Hilda opened her mouth to answer, but Judy laid her hand on her mother’s arm. ‘No, Ma. That’s enough.’ She sent Jack a warning glance and with obvious reluctance he left the room.

‘You’ll find yourself in trouble if you go on this way,’ Hilda said warily. ‘I don’t want to interfere, Judy, but someone must tell you how things are.’

‘What are you trying to say, Ma?’

‘Remember what happened to Mary at the hands of the old squire,’ Hilda said darkly. ‘Times haven’t changed that much. Jack is a man now, with a man’s needs, and you are a servant in his house. Do you understand?’

‘I think you insult both of us.’ Judy walked to the door and opened it. ‘I have things to do, but you can tell Mrs Tattersall that she need not worry about us. I won’t fall into the same trap that she did.’

Her mother’s words echoed in Judy’s head as she went about her daily tasks, and when she went to bed that night she found it impossible to sleep. Eventually, having tossed and turned for more than an hour, she went downstairs to make herself a cup of cocoa, using the remaining heat from the range to warm a pan of milk. As she sat at the kitchen table, sipping the comforting drink, Judy came to the inevitable conclusion: the time had come for her to leave Creek Manor. It would break her heart to be parted from all those she loved, especially Jack, but she could see no future for herself if she stayed at the manor house. It had been different when Jack was away at university, and she had looked forward eagerly to his return at the end of each term, but he had come home to take up his responsibilities as lord of the manor, he was now at home for good and the relationship he wanted would prove difficult, if not impossible.

Judy finished the cocoa and washed the cup and saucer before returning to her room. Her thoughts had clarified and she knew now what she must do.

At first light Judy was on the road to Colneyhurst and in less than an hour she was seated in the breakfast parlour, drinking coffee with Daisy, who was still wearing a silk wrapper over her lacy nightgown.

‘So you see my problem,’ Judy said, sighing. ‘I love Jack, and I suppose I always have. I think he loves me, but there’s no question of marriage and I don’t trust myself to stay strong, if you know what I mean.’

Daisy nodded and her dark curls flopped over her brow, only to be brushed away with an impatient hand. ‘Of course I do. I think anyone who has ever been in love would understand, but I’m sure Jack wouldn’t do anything to hurt you.’

‘Not intentionally, but his mother wants him to marry someone much more suitable than I. No matter how much Jack pretends it’s of no matter, he is the lord of the manor in his brother’s absence.’