‘You’ll never get anywhere if you think like that,’ Daisy said angrily. ‘What sort of example are you setting for Jack? He thinks the world of you.’

‘And what do you think of me, Daisy? What is your honest opinion?’

‘I think you could do whatever you set your mind on, Jay. You just need to decide what it is you want.’ She had expected him to argue, but he looked away and they travelled on in silence. Daisy was tempted to apologise for being too outspoken, but she was convinced that she was in the right. One day his luck would run out and the law would catch up with Jay and the Lazy Jane. If Nick were here he would almost certainly agree with her, and maybe Jay would listen to his childhood friend, but Nick was in London attempting to save Creek Hall. Why was life so complicated?

They parted outside Creek Cottage. The sun had plummeted below the horizon, it was bitterly cold and it would soon be dark. Jay leaped to the ground, but Daisy climbed down before he had a chance to help her. She needed to distance herself from this complicated and dangerously exciting man.

‘Thank you for taking me to see the boat, and the fair.’ She was suddenly conscious of his nearness, and she dropped her gaze.

‘I won’t see you for a long time and I don’t want to part on bad terms.’

She raised her eyes slowly, but his face was in deep shadow and she could not read his expression. He was standing very close and the scent of him filled her nostrils as he leaned forward to kiss her long and hard on the lips.

‘That was goodbye. I would stay if I could, but my presence would bring trouble to you and my family. Tattersall is not a man to be ignored. I have to go right away.’ He brushed her lips again with a gentle kiss. ‘Be good to Nick. He’s a sound chap and I think he loves you, Daisy.’

He climbed up onto the driver’s seat and urged Hero into a trot, leaving Daisy staring after him, too stunned to speak and shocked by her reaction to his brief embrace. He was gone, swallowed up by the gathering gloom, leaving her alone and enveloped in silence apart from the gurgling sound of water tumbling over the stones in the creek, and the mournful cry of a barn owl.

Daisy was helping Hattie to prepare breakfast next morning when Linnet walked into the kitchen, having slept at home on her day off.

‘He’s gone,’ she said brusquely. ‘Jay packed his bag and left last night. Not a word to Mum and Dad, just a hug for me and he said he had no choice.’ She glared at Daisy. ‘I know you were with him yesterday. Why did he leave so suddenly?’

Hattie stopped carving a ham and waved the knife at her. ‘You don’t speak to Miss Marshall in that tone, Linnet. You forget yourself.’