Daisy wriggled free from her husband’s grasp and stepped forward, her eyes blazing. ‘How dare you speak of your mother in those terms? You should be ashamed of yourself.’

Before he could answer, his sister Dove pushed past Nick. ‘Jay Fox, you are a disgrace. I can’t believe you said that. How dare you come back to Little Creek and start causing trouble?’

‘You can go away again as far as I’m concerned.’ Linnet moved swiftly to her sister’s side. ‘We don’t want you here after what you did to Daisy. This is Hilda’s day, so mind your own business and keep quiet. We’ll sort you out later.’

‘Really?’ Jay threw his head back and laughed. ‘I think I have the upper hand, little sister. I have come back to take up my position as lord of the manor.’

‘You wretch!’ Daisy moved too quickly for anyone to restrain her. She rushed at Jay arm raised, and before he had a chance to dodge the blow she slapped his face. The sound echoed off the high ceiling, and there was a sudden hush as everyone stared at them, open-mouthed.

Jay nursed his red cheek, and then he laughed. ‘You wouldn’t have done that ten years ago, Daisy, my love.’

‘Maybe not,’ she said icily. ‘But it’s time someone took you to task. Jack has received a good education, and, due to your continued absence, he’s the lord of the manor now. You can’t take that away from him.’

‘What I do no longer concerns you, Daisy Marshall. You are nothing to me.’

‘I’m Mrs Marius Walters and have been for the last ten years, but I’m very fond of Jack and Mary, and I don’t want to see them hurt.’

‘The lady in question has just walked into the house,’ Jay said casually. ‘Mother, it’s me. I’ve come home.’

The guests who had crowded into the great hall moved aside, and Mary walked slowly towards her son, her face ashen and her lips moving soundlessly.

Dove rushed forward but Mary shook off her daughter’s restraining hand. ‘So you’ve turned up again, like the bad penny you are, Jay Fox.’

‘Oh, Ma, don’t play games with me. You of all people know who fathered me – I’m Jay Tattersall, and I am the master here now. I’ve spoken to Jack, and at least he is overjoyed to see me, which is more than I can say for the lot of you.’

A ripple of disapproval ran through the onlookers, but it seemed that no one had the courage to speak out. Judy stood frozen to the spot. She felt as though she was watching a drama on the stage, and as a member of the audience there was nothing she could contribute to the scene. But there would be no applause at the end of this performance.

‘How could you do this to us, Jay?’ Mary said sadly. ‘Why did you come back after all these years? Aren’t you ashamed of the trouble you’ve caused?’