‘I think you’ll find he’s improved immensely,’ Daisy said quietly. She could hear sniggers coming from some of Jack’s classmates and Elliot rapped on his desk with a wooden ruler.

‘Children, open your primers at page twenty-three, where we left off yesterday. Read on and I’ll test you later.’ He glanced down at a small child who held her slate up for his inspection. ‘Very good, Ida, but a dog has four legs, not five.’

‘That’s his tail, sir,’ Ida lisped.

‘Yes. Well done. Sit down now and your sister Letty will show you how to write the word dog.’ Elliot turned to Daisy with an ingratiating smile. ‘You have such a talent for teaching, Miss Marshall. I wonder if you would be interested in helping with some of the younger ones. I really need an assistant.’

Daisy glanced round at the children and was tempted to accept, but she had no intention of encouraging Elliot’s tentative advances. He had betrayed his feelings for her in looks rather than words, and it was time to let him down gently. He was a good man, but not for her. She smiled and shook her head. ‘Thank you, Mr Massey, but I’m afraid I have too much to do at home to consider taking up such a challenge.’ A sudden memory of something that Dove had said occurred to her in a flash of inspiration. ‘But I think I know someone who would make an excellent assistant.’

Elliot’s face fell and he swallowed hard. For a moment she thought he was going to cry and she hoped the children had not noticed. From experience she knew that the young could sense weakness in someone of authority and play on it for all their worth. She did not wish to add to Elliot’s distress.

‘I’m so sorry, Miss Marshall. Might you reconsider your decision when you have had more time to think about it?’

‘I’m afraid not, Mr Massey. I really must go now, but I’ll have a word with the young lady in question. I think she would be so right for the school, but that would be for you both to decide.’ Daisy laid her hand briefly on his chalky sleeve, smiled and hurried from the classroom before he could think of anything to delay her.

Outside in the deserted playground she took deep breaths of the cold, clean air. It was all so different here from living in the city. London seemed further away than ever, but she still missed the bustle of the busy streets and the feeling of being at the heart of things. Out here they lived in a small world, seemingly ruled by Squire Tattersall. It had been a shock to learn that he held the lease on her aunt and uncle’s cottage, and now he knew the truth he would realise that she did not have two pennies to rub together, let alone the funds to purchase Creek Hall. She ought to go home and rescue Aunt Eleanora, but her aunt was capable of looking after herself, and she would not stand for any nonsense from the squire. In fact, he was likely to come off worst in any argument. Aunt Eleanora had more than twenty-five years’ experience of brow-beating her husband and bending him to her will, which would stand her in good stead when dealing with the squire. Daisy smiled as she thought of her uncle, who had found peace at last. Fishing had taken over his life and he could spend hours wading in ice-cold water or huddled on the river-bank, enjoying the freedom away from the business world and an overbearing wife.