Daisy shook her head. ‘Thank you, but I have another property to see this afternoon. However, if you’d like to name your price I will have a word with my solicitor, and he will deal with matters from then on.’

‘Do take a seat, my dear lady. I’m sure we can come to a mutually agreed arrangement, and it will be a pleasure to have you as a neighbour.’ His eyes narrowed. ‘But if your future husband is in the diplomatic service, won’t he be away from home for long periods of time?’

‘Of course, and that’s why I wish to be close to my family.’

‘I thought that wives usually accompanied their husbands on such missions.’

‘I think that is a private matter, Squire. It need not concern you.’ Daisy spoke hastily and for a moment she thought that she had made a dreadful mistake.

Twin spots of colour stood out above the squire’s mutton-chop whiskers and his eyes flashed, but he twisted his lips into a smile. ‘I like a woman with spirit. It will be a pleasure doing business with you, Miss Marshall.’

Daisy forced her lips into a smile and resumed her seat. ‘Thank you, Squire. Now, how much are you asking for the Creek Hall estate?’

Squire Tattersall walked slowly round the desk and leaned against it, fixing Daisy with a hard stare. ‘Well, you are direct, Miss Marshall. I think you and I are going to be good friends.’

‘That depends upon how much you think the estate is worth, Squire,’ Daisy said firmly. He was so close that she could feel the heat radiating from his body and the smoky scent of the Harris Tweed mingled with the heady odours of brandy and cigar smoke.

‘I’m certain we can come to a mutually satisfactory arrangement. Are you sure you won’t stay for luncheon?’

Daisy raised her left hand to brush an imaginary hair from her brow and the diamond ring flashed in a ray of sunlight that filtered through the panes of the lattice window. She needed to remind this domineering man that she was engaged to be married, although she had a feeling that such a consideration would carry little weight if he thought that she was fair game. She held his gaze, hoping that he could not hear her heart beating a tattoo against her ribcage, and she wished that she had insisted on having Linnet present, but the thought of saving Creek Hall was uppermost in her mind, and she leaned forward, forcing her lips into a smile. ‘How much are you asking, Squire?’

‘What happened?’ Linnet demanded when they were shown out of the manor house.

‘Not now,’ Daisy said in a low voice. ‘Wait until we’re away from here. I wouldn’t be surprised if the walls really do have ears. The squire seems to know everything that’s going on in the area.

Jay was already standing to attention with the carriage door held open. ‘Well, how did it go?’ He helped Daisy into the carriage and then Linnet.