess for a couple of years, Mr Massey. I was very fond of Master Timothy, but his parents thought he was old enough to go away to school, and I was no longer needed.’

‘So you decided to come and live in the country?’

‘Yes, for the time being, at least. I haven’t quite made up my mind.’

‘Oh, you must stay,’ Elliot said earnestly. ‘Someone like yourself could do so much for a village like Little Creek. I find the people here are sadly behind the times.’

‘That isn’t my impression, Mr Massey.’ Daisy rose to her feet. ‘Would you like a cup of tea? I’ll go and ask Hattie to make up a tray.’

He half rose from his chair. ‘Please don’t go to any trouble on my behalf. I merely came to see Jack and make sure that he was all right.’ He sank down again, flushed and obviously embarrassed. ‘I didn’t mean to cast aspersions on the care he is receiving here. I hope you didn’t think …?’

‘No, of course not.’ Daisy managed a smile. ‘You can rest assured that Jack will be given the best of care and I’ll make sure he does as much study as he can.’

‘Yes, I’m sure you will.’ Elliot stood up awkwardly. ‘I’d better go now, but if you wish to talk to me about anything, or if you need my advice, please don’t hesitate to contact me at the schoolhouse.’

‘Thank you, I will. I’ll show you out, Mr Massey.’

He hesitated, holding out his hand and then letting it drop to his side. ‘Elliot, please. I hope we might be friends. There are so few people in the village with whom I have anything in common. It would be wonderful to have some intelligent conversation for a change.’

‘Perhaps you haven’t met the right people,’ Daisy said more sharply than she had intended, but to her surprise Elliot seemed to take this as a compliment.

‘You’re right, of course,’ he said eagerly. ‘I must call on Squire Tattersall and introduce myself, and maybe that will lead to a more varied social life.’ He shrugged on his coat and placed his top hat carefully on his smarmed-down hair. ‘Perhaps I might call on you again, Miss Marshall? If I were fortunate enough to be invited to attend a soirée at Creek Manor, I would need a suitable companion.’