The flattery worked and Tattersall puffed out his chest. Turning his back on Jay he proffered his arm to Daisy. ‘I had you down as a minx, Miss Marshall, and now I can see my first impression was correct. You will allow me to see you safely home.’

Daisy thought quickly. The last thing she needed was for the squire to discover that she was living in a small cottage with her aunt and uncle. It would destroy the image she had taken such pains to create. ‘Thank you, Squire, but I have an appointment at Creek Hall. I contacted the housekeeper and asked if I might view the property. I wouldn’t want to take you out of your way. Fox will drive me there.’

‘Then I’ll walk you to your carriage.’ Tattersall grasped her hand and was about to tuck it in the crook of his arm when a commotion broke out close to them and a fight ensued. ‘What the devil? Where are the police when you need them?’ He released Daisy and strode towards the mêlée.

‘Quick,’ Daisy gasped. ‘Let’s go.’

Jay took her hand and plunged into the crowd that had gathered to watch the scrap. They raced across the grass, like a couple of children running away from an irate schoolmaster, and when they reached the trap the boy was still holding Hero’s reins.

‘Good fellow,’ Jay said, pressing a silver sixpence into the astonished child’s hand. ‘That’s for being trustworthy.’ Jay lifted Daisy onto the driver’s seat and sprung up beside her. ‘Walk on, Hero. We’re going home.’

‘Do you think the squire believed me?’ Daisy asked anxiously.

‘Not a chance. He’s no fool, and he’ll be on the lookout for me now. I should have kept my mouth shut.’

‘Does he know that about the Lazy Jane?’

‘If the authorities knew where we’d beached they would have impounded her by now,’ Jay said evasively. He shot her a sideways glance. ‘I’ll need to disappear for a while, Daisy.’

‘Where will you go?’

‘Jane is almost seaworthy. It’s time I rejoined my crew. Life ashore isn’t for the likes of me.’

‘I’m sorry,’ Daisy said with genuine regret. ‘It seems wrong that your past mistakes don’t allow you to have a normal life. Your parents will be sad and so will Jack.’

‘You’re right about Jack, but he’s young and he’ll get over it. As to my dad, he’ll be glad to see the back of me, and Mum just goes along with whatever he says.’

‘I’m sure your parents love you.’

He chuckled. ‘You’d never know it. Anyway, I’m a man now, Daisy. I don’t need to be tied to my mother’s apron strings. But I will miss you.’

‘Isn’t there another way? I mean, you could find work and prove that you can live a normal life.’

His derisive laughter echoed off the bare branches of the trees as they drove through a small spinney. ‘What is normal, Daisy? Farmworkers striving to bring up families on starvation wages? Fishermen unable to make a living in winter due to bad weather? Able-bodied men unable to find work of any kind? The workhouses are full of people like these, and I don’t want to end up like that. I’m not clever like Nick – I haven’t got the brains to be a doctor or a lawyer, so I do what I can in order to survive.’