'Well, girl. Have you nothing to say for yourself?' Lady Letitia Davenport's icy voice brought Daisy's chin up and she stared defiantly at her accuser, her dark eyes flashing.

'You called me a thief and I've told you I'm not. What else can I say?' She was proud that her voice remained steady. But behind her back her nails dug into her palms and her knees trembled beneath the long skirt and as soon as the words were out she bit her lip. What had possessed her to speak out to the mistress like that? Now, even if the ring turned up and they realized she hadn't pinched it, she'd lose her job for sure.

She turned to Miss Georgina but the girl avoided her eyes. No help there, Daisy thought, as Lady Davenport began to speak again, the cold words making her tremble.

'So – you add insolence to dishonesty.' She curled her lip. 'You were taken out of the kitchen to become Miss Georgina's personal maid against my wishes. But she asked for you specially. And Mrs Harris gave you an excellent recommendation. If you'd remained a kitchen maid, this would never have happened. Temptation would not have been placed in your way. You have betrayed the trust placed in you and I have no alternative but to let you go – without a reference, of course.'

Daisy gasped. How would she get another job? She opened her mouth to protest but Lady Davenport held up a thin jewelled hand. 'You will be out of this house within the hour.' She went to the fireplace and tugged at the bell pull.

When Mrs Harris answered the summons, she was told to accompany Daisy to her room and oversee her packing.

Resenting the inference that she wasn't to be trusted, Daisy stalked out of the room behind the housekeeper, her head held high, hiding her hurt. She couldn't prove she was innocent. But she had hoped that Miss Georgina would speak up for her.

In her little room at the end of the corridor next to her mistress's room, she pulled off the starched white cap, releasing a cloud of dark curls to tumble around her shoulders. She took off the snowy frilled apron and black dress and changed into a shabby gown of dark green wool, wondering how such a lovely day could have turned so quickly to disaster.

Earlier that afternoon Miss Georgina had come upstairs to change and show off her engagement ring with its half circle of sapphires and diamonds. They'd been expecting the announcement below stairs for days. Henry Thornton was a friend of the family who owned a large brewery in Portsmouth and had many other business interests. He was not only wealthy but completely besotted with the Davenports' only daughter. Everyone agreed it was a good match.

Now the ring was missing and Daisy had racked her brains to try and imagine what had happened to it. She remembered Georgina taking it off before she dressed for dinner. But she'd looked everywhere and there was no sign of it.

As she threw her things into a bag with no attempt to fold them, she began to cry. It wasn't just the accusation of stealing that caused the tears to fall faster, it was the realization that she might never see Master Jack again. A mere glimpse of the handsome lieutenant in his naval uniform could set her heart racing. And a smile or a brief word would ensure her happiness for days afterwards.

She moved to the window and looked out at the darkening sky. After the pleasantly mild March day, a wind had got up and was now whipping the bare branches of the elm trees surrounding the paddock. Dusk was falling and the rooks were making their usual evening racket as they settled onto their twiggy nests for the night. A jackdaw flew across the garden, disappearing into the tangle of ivy and creeper that almost smothered the corner of the old dairy. How she hated the thought of leaving all this. Even without those longed-for encounters with Jack, she would have been happy in this house with its beautiful grounds and the Downs in the distance. It was all so different from her life in the cramped little cottage in Fish Lane down by Kingsbourne Harbour.

Since her promotion to lady's maid, her life had improved immeasurably. But even working in the kitchen hadn't been too bad, despite the attempted assaults by Philip, the Davenports' elder son, and the unwanted attentions of Ernest Jenkins, the groom turned chauffeur. Still, she should have looked for another job ages ago, especially when she first realized she was falling in love with Master Jack. If only she could see him before she left. But surely if he felt the same way as she did, he'd have sought her out?

She brushed a hand across her eyes, consoling herself with the thought that she'd be with her family again. She hadn't missed the damp little harbourside cottage, but she'd missed them, worried about how they were managing. How could she tell them she'd lost her job? Well, at least they'd believe she wasn't a thief.

Behind her Mrs Harris coughed. 'Come along, girl. No use moping here,' she said. As Daisy turned away from the window she continued, 'We're all behind you, love. No one below stairs thinks you took it.'

'Then where is it? And why is the mistress so ready to think I stole it?' Daisy said, a sob catching in her throat.

'She wants an excuse to be rid of you,' Mrs Harris said. 'She's noticed the way Master Jack looks at you.'

Daisy's heart leapt but she forced a laugh. 'Don't be silly,' she said, picking up her bag and following Mrs Harris down the back stairs. Word of her disgrace would have reached the kitchen by now in the mysterious way that news in big houses always filtered below stairs without anyone quite knowing how.

She couldn't face them and, instead of going through the servants' quarters, she said a hasty goodbye to the housekeeper, pushed open the door and marched across the wide entrance hall. Servants were forbidden to use the front door but, squaring her shoulders, she thought, at least they can't sack me for it now.

As she reached the door, a voice startled her. 'Daisy, I'm so glad I caught you.' It was Miss Georgina, her eyes red, clutching a sodden handkerchief. Even so, Daisy was struck by her beauty – and her likeness to Jack – her golden hair and startling blue eyes.

'I've been talking to Mama, trying to make her change her mind,' Georgina said.

Daisy swallowed her pride. 'You believe me, don't you? I didn't take your ring.'

'Of course I believe you. But Mama says there's no other explanation. The ring's gone and you were the only one in the room.'

Anger at the injustice of it welled up. 'So you do think I took it. Well, where is it now? You searched my room and didn't find it.' Daisy thrust her bag at Georgina. 'Why don't you search this before I go?'

It was Georgina's turn to get angry. 'I said I believe you.'

Daisy turned away and wrestled with the big front door. Without another word, she left the house. As she started down the long drive, she looked back, wishing that she could have seen Master Jack just once more before she left.

It had grown darker. The wind was cold and it started to rain. She shivered, pulling her hat down over her ears. It was a long walk to Kingsbourne Harbour.

As she trudged along, head down against the wind, she refused to give way to the threatening tears. Who cared what the Davenports thought? Still, it hurt that they believed the worst of her after she'd worked blamelessly for them for six years. But the ring was missing. Where could it be?

She remembered the young mistress coming in and showing off the beautiful sapphire and diamond ring.

'Would you like to get married, Daisy?' she'd asked.

Daisy had carried on laying out her mistress's clothes, the lace-edged chemise, the fine silk stockings. 'Haven't thought about it much, miss,' she said.

'I expect you will one day. After all, you don't want to end up like Mrs Harris.' Georgina giggled and tossed her fair curls.

Daisy smiled but didn't reply. Before she could suppress it, the image of Jack Davenport in his naval uniform, fair haired and blue eyed, had filled her mind and she felt her face and neck grow warm. She had busied herself picking up her mistress's discarded clothes and putting them away. No point in dreaming, she told herself firmly.

Daisy tried not to think of the future too much. She didn't want to remain in service all her life. She wanted to better herself, but she wasn't quite sure how. There were so few choices for a girl of her station. Because of her family's troubles she had been unable to fulfil her dream of becoming a teacher. Her father had been crippled in an accident and Daisy had left school to help at home, while her two older brothers tried to earn a living fishing. Nursing Dad had been no hardship but the fishing had been bad for several years running. With little money coming in, Daisy had overcome her family's protests and gone into service.

Contrary to her expectations she'd been happy at Ryfe Hall, especially when she became Miss Georgina's personal maid. It was a step up from kitchen or parlour maid anyway. And her young mistress was easy to work for. A bit spoilt, maybe, but always full of fun and ready to share a joke. Until today, that was.

As she trudged down the long drive, head bent against the wind, she pictured Miss Georgina sitting at the dressing table in her peach satin robe while Daisy brushed her hair. 'Did I tell you we're going to Paris for our honeymoon? Then Venice and Florence.' Her mistress had seemed excited at the prospect.

However, Daisy thought she'd detected a false note in her voice, almost as if she were trying to convince herself. It's none of my business, she thought. But she couldn't help wondering if it had anything to do with Master Jack's friend who'd visited the house several times over the past few months. Like Jack, Lieutenant Tom Lazenby looked dashing in his naval uniform and Daisy felt a pang of sympathy for her young mistress. She knew how easy it was to fall in love with a dream.

She'd finished brushing Georgina's hair, but despite securing it with pins, a few blonde curls still managed to escape.

Georgina shrugged her off impatiently. 'Oh, that'll do, Daisy. Don't fuss.' She had gone over to the window, holding her hand up so that the jewelled ring sparkled in the sunlight. She twisted it round her finger and her pretty mouth drooped in a pout. 'I just hope they sort out all this business in Europe before the wedding,' she said. 'I've never been abroad.'

'Mr Fenton says the Kaiser wants to start a war,' Daisy said, quoting the butler.

'Nonsense. He wouldn't dare. Besides Henry – Mr Thornton – is quite sure that even if he does start something we'll soon sort him out. Anyway I don't want to think about unpleasant things today.' Georgina was gazing out of the window across the parkland, when suddenly she threw open the window and leaned out, waving excitedly.

'It's Jack!' she cried.

Daisy had smiled at the sudden change in the other girl's demeanour. Her heart leapt too at the sound of the little car coming up the drive and she moved casually towards the window. But she couldn't wave as her mistress had.

Now, remembering how happy she'd been just a few hours ago, she began to cry again. It wasn't just the realization that she'd never see Jack again but the injustice of her dismissal. Hot tears mingled with icy needles of rain. But Daisy, wrapped in her misery, was oblivious to the rising storm.

The thud of the heavy front door closing echoed in Georgina's ears. She hesitated, wondering whether she ought to go after Daisy, try to convince her that she, at least, believed in her innocence. But what was the use? Mama had never really liked Daisy and it had taken a lot of persuading to secure her promotion to personal maid.

Tears welled up at the memory of Daisy's angry words although she didn't really blame her. But it was the last straw after the scene with her mother. She ran upstairs and slammed the door of her room behind her.

If only she'd had a chance to talk to Jack before all this happened, she thought, throwing herself down on her bed. He was her only confidante and she knew he'd understand her doubts about her engagement. Although she'd firmly put the thought of Tom Lazenby out of her head and done what was expected of her, she needed reassurance that she'd taken the right decision.

She was fond of Henry, of course, but she didn't love him. Tom had changed her views on love and marriage. But until she'd fallen in love with him she'd been quite willing to comply with her parents' wishes. Only once had she tried to confide in her mother about her feelings.

Mama had pursed her lips and straightened her already ramrod-straight back. 'The notion of romantic love is for servant girls and flibbertigibbets,' she'd declared strongly. 'Henry is a good man, kind, generous. He'll make a good husband. You could do worse.'

Rich too, Georgina thought now, knowing in her heart that was the important thing as far as her parents were concerned. Henry had already taken over the family brewery and there were plans for him to put money into their maltings and hop-growing business. And his links with the family depended on her marrying him. Georgina sighed, comforting herself with the thought that at least that pinched worried look would disappear from Mama's face.

But that afternoon, as she waited for Jack to come home, praying that Tom would be with him, she knew she couldn't just forget him. And feeling as she did, she couldn't possibly marry Henry. With a little exclamation, she'd pulled the ring off and thrown it down on the window seat. It was beautiful, it was expensive, but it wasn't a symbol of love. More a symbol of possession, she thought.

Then Jack had arrived and she'd dashed downstairs to greet him. He'd understand even if the rest of her family didn't. But she didn't have a chance to talk to him alone.

He was with Mama and for once she was smiling. At least someone was happy about her engagement, Georgina thought, dreading the moment when she'd have to confess that she'd changed her mind.

'Show Jack your ring, my dear,' her mother said.

'I've left it upstairs,' she said.

Her mother's smile faded. 'Go and get it at once.'

Upstairs, she hunted frantically. Surely she'd left it on the window seat? She knelt down and ran her fingers over the thick rug, in case it had fallen to the floor.

Daisy was tidying the bathroom and Georgina called to her, thinking she might have put it away.

But Daisy denied seeing it and she'd had to go back downstairs and confess that the ring was missing.

'Why on earth did you take it off in the first place?' her mother stormed. Georgina had never seen Mama so angry and she looked to Jack for support.

He smiled sympathetically and said, 'Don't worry, Georgie. It'll turn up. I'll go and look.'

Jack left the room and Lady Davenport continued to rage. 'What Henry will think of your carelessness I dread to think,' she said. 'You say you've looked everywhere, so there is only one explanation. It must have been stolen.' She rang the bell by the fireplace and told the maid to fetch Daisy.

Georgina was horrified. 'You don't think she stole it? That's ridiculous! Please – wait and see if Jack finds it.'

But when it failed to turn up, Mama became convinced that Daisy was to blame. Miserably Georgina had stood by as her maid was dismissed.

When she'd gone, Georgina burst into tears. 'I'm sure she didn't take it,' she sobbed.

'It's too late now. You should never have taken it off.'

Georgina blew her nose and tried to get her tears under control. She had to tell her mother sooner or later. Why not now? She took a deep breath and blurted out. 'I took it off because I'm not going to marry Henry.'

'Not going to ...?' Mama clutched at her throat, her face pale. But she quickly recovered. 'What nonsense you talk, child. Of course you're going to marry him. You've accepted his ring, it's all arranged.'

'I can't, Mama. I've thought it over and it's impossible.' Georgina was proud of her steady voice, although her knees trembled.

She stood silently, head high, while her mother paced the room, alternately raging and cajoling. When she finally ran out of steam and sank into a chair, Georgina said quietly, 'I should never have accepted in the first place.'

'But you must marry. And there's no one else suitable in our circle.'

And no one else as rich, Georgina thought, setting her lips in a mutinous line. 'I won't do it, Mama,' she said. 'My mind's made up.'

'Then you'd better go to your room – and stay there till you come to your senses. Your father will be home soon. Perhaps you'll listen to him.'