‘No, Judy. But no one is perfect. I think you need to remember that Ben Godfrey might have started out with high ideals, but he misused the money entrusted to him by the people he had persuaded to back his scheme. That was not entirely altruistic, and Rob was only taking back what was rightfully his. I don’t think that makes him the villain of the piece.’

‘Ben was sorry for mishandling the finances, Daisy. He’s working for nothing in the East End to help the poor and needy.’

Daisy raised a delicate eyebrow. ‘That’s all very fine, but shouldn’t he be paying back the people he swindled out of their money? It’s all very well acting like a hero, but there are honest people whom he’s cheated.’

‘I suppose so. I hadn’t thought about it like that.’

‘Similarly, why should Rob Dorning give up what was his birthright in order to satisfy the whim of others? Ben could have chosen another site for his hospital, had he been in earnest.’

‘You think I’m being too hard on Rob?’

‘I didn’t say that, Judy. But perhaps you could try to look at it from his point of view. His family are a bad lot on both sides, or so it seems. Maybe he feels he needs to atone by taking over the estate and running it well. Don’t forget he owns half the cottages in the village – the ones that both you and I spent so much time attempting to bring up to a high standard.’

‘I might have misjudged him. Perhaps I was a little carried away by Dr Godfrey’s plans.’

Daisy looked up at the sound of someone knocking on the door. ‘Come in.’ She smiled and acknowledged the young housemaid. ‘Tea for two, please, Florrie. And cake. I have a sudden craving for Cook’s ginger cake, if my sons haven’t eaten it all.’

‘Yes’m.’ Florrie grinned and hurried from the room.

‘My daughter likes sweet things,’ Daisy said, patting her rounded belly. ‘I was more into savoury food with each of the boys, although I did once eat a whole trifle when I was expecting Timothy.’ She sat back against the satin cushions. ‘Give Rob a chance, Judy. That’s all I’m saying, and don’t put Ben Godfrey on a pedestal.’

‘I’m afraid I was offhand with Rob. I owe him an apology and I’ll tell him so, when I see him again – if he decides to come back. I’ve made a mess of things, Daisy.’

‘If he loves you nothing will stop him from returning, and you obviously care a great deal more for him than you realise or you wouldn’t be fretting now.’ Daisy poured the tea and handed a cup to Judy. ‘Now drink your tea and keep me company in having a slice of ginger cake. Tea and cake always makes things look better.’

Judy’s conversation with Daisy had given her plenty to think about as she rode home. Daisy was the one person with whom she had something in common: they had both loved a Tattersall. It had not worked out for Daisy, but now Judy was seeing both Rob and Ben Godfrey in a different light. She had hero-worshipped Dr Godfrey since they first met at the London Hospital, and she had been unwilling to admit that her idol could have done anything wrong. Now it was up to her to make amends and she knew exactly what she must do. She encouraged Major to walk a little faster, and she turned his head in the direction of the village, where she paid the ferryman to take her across the water to the Creek Manor estate.