THE CHRISTMAS WEDDING
Dilly Court

Copyright

Published by HarperCollinsPublishers Ltd

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First published in Great Britain by HarperCollinsPublishers 2019

Copyright © Dilly Court 2019

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Cover design by Claire Ward © HarperCollinsPublishers Ltd 2019

Dilly Court asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of this work.

A catalogue copy of this book is available from the British Library.

This novel is entirely a work of fiction. The names, characters and incidents portrayed in it are the work of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or localities is entirely coincidental.

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Source ISBN: 9780008287757

Ebook Edition © May 2019 ISBN: 9780008287764

Version: 2019-08-30

Dedication

For Daisy Richards

Contents

Cover

Title Page

Copyright

Dedication

Map

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Twenty

Chapter Twenty-One

Chapter Twenty-Two

Chapter Twenty-Three

Chapter Twenty-Four

Chapter Twenty-Five

Chapter Twenty-Six

Read on for a sneak peek

Keep Reading …

About the Author

Also by Dilly Court

About the Publisher

Map

Chapter One
The Carrington House, Queen Square, London, December 1867

Daisy Marshall put aside the garment she had been mending for Master Timothy.

‘What is it, Franklin?’ she asked, gazing warily at the butler, who had entered the morning parlour without bothering to knock. Such small infringements of etiquette from the upper servants were not unusual, and obviously designed to put her in her place.

‘For you, miss.’ With disapproval written all over his face, Franklin proffered a silver salver on which lay a sealed envelope.

Daisy’s breath caught in her throat as she recognised the writing, and she snatched it up, hoping that Franklin was not familiar with the bold cursive script belonging to Julian Carrington, the elder son and heir to the family fortune.

‘Thank you, Franklin.’ She made an effort to sound casual and unconcerned, but Franklin had a way of reducing her to the lowly status of a scullery maid.

He looked down his long nose. ‘Mrs Carrington wishes to see you in the drawing room, miss.’

‘I’ll be there directly.’ Daisy waited until he had left the room. The Carringtons’ butler had never approved of her – he had made that plain from the outset – and neither had Mrs Thompson, the housekeeper. The lot of a governess was not a happy one, as Daisy had discovered to her cost. She had found herself occupying a nebulous position where she belonged neither upstairs nor below stairs, but all that would change very soon. Daisy raised her hand to touch the gold ring set with a sparkling diamond that Julian had placed on her finger, although it now hung round her neck on a silk ribbon, hidden from view. The Carringtons’ money had come originally from coal mining in Yorkshire, and it was no secret that they hoped their son would marry into the landed gentry, but Julian would be twenty-one on Christmas Eve, and he planned to announce their betrothal at his birthday party.

Daisy opened the envelope carefully, not wanting to tear the expensive hand-made writing paper, and she inhaled the scent of Julian’s favourite cologne. It was almost as if he were sitting beside her, and she closed her eyes, revelling in the exotic blend of aromatic essences and spice. She sighed happily: in two days’ time it would be official. When he returned home Julian would place the ring on her finger in front of his whole family. Daisy Marshall from Whitechapel, the orphaned daughter of a leather merchant, would be raised from her humble status of governess to that of fiancée to the elder son of a well-to-do family. Quite how it had happened was still something of a surprise. The dashing twenty-year-old Oxford undergraduate, who had hopes of a career in the diplomatic service, was much in demand during the London season. Daisy was well aware that his domineering mother and ambitious father had their sights set on someone from a good family for their future daughter-in-law, but Julian had other ideas. He had convinced Daisy that for him it was love at first sight, and she had been similarly smitten. Now all that remained was to break the news of their engagement to the family.

Daisy broke the seal and opened the letter carefully, a smile curving her lips, but as she read the contents her hands began to tremble and the words blurred, running together until they made no sense.

Oxford

December 1867

My darling Daisy,

You can’t imagine how difficult it is for me to find the words that will inevitably break your heart, as it is breaking mine when I put pen to paper. The truth is that I cannot marry you. There, I’ve said it and it cannot be undone. I still love you dearly, but I realise that for us to wed would be a dreadful mistake. My parents will never accept you as one of the family and I will be cut off without a penny. I cannot hope to earn enough to make a proper home for you and any children we might have, and to marry you under such circumstances would be irresponsible, if not downright cruel. I love you too much to see you brought down by poverty and disgrace, therefore I am breaking our engagement, even though it has remained a secret and was never an official obligation on my part.

I will return home for my birthday party, but afterwards I will be leaving for Paris, where I have been fortunate enough to obtain a very junior position in the British Embassy.

Please keep the ring as a token of my undying affection and esteem, and I pray that you will find someone more worthy of you than myself.

Your loving friend,

Julian Carrington

Daisy crumpled the letter in her hands and clasped them to her bosom. She was trembling from head to foot with shock, but tears would not come. Pain, sadness, despair and finally anger flooded her with emotion, but still she was dry-eyed. Jilted – the word would be engraved on her heart for ever.

A timid knock on the door preceded the appearance of a housemaid. ‘I’m sorry to interrupt, miss, but the master is getting impatient. He sent me to fetch you.’

Daisy tucked the crumpled sheet of paper into the pocket of her plain grey woollen dress and she rose to her feet. ‘I’m coming.’ Even to her own ears her voice sounded strained and edgy, but she had her feelings under control. Whatever it was that the master had to say could not be as earth-shattering as the contents of Julian’s letter.

The drawing room on the first floor was furnished in the height of fashion with heavy mahogany furniture upholstered in crimson velvet, matching velvet curtains and a carpet with such thick pile it felt like walking on a croquet lawn. The former Adam-style mantel had been ripped out on Mrs Carrington’s instructions and replaced by a huge, black marble fireplace that dominated the whole room, and a fire blazed up the chimney. An enormous Christmas tree took up one corner of the room, and was lavishly decorated with tinsel and glass baubles imported from Germany at enormous expense. At any other time Daisy would have been delighted, if only for Master Timothy’s sake. He was what her aunt Eleanora would have called ‘an afterthought’, being eleven years younger than Julian, and his parents were invariably too busy to spend much time with him. It was Daisy who read him a story each evening when he was tucked up in bed, and Daisy who took him for outings to the park or the Zoological Gardens.

‘I sent for you ten minutes ago. What kept you?’ Albert Carrington stood with his back to the fire, glaring at Daisy through the thick lenses of his gold-rimmed spectacles. ‘Well, what have you to say for yourself?’

Daisy had never felt comfortable in Mr Carrington’s company. He was said to have trebled the family fortune by investing heavily in the stock market, and it was rumoured below stairs that the master would receive a knighthood for his services to industry and his generous gifts to charity. Even so, his manner was cold and calculating, and all the servants were in awe of him.

‘I’m sorry, sir. I was mending a garment for Master Timothy.’

‘That’s no excuse.’

Mrs Carrington held up her hand. ‘Let me handle this, Albert.’ She fixed Daisy with a hard stare. ‘I won’t beat about the bush, Miss Marshall. As you know, Master Timothy will be starting school in January, and therefore we will no longer be in need of your services.’

‘Yes, that’s right,’ Albert said, frowning. ‘This is the end of the quarter and you will receive your wages from Mrs Thompson, together with a character, which should assure you of a position elsewhere.’

‘I’m to lose my job?’ Daisy looked from one to the other. ‘But who will look after Master Timothy during the school holidays?’

‘That is not your problem,’ Mrs Carrington said icily. She rose majestically from the sofa and ushered Daisy from the room. She lowered her voice. ‘Don’t imagine that we haven’t noticed what’s been going on between you and our elder son. I’ve seen the way you flirt with him, and it is just as well your time with us had ended naturally, otherwise I’m afraid I would have had to terminate your employment.’

Daisy stared at the floor, unable to meet her employer’s angry gaze. ‘I’m sorry. It wasn’t intentional.’

‘It never is.’ Agnes Carrington lowered her voice. ‘When you find another position, keep yourself to yourself. Nothing but ill can come of any relationship you enter into with members of the household. And beware of male servants, too. That’s the best advice that I can give you. Now pack your bags and leave. Don’t upset Master Timothy by saying goodbye. I’ll tell him you wish him well at school.’ She whisked back into the drawing room and closed the door in Daisy’s face.

The hansom cab trundled through the city streets, weaving its way through the carts, carriages and brewers’ drays. Snow was falling steadily from a leaden sky and it was bitterly cold. Workers hurried homeward, mufflers flying out behind them and their hats pulled down over their brows so that the only parts of their faces visible were the reddened tips of their noses. Less hurried were those out shopping for last-minute presents. The pavements were crowded with men and women laden with packages wrapped in brown paper, or baskets overflowing with festive food. Costermongers’ barrows illuminated by naphtha flares offered a tempting selection of oranges, lemons, rosy-cheeked apples and mountains of walnuts, together with bunches of red-berried holly and waxy white and green mistletoe. It was almost Christmas, a time for rejoicing, but all the way home Daisy could think of nothing other than the letter that Julian had written, ending their brief relationship. The rumbling of the cab’s wheels and the drumming of the horse’s hoofs sounded to her ears like a repetition of his name, over and over again, until she could think of nothing else. The ache in her heart intensified with every turn of the wheels and the further they drove from Queen Square, the deeper her despair. The last time she had seen Julian they had been deeply in love and filled with excitement for the future, but now he had severed the delicate thread that had bound them. She had left the house with a shadow over her name, and she had not even been allowed to say goodbye to Master Timothy, who would imagine that she had deserted him. He was too little to be sent away from home, too sensitive a child to face the rigours of public school life, and it was almost Christmas. She had planned to fill his stocking with oranges, nuts and small toys she had purchased from the bazaar in Soho Square. She had left the packages in the nursery, but she doubted if he would receive any of them; Mrs Carrington would make sure that nothing was left to remind her younger son of the governess who had loved him like a mother.

Daisy stared blindly at the crowded pavements, seeing nothing but a blur of shapes and colours, misted by the thickly falling snow. It had promised to be the best Christmas she had ever had, and now it was going to be the worst. She had told her aunt about her romance with Julian, and now she would have to face the consequences. Questions would be asked to which Daisy had no answer. Aunt Eleanora had drummed the importance of a good marriage into Daisy from an early age. Now she had to face her aunt’s disappointment as well as her own heartbreak.

The cab drew to a halt outside the leather merchant’s premises on Whitechapel Road. Situated within earshot of the Bell Foundry, with the Earl of Effingham pub conveniently close by, and the New Royal Pavilion Theatre just across the street, it was a thriving commercial area. Sidney Marshall was a successful leather merchant, having inherited an already thriving business on the death of his elder brother, Daisy’s father, in the cholera epidemic of 1849. Shortly afterwards Daisy’s mother had died in childbirth, leaving two-year-old Tobias and the infant Daisy to the care of her brother- and sister-in-law.

Daisy and Tobias had been brought up above the shop and had wanted for nothing as children. Toby had attended a good school and had gone on to study medicine at the London Hospital. Daisy herself had also benefited from a good education at Miss Lonsdale’s Academy for Young Ladies, but having left school with a prize in just about every subject Daisy had found herself with little purpose in life other than to sit at home and wait for a suitable husband to appear. That was what her aunt expected, but not what Daisy wanted, and, after a battle with both guardians, she had applied for the position of governess in the Carrington household. Now she was returning home, broken-hearted and struggling to believe that Julian could have treated her in such a way.

Daisy alighted from the hansom cab and hefted the valise containing all her worldly possessions to the pavement. It was now snowing so heavily that she did not see the man who was walking with his head bent against the storm, and he sidestepped in order to avoid tripping over her case, almost knocking her off her feet.

‘I’m so sorry.’ The stranger steadied her with both hands. ‘Are you all right?’

Daisy nodded. ‘It wasn’t your fault. I had to put my case down in order to pay the cabby.’

‘No harm done, but the pavements are very slippery.’ He picked up the valise. ‘Have you far to go?’

‘No, this is home.’ Daisy pointed to the name above the premises. ‘I live above the shop.’

‘Marshall’s, a well-known name in this area. So you must be Miss Marshall? Are you Toby’s sister, by any chance?’

His smile was irresistible and she noticed that his hazel eyes were fringed with impossibly long lashes. Aunt Eleanora would have said it was unfair for a man to have such an asset. Daisy dragged herself back to the present and managed a smile.

‘Yes, I’m Daisy. How do you know Toby?’

‘I’m Nicholas Neville, but my friends call me Nick. Toby and I studied at the London.’ He proffered his arm. ‘Allow me, Miss Marshall. We don’t want any accidents.’

She would normally have rejected such an offer, but there was something about Nicholas Neville that made it impossible for her to refuse, and she leaned on his arm. He picked up her valise and they made it to the shop door.

‘Thank you,’ Daisy said breathlessly.

‘I shan’t be seeing Toby for a while because I’m going home for Christmas, but I hope we meet again, Miss Marshall.’ Nick placed her valise on the floor.

‘I’m sure we will. Anyway, thank you for your help.’ Daisy turned her head at the sound of footsteps on the bare boards and her heart sank when she saw her uncle’s clerk scurrying towards them with his peculiar crab-like gait.

‘Miss Daisy, what are you doing here?’ Jonah Sawkins cast a hostile glance at Nick.

Daisy had disliked Sawkins from the moment they first met, but her generous uncle had rescued Jonah from the workhouse and trained him to be his clerk. Sidney Marshall believed that there was good in everyone, and he would not have a word said against Jonah. Daisy knew her uncle’s clerk to be sly and devious, and she was tempted to snub him now, but Jonah Sawkins had a way of getting his own back for any slight, real or imagined, and she held her tongue.

‘Would you be kind enough to take my valise upstairs, Jonah?’ Daisy turned to Nick. ‘Thank you once again for your help. I hope I didn’t delay you, too much?’

‘Not at all. I’ve just come off duty at the hospital, so no harm done. Anyway, it was a pleasure to meet you, Miss Marshall.’ Nick gave Sawkins a sympathetic smile. ‘The bag is rather heavy. Perhaps you’d rather I took it upstairs?’

Daisy held her breath. She knew that Sawkins was sensitive about the abnormal curvature of his upper spine and his legs bowed by rickets in childhood. His deformity and his early years spent in the workhouse seemed to have twisted his personality, but although he had had a poor start in life Daisy had realised some time ago that Sawkins was ambitious, and she suspected that he could be ruthless if challenged.

He hefted the valise onto his bent shoulders, shooting a malicious glance at Nick. ‘I can manage on me own, ta very much.’ He hobbled behind the counter and opened a door leading to a flight of stairs. The red Turkey carpet glowed like a hot coal in the dim light, and Sawkins negotiated the stairs with surprising speed.

‘He’s been here for years,’ Daisy said by way of an excuse for his rudeness.

‘Yes, I believe Toby has mentioned him in the past. Anyway, I must be going.’

Nick let himself out into the street and Daisy raised her hand in farewell, but he had already disappeared into the swirling snow. She closed the door and was enveloped by the all-too-familiar smell of leather and dubbin, which she only noticed when she had been absent for a while. She was about to go upstairs when Sawkins appeared behind the counter, glaring at her beneath his shaggy eyebrows.

‘I told the mistress you was here,’ he said with a sly grin. ‘She weren’t expecting you. Got the sack, did you?’

‘It’s none of your business, Jonah.’ Daisy had not meant to snap at him but her nerves were frayed, and she was afraid that she might break down and cry if her aunt questioned her too deeply. She slipped past him and made her way upstairs where she was greeted by Hattie, the Marshalls’ cook-housekeeper, who had been with them for ever. Daisy could not remember a time when Hattie had not been there to tell her wonderful stories about mermaids and unicorns, or to bandage a cut knee.

‘Welcome home, Miss Daisy,’ Hattie said, wrapping her in a comforting hug. ‘We wasn’t expecting you, so this is a real treat.’

Daisy returned the embrace. ‘It’s good to be home.’

‘I’ll go and put the kettle on.’ Hattie gave her a peck on the cheek. ‘Your aunt is in the parlour. She’ll be so pleased to see you, my duck.’ She waddled off along the landing, leaving Daisy to make her way to the parlour.

Eleanora Marshall was standing by the fire. In early middle-age she was a fine-looking woman with a good figure, glossy brown hair and an air of authority. She turned with a start at the sound of the door opening. ‘Daisy, my darling. Sawkins told me you were here. What a lovely surprise.’

‘I know you weren’t expecting me, Aunt.’

‘Why are you here? I thought you would be spending Christmas with your fiancé and his family.’

Daisy clenched her gloved hands in an attempt to stem the tears that suddenly threatened to overcome her. ‘Julian doesn’t want to marry me,’ she said softly.

‘You mean he’s jilted you?’

‘He’s been offered a position in the French Embassy. It was too good to turn down, and our engagement was never official.’

‘I don’t see what that has got to do with anything,’ Eleanora paced the floor, her high-heeled boots tip-tapping on the polished boards. ‘There’s more in this than meets the eye. Has his mother interfered? Has he met someone with more money and better connections?’

‘I don’t know, Aunt. He wrote a letter—’

‘You mean that the coward didn’t even have the decency to tell you face to face that he’s reneged on his promise?’

‘He was in Oxford when he sent the letter, and I’ve lost my job because Master Timothy is being sent to boarding school in the New Year.’

‘A likely story. I think that woman has got wind of the romance and it’s her way of putting a stop to it. I know what it’s like, Daisy. I saw the way your parents suffered at the hands of your mother’s family, and they wanted nothing to do with you or your brother. We’d better not mention this to your uncle,’ Eleanora concluded. ‘He wouldn’t take kindly to someone toying with your affections.’

‘You haven’t told him of my engagement?’

‘No, my dear, I wanted to be certain before I gave him the news. I know how delicate these matters can be.’

‘Julian might change his mind,’ Daisy said hopefully. ‘I’m sure his mother knew something, and maybe she persuaded him that he was making a mistake.’

‘To be swayed so easily is not a good sign. He sounds like a weakling. You’d be better off with a decent local man than a milksop who’s afraid to stand up to his mother.’

Daisy gazed at the daguerreotype on the mantelshelf portraying her parents on their wedding day, which was the image that she had clung to during her childhood. She could see how pretty and appealing dark-haired, dark-eyed Marguerite must have been to young James Marshall, and Aunt Eleanora swore that Daisy was the image of her late mother. Daisy never quite believed her aunt, but she loved to hear the story of how her parents had met. In fact she had heard it so many times that she could recite it word for word. It was a true romance of a young woman whose family considered themselves to be upper middle class and a man whose family were in trade. James had come to their house in Finsbury Square to deliver a new saddle, and it had been pure chance that had led him to the front door instead of the tradesmen’s entrance at exactly the moment when Marguerite Gifford had just returned from a shopping expedition. It was, as Eleanora was fond of telling her niece, love at first sight. After that the young couple had met secretly, and in the face of much opposition from both families they had eloped to Gretna Green. Daisy studied the smiling faces of her parents in their bridal finery. Perhaps she would never know the love and happiness they had shared, albeit so briefly, but she owed it to their memory to stand firm. She would not waste her tears on someone who was too weak to fight for the woman he loved.

‘You’re right, Aunt. But now I must look for another position. At least Mrs Carrington was fair enough to give me a good reference.’

‘A sap to her conscience,’ Eleanora said with a wry smile.

‘And I’m fortunate to have you and Uncle Sidney and a nice home,’ Daisy added hastily. ‘You’ve always been good to me, Aunt. Both Toby and I know how lucky we’ve been.’

Eleanora sank down on the nearest chair. ‘I have something to tell you, Daisy. Take a seat, please. Looking up at you is making my neck ache.’

‘What is it? You seem upset.’ Daisy perched on the edge of a chair. Surely there could be nothing worse than the news she had received earlier that day?

‘Your uncle has sold the business and we intend to retire and move to the country. There, I’ve said it. Don’t look at me like that, Daisy. We were going to break it more gently, but you’ve forestalled us by leaving the Carringtons.’

‘It wasn’t my choice, Aunt.’ Daisy hesitated for a moment as a confused jumble of emotions threatened to overcome her. The apartment above the shop had been her home ever since she could remember; she knew all the shopkeepers in the vicinity, and the names of all the residents of Meggs’ Almshouses, who benefited from Aunt Eleanora’s generosity at Christmas and Easter. She had enjoyed theatrical presentations at the New Royal Pavilion Theatre, including pantomimes, and she had taken omnibus rides to the West End, where exciting department stores were being opened. Daisy’s lips trembled – it was all too much to bear, and it was Christmas.

‘I know you’re upset, Daisy, and this doesn’t help, but I had to be honest with you.’

Daisy took a deep breath. She must not cry like a baby, even though her heart was breaking. ‘Where are you going to live?’

‘An elderly aunt has died and left me her cottage in Essex. It’s where I grew up and it has enough land to enable us to keep a pig and some chickens, and grow our own vegetables. The country air will be good for your uncle, and I don’t want him to work himself into an early grave.’

Daisy stared at her in astonishment. ‘But I thought you were happy here. Uncle Sidney isn’t an old man.’

‘He’s been in this business since he was a boy, and we’ve saved enough to keep us quite comfortably. The dirt and smoke in the city isn’t good for his health, nor mine, come to that. We’ll have a better life in the country.’

‘But what do I do if I can’t find another position?’

‘We’ll be here for another week or two, Daisy. I’m sure you’ll find something, or you can come and live in the country with us. It’s not a huge cottage, but there is room enough for you, should you decide to accompany us.’

‘But what about Toby? I know he lives in at the hospital but he’s about to qualify. Where will he go then?’

Eleanora smiled. ‘You can ask him yourself. He’s just walked into the room.’

Daisy jumped to her feet, turning to face her brother. ‘Did you know of this, Toby?’

‘That’s a nice welcome. I haven’t seen you for weeks. Is that all you can say?’ Toby crossed the floor in long strides and enveloped her in a brotherly hug.

‘Did you know that Uncle Sidney is retiring to the country?’ Daisy demanded as he released her and went to kiss his aunt on the forehead.

Toby straightened up, facing her with a sympathetic smile. ‘Yes, I did, but why are you here? I thought you were spending Christmas with the Carringtons.’

Daisy sent a warning look in her aunt’s direction. Now was not the time to tell Toby about Julian. Her brother was fiercely protective and she knew he would be furious. She would tell him later, when she was feeling less fragile. ‘I’m no longer needed there,’ she said calmly. ‘Master Timothy is being sent to boarding school, but Mrs Carrington has given me a good reference.’

‘I’m sorry, Daisy. I know you liked the little fellow.’ Toby’s concerned expression gave way to a wide grin. ‘But I’ve got news that will cheer you up.’

‘You’ve passed your exams?’

‘Yes, I’m a qualified doctor.’

Daisy reached up to brush his cheek with a kiss. ‘Well done. I knew you could do it.’

‘Yes, well done indeed,’ Eleanora added, smiling. ‘Your uncle will be so proud.’

Toby slipped his arm around Daisy’s shoulders. ‘There’s something else, too.’

‘What is it?’ Daisy asked anxiously. ‘I don’t think I can take another shock. What are you trying to tell us, Toby?’

Chapter Two

Toby looked from one to the other, obviously savouring the moment. Daisy could see that he was enjoying himself, but her nerves were on edge, and she was not in a mood to cope with another piece of earth-shattering news.

‘All right. Don’t look daggers at me, Daisy.’ Toby paused for effect, but a stern glance from his aunt made him continue hastily. ‘I’ve always wanted to specialise in surgery, and I’ve been offered a position as a junior houseman at the London.’

Daisy flung her arms around his neck. ‘Congratulations, Toby. That’s wonderful.’

‘But what will you do now, Daisy?’ Toby’s smile faded. ‘Have you applied for another position?’

‘I’ve told Daisy about our move,’ Eleanora said firmly. ‘I hope she’ll decide to come with us.’

‘That sounds eminently sensible.’ Toby took Daisy by the hand, giving it an encouraging squeeze. ‘The change of air would do you good, and who knows? You might get swept off your feet by a handsome landowner.’

Daisy snatched her hand free. ‘Why does everyone assume that marriage is the answer to everything? I want to prove that I’m worth something in my own right, if only to myself.’

‘Good heavens, Daisy! You’re not turning into one of those bluestocking women, are you?’

‘No, of course not, Toby. I just want to do something worthwhile.’

‘You’re upset, dear,’ Eleanora said softly. ‘Think it over, but you really don’t have much alternative now that you’re not living in Queen Square. We wouldn’t think of leaving you on your own in the city, and you have no income to support yourself.’

‘I spent years at Miss Lonsdale’s Academy learning Latin and Greek and solving complicated mathematical problems. Are you saying that it’s all been a waste of time?’

‘Calm down,’ Toby said, chuckling. ‘I don’t know why you’re getting yourself in such a stew. You were only a governess, after all.’

Daisy knew that Toby had not spoken out of spite, but his words seemed to echo Mrs Carrington’s opinion of the girl her son had wanted to wed, and she felt a shiver run down her spine.

‘You’re right,’ she said slowly. ‘I was just a governess, but I’ll prove one day that I can do more than that. In the meantime,’ she added, turning to her aunt and forcing a smile, ‘I will come with you, of course, and I’ll find out if living in the country suits me.’

Despite the fact that Toby was at home for Christmas it was going to be a subdued celebration. Eleanora’s mind was obviously on the forthcoming move to the country, and she spent most of her time sorting through her clothes or packing up small objects that had some sentimental value. Sidney disappeared to the pub at the first opportunity on Christmas Day and Toby went with him, leaving Daisy to wonder how things had come to this. Christmas was supposed to be a joyous occasion, but she had been jilted by the man she loved and had lost her job. It was not so much the money, it was the fact that she had grown fond of young Timothy, and he returned the affection. She had looked forward to being part of the Carrington family – now that was never going to happen. She was emotionally bruised, and although she tried to be positive, she could not summon up any enthusiasm for life in the wilds of Essex.

But it was Christmas Day, and Uncle Sidney and Toby were in a merry mood when they returned from the Earl of Effingham, having imbibed rather too much rum punch. Aunt Eleanora was not amused, but the table was set and, as was their custom, Hattie and Jonah sat down with them to enjoy the roast turkey with all the trimmings. Uncle Sidney did his best to be jolly, but Daisy was very conscious of the underlying current of anxiety felt by all at the move. Jonah was sullen and silent throughout the meal, and Daisy could feel his eyes upon her although he turned away hastily when she glanced at him. Toby was in fine fettle and did his best to raise their spirits, but it was a relief when the last of the Christmas pudding and brandy butter was eaten. Toby left, having a prior engagement to meet up with friends, while Eleanora and Sidney retired to the parlour, no doubt to snooze by the fire. Hattie went to the kitchen to begin the washing-up, and Daisy was clearing the table when Jonah closed the dining-room door.

‘What are you doing?’ she demanded. ‘I have to take these dishes to the kitchen.’

Jonah sidled up to her, grinning stupidly. ‘It’s a pity we got no mistletoe. I’d have an excuse to kiss you, miss.’

‘You’re drunk.’ Daisy stepped aside. ‘You’d best get on with whatever you’re supposed to be doing, Jonah.’

‘I’ve got money saved and Mr Marshall has persuaded the new owner to take me on. In less than a year I reckon I’ll be managing the business, and we could live here above the shop. I’d make you a good husband, Daisy.’ He moved closer and attempted to put his arm around her but she pushed him away.

‘It’s the wine talking, Jonah. I’ll excuse you because it’s Christmas, but you’re forgetting yourself.’

His smiled faded and his lips twisted into a grimace. ‘Not good enough for you, am I? What happened to the toff who was supposed to marry you?’

‘You’ve been listening at keyholes,’ Daisy said angrily. ‘It’s none of your business. I’m sorry if it hurts your feelings, but I don’t want to marry you and never will.’ She dodged round the table and opened the door. ‘Come one step closer and I’ll scream. My uncle wouldn’t take kindly to this sort of behaviour.’

‘You’ll be sorry. One day you’ll regret turning me down, Miss Marshall. I might have a twisted body, but I’m nobody’s fool. You’ll seek me out one day, begging for my help and see what you get then.’ He brushed past her and limped off, cursing beneath his breath.

Daisy sat down at the table and reached for her wine glass. It was still half full and she downed it in one gulp. At least Jonah had helped her to decide what course she would take. The wilds of Essex seemed much more attractive now.

Jonah did not bother her again, although she was very conscious of his presence every time she went through the shop, but she did her best to ignore him. The next two weeks were spent sorting out what they would take to the new house, filling even more packing cases and trunks. Each day Daisy hoped she might get word from Julian, and every time she heard a male voice in the shop below, she strained her ears, willing it to be the man who had professed to love her. But Julian Carrington had not had the decency to write and apologise for her sudden dismissal, or even to enquire if she had found another position. For all he knew she might be selling bootlaces on street corners or working in the nearby blacking factory. Daisy had to face the fact that he had gone to Paris to take up his new position, leaving her to break her heart and suffer the humiliation of being jilted.

On a bitterly cold day in the middle of January, Daisy and her uncle and aunt left their home in Whitechapel. Toby had not officially started his new position at the hospital, and as he had time on his hands he had decided to accompany them. Daisy suspected that his decision was motivated more by curiosity than anything else, but Toby had said vaguely that he had a friend who lived somewhere in that part of Essex and he might pay him a visit. Her gregarious brother seemed to have friends everywhere and Daisy had not questioned him further. It was good to have the family together again, no matter what the reason.

It was snowing again, but Jonah insisted on seeing them off. ‘You’ll return soon enough,’ he whispered as Daisy edged past him. ‘And I’ll be waiting.’

She did not look back as Toby handed her into the waiting hackney carriage, but even as they drove off she was aware that Jonah Sawkins was standing in the shop doorway, watching until they were out of sight.

‘Cheer up, Daisy,’ Toby said, grinning. ‘You might even enjoy living in Little Creek. Let’s hope it isn’t as dull as it sounds.’

As the train pulled out of Bishopsgate Station, Daisy’s last hope of seeing Julian evaporated like the great puffs of smoke and steam belching from the massive engine. Although she knew it was unlikely, she had thought he might have written to her. She had been tempted to return the ring, but she would not give him the satisfaction of acknowledging his cowardly behaviour. It was tucked away in her jewellery box, along with a few cheap trinkets and the rope of pearls that her mother had worn on her wedding day. Daisy sighed and settled down to gaze out of the window.

The train trundled through rural Essex, stopping at every station to disgorge people and livestock onto the platforms, and to pick up more passengers. Daisy stared out of the window at the countryside as it flashed past, but all that registered were the stark bare branches of the trees, stretching towards the grey sky like dead men’s fingers. Ploughed fields lay dormant, imprisoned by neatly trimmed hedgerows, and muddy rivers slithered like snakes, heading for the sea.

Daisy had seen little of Toby during the journey as he had joined a group of young men in another compartment and she could hear their raucous laughter above the clickety-clack of iron wheels as they crossed the points, and her uncle’s stertorous snores. Aunt Eleanora was supposed to be reading a novel, but she too kept nodding off, leaving Daisy alone with her thoughts.

When they arrived at Little Creek Station Daisy stepped out onto the platform, taking deep breaths of the ice-cold air, sharpened by the briny tang of the sea and the smell of brackish mud from the saltings.

‘Godforsaken place,’ Toby said as he hefted a couple of carpet bags onto the platform. ‘Are you sure you’re doing the right thing, Uncle?’

‘Take deep breaths, boy.’ Sidney inhaled deeply and exhaled with a satisfied smile. ‘That is fresh air. We’re going to enjoy a long and healthy retirement in the country. You ought to join us, Toby. Set up a practice in the village and live a long life.’

‘And die of boredom,’ Toby said, laughing. ‘No, thank you, Uncle.’

‘Find a cab to take us to the cottage, Sidney.’ Eleanora glanced up at the sky where clouds were forming rapidly, threatening even more snow.

Daisy looked round, liking what she saw, but feeling slightly nervous. Had she made the right choice? There was no way of telling. She followed her uncle as he strode along the platform to speak to the stationmaster.

‘Ho, there, my man. Where will we find a conveyance to take us to Creek Cottage?’

The stationmaster smiled wearily. ‘Begging your pardon, sir, but this ain’t a big city. We don’t have the luxury of hansom cabs and such like.’

‘But there must be someone who can transport us to our destination.’

‘It’s barely a mile to Creek Cottage.’ The stationmaster stared pointedly at the pile of luggage. ‘I dare say I can find someone to deliver your cases to you later this afternoon.’

‘Are you saying we’ll have to walk to the cottage?’ Daisy cast an anxious glance at her aunt, who was dressed for the city in her best gown and high-heeled boots, totally unsuitable for traipsing along country lanes.

‘Yes, miss. Unless you want to wait around on the off chance of someone turning up with a farm cart.’

Sidney turned to Daisy with a worried frown. ‘You’d better warn your aunt. I told her to dress suitably, but you know how she is.’

Daisy knew only too well. It was hard to imagine fashionable Eleanora Marshall rolling up her sleeves and tending to livestock, or baking bread, although that would not be necessary now, for Hattie had decided to join them in their move to the country, and she had gone on ahead to make the cottage ready.

‘I’m afraid there is no transport,’ Daisy said breathlessly as she hurried back to where her aunt was waiting with Toby. ‘We’ll have to walk to the cottage.’

‘Out of the question.’ Eleanora folded her arms across her bosom. ‘Last time we were here my cousin’s solicitor met us and transported us to our destination.’

Daisy and Toby exchanged wary glances. ‘I’m afraid that’s not going to happen today, Aunt,’ Daisy said gently. ‘You could always sit in the waiting room and hope that someone comes along with a farm cart, although it might be filled with straw and animal droppings.’

Eleanora tossed her head. ‘Out of the question. I’ll walk, but if it rains I’ll be very angry. Thank goodness I sent Hattie on ahead. I told her to light fires in all the rooms, so at least the house will be warm.’ She marched off to join her husband and the stationmaster.

‘This should be fun, Daisy,’ Toby said, chuckling. ‘I can see that life in the country will suit Aunt Eleanora down to the ground.’

‘I’m glad you find it amusing.’ Daisy suppressed a giggle with difficulty. She doubted whether her aunt and uncle would see the funny side to their predicament, and she did not want to make matters worse when they were obviously in a state of distress. She hurried over to them. ‘Perhaps if Toby and I were to walk to the village we might find someone to help.’

‘Yes, yes, whatever you wish,’ Sidney said irritably. ‘For heaven’s sake go and sit in the waiting room, Eleanora. I’ll stay with you while the youngsters look for a suitable conveyance.’

The stationmaster was about to walk away when he paused, cocking his head on one side. ‘Someone is coming, so you might be in luck, ladies and gentlemen.’ He hurried off in the direction of the ticket office.

‘I can hear the rumble of carriage wheels,’ Daisy said eagerly. ‘Toby and I will go and see what we can do.’ She followed the stationmaster with Toby striding along at her side.

‘I’m glad I came, if only for the show.’ Toby was first through the gate, but he came to a sudden halt. ‘Well, I’ll be blowed, look who it is.’ He rushed over to the man who leaped off the box, handing the reins to the messenger boy who had been loitering by the ticket office.

‘It’s you,’ Daisy said dazedly. ‘What a strange coincidence.’

Toby released his friend, turning to Daisy with raised eyebrows. ‘Do you two know each other?’

Nick Neville smiled and bowed. ‘Miss Marshall, delighted to meet you again, although I’m astonished to find you and Toby here in Little Creek.’

‘We bumped into each other outside Uncle’s shop when I arrived home before Christmas,’ Daisy said by way of explanation. ‘I meant to tell you, Toby, but with the move and everything I forgot to mention it.’

‘Instantly forgettable, that’s me,’ Nick said, chuckling.

‘But what are you doing here, old boy?’ Toby demanded, grinning. ‘I thought you said you were going home to sort out some family matters.’

‘And that’s what I’m doing. My father died a couple of months ago, leaving Creek Hall to me. I’ve been down here since before Christmas, trying to get things straight, but it’s an uphill task.’

‘I knew your pa was a doctor in rural Essex, but I thought it was Colchester or thereabouts.’ Toby gazed at his friend in amazement.

‘I used to tell people it was Colchester because no one had ever heard of Little Creek, and it saved a lot of explaining. I’m not ashamed of my roots; I suppose it was just laziness.’ Nick smiled ruefully. ‘Anyway, I might set up a practice in Little Creek. The people in the village seem to rely on an ageing midwife, or else they have to travel the eleven miles to Maldon.’

‘But you’d hardly scrape a living, old boy.’

Daisy nudged her brother in the ribs. ‘It’s none of your business, Toby.’

‘But it is, Daisy. There’s no money working in an out-of-the-way place like this, and Nick was the top student in our year.’

‘Even more reason to devote myself to those who most need my services.’

‘You could have had the job they’ve offered me, Nick. I only scraped through by the skin of my teeth.’

‘You’ll work your way up to Harley Street, if I know anything about you, Toby old chap. Anyway, where are you going? Maybe I can give you a lift.’

‘Do you know Creek Cottage?’ Daisy eyed him hopefully. ‘My aunt and uncle would really appreciate a ride in your chaise. Toby and I can walk.’

‘As it happens I do know the place, and it’s not far from Creek Hall. In fact I believe at one time it belonged to the estate. Anyway, I’ll just check if the parcel I was expecting has arrived and then I’m at your disposal.’ With a cheery smile Nick strode into the ticket office, leaving Daisy and Toby to explain his presence to their uncle and aunt, who had also heard the approaching vehicle and had come to find out if they were in luck.

Toby had just finished telling them about Nick when he reappeared carrying a small package, which he deposited beneath the seat, and after introductions and explanations, Eleanora and Sidney clambered into the chaise and Nick drove off, promising to return and meet Daisy and Toby on the road. He drove off just as it started to snow and Eleanora’s black umbrella disappeared into the distance, bobbing up and down like a dancing mushroom.

‘Give me the city any day,’ Toby said grimly. ‘You can hop on a bus or hail a cab, or find a nice coffee shop and wait until the rain passes.’

‘Stop grumbling.’ Daisy took his arm. ‘I’ve just had a thought, Toby. I don’t know the way to Creek Cottage, and neither do you.’

He shrugged. ‘Someone will know. We’ll enquire when we get to the village.’

They walked on despite the fact that it was snowing, although it stopped eventually and a pale wintry sun emerged from behind the clouds. The village of Little Creek was spread over half a mile or so. The sound of hammering emanated from a smithy at the edge of the village, and they came to a school, where ragged children were racing about the yard, splashing in icy puddles, chasing each other and screaming with laughter. A Saxon church was surrounded by a graveyard, which was overlooked by the vicarage, and the village inn was conveniently near, as if to entice the worshippers to stop for a glass of ale before returning home to the terraces of thatched cottages on either side of the main street. Toby was about to enter the inn and ask for directions when Nick returned with the chaise and reined in beside them.

‘It’s not far,’ he said cheerfully, ‘but you both look a bit bedraggled and you might as well finish the journey in comfort.’

Daisy allowed Toby to help her into the vehicle and she sat beside Nick, who waited until Toby had leaped on board before flicking the reins and urging his horse to walk on.

‘You’ve seen the cottage,’ Daisy said shyly. ‘What is it like?’

Nick turned to her with a wry smile. ‘Put it this way, I would gladly swap cold, draughty Creek Hall for Creek Cottage any day. Your aunt and uncle’s house might not be large, and I only saw the front parlour, but it’s warm and cosy. I really envy you.’

‘You don’t mean that, Nick.’ Toby clutched the side of the chaise as it lurched forward, the horse seeming to sense that it was going home. ‘Is your home as grand as it sounds?’

‘It’s seen better days.’ Nick flicked the whip above the horse’s ears, urging it to a steady trot. ‘Anyway, I have to go to Maldon tomorrow to see my late father’s solicitor. Whether I stay or not depends on the terms of the will. If there’s no money for the upkeep of the house and grounds I might be forced to sell and move back to London.’

Daisy shot him a curious glance. ‘Has Creek Hall been in your family for a long time?’

‘Almost two hundred years. An ancestor of mine built it, having sold his interest in a shipbuilding business, and moved south with the idea, I think, of becoming a country squire.’

‘What made you choose medicine as a career?’ Daisy studied his profile and decided she liked what she saw. A high forehead, a straight nose and a firm chin, all of which, as Aunt Eleanora would have said, added up to a man of character.

‘You don’t ask that sort of question, Daisy,’ Toby said impatiently. ‘It’s a calling. Nick and I decided to serve mankind.’

It was Daisy’s turn to chuckle. ‘You went to medical school because you didn’t want to take over the business from Uncle Sidney. Be honest, Toby.’

He grinned. ‘Yes, that too.’

Daisy turned to Nick. ‘Are you as cynical as my brother?’

‘Toby likes to make out that he doesn’t care, but I’ve seen him at work and I can promise you that it isn’t so.’

Daisy smiled and squeezed her brother’s arm. ‘I’m very glad to hear it, but what about you, Nick?’

‘It seemed natural to follow in my father’s footsteps. He served the people of Little Creek and the surrounding area for the best part of thirty years, hence the dilapidated state of the family home. A country physician barely makes a living.’

‘Join me in Harley Street when I get there,’ Toby said airily. ‘We’ll have the best practice in London.’

Daisy shook her head. ‘Dream away, brother. You know that Uncle Sidney hasn’t enough money to set you up in a venture of that sort.’

‘I’ll think of something.’ Toby sat back against the padded squabs and they lapsed into silence.

Daisy’s curiosity was aroused by the brief glimpse into Nick Neville’s life, but she refrained from asking questions, sensing that he was a private person, disinclined to talk about himself, and she concentrated on the scenery. The lane skirted the edge of a wood and followed the course of the creek to a bend in the watercourse where the land opened out to reveal a smallholding.

‘That’s your new home,’ Nick said cheerfully. ‘That is Creek Cottage.’

Her first impression was favourable and the setting would have made an artist reach for his brushes. Trees and bushes grew down to the water’s edge on the far side, and in the distance, through a gap in the foliage, Daisy could see what appeared to be a very grand house.

‘Is that Creek Hall?’ she asked eagerly.

Nick threw back his head and laughed. ‘No, indeed. My home is much nearer. That is Creek Manor, the residence of Squire Tattersall.’ Nick’s smiled faded. ‘He owns most of the land round here.’

‘Well, our place looks pleasant enough.’ Toby slipped his arm round Daisy’s shoulders. ‘What do you think?’

Daisy nodded. ‘It looks cosy.’ Her first thought was of the doll’s house that her uncle had made for her one Christmas when she was eight or nine. The door in the centre of the building was shielded from the weather by a tiled porch, which she imagined would be smothered in roses in the summer. There was a window either side of the porch and three more nestling beneath the eaves like sleepy half-open eyes, smiling down at the newcomers. The whitewashed walls had a look of solidity and permanence that Daisy found very appealing.

‘That’s your new home.’ Nick glanced at Daisy with a questioning look.

‘It seems very well kept and welcoming,’ Daisy said slowly. ‘You said that Creek Hall isn’t far from here …?’

‘About a mile. You must come to dinner one evening. I can guarantee a good meal because Cook opted to stay, even though I can’t afford to pay her until I start up in practice.’

‘Please don’t go to any trouble on our account,’ Daisy said hastily. ‘But I would love to see your home.’

‘I wouldn’t mind a decent meal before I return to London. Our cook could do with a few lessons on the subject, if you ask me.’ Toby patted his belly and grinned. ‘Hattie will probably leave anyway. She’s a Londoner through and through, as am I, and I can’t imagine you living here for long, Daisy. You’ll be back in London before the month is up.’

Daisy shook her head. ‘I’m prepared to try, if only for our aunt and uncle’s sake. They’ve done a lot for us, Toby.’

‘I know, but we’re grown up now.’ Toby gazed at the cottage, frowning. ‘What on earth will you find to occupy your days as a country doctor, Nick?’

‘I have more than enough to keep me busy.’ Nick brought the horse to a halt and leaped to the ground. He held his hand out to Daisy. ‘I’m sure there is much you could do for the village, if you put your mind to it.’

Daisy accepted his help to alight. ‘We’ll see. At least I’m willing to accept change and take it as a challenge. My dear brother is a stick in the mud.’

Toby sprang from the chaise, landing in a puddle left by melting snow, which made Daisy laugh.

‘There,’ he said crossly. ‘I told you the country is no place for a gentleman, let alone a qualified doctor. My boots are wet and the polish is ruined. Who’s going to clean them?’

‘You are.’ Daisy knocked on the door. ‘Don’t you dare ask Hattie or she really will give in her notice.’

‘Maybe we can get a girl to come in from the village to do the housework.’ Toby grabbed Nick’s hand and shook it. ‘Thanks for the ride, old chap. I’ll certainly be a guest at your table whenever you say, but make it soon because I doubt if I can stand being here for more than a day or two.’

Nick smiled and nodded. ‘Always grumbling, Toby. Maybe one day you’ll look on the bright side of life instead of seeing problems, real or imagined.’

‘I’m a realist and you’re a dreamer.’ Toby glanced over his shoulder at the sound of the door opening.

‘Toby, dear,’ Eleanora said urgently. ‘Your uncle needs a hand to move a trunk that was left in the entrance hall.’

‘Maybe I’ll come to the Hall with you, old chap.’ Toby sighed. ‘I can see I’m going to be worked off my feet if I stay here.’

‘Don’t you dare run off and leave me.’ Daisy grabbed his arm. ‘I hope you’re joking.’

Aunt Eleanora chose to ignore his remark. ‘The furniture will arrive later, but the carrier has left our trunks in the most awkward place and you know how your uncle suffers from his back.’

‘Come on, Toby. The two of us will make light work of it.’ Nick looped the reins over the horse’s head and handed them to Daisy. ‘Would you mind holding on to Hero? He’s old and docile, so he won’t give you any trouble. I’ll be as quick as I can.’

Daisy took the reins, eyeing the animal warily. ‘Are you sure he won’t make a sudden bolt for home? I’m not used to horses.’

‘Have you ever ridden one?’

‘No. I was brought up in Whitechapel. There are plenty of cabs and omnibuses to take you wherever you wish to go.’

‘You’ll find it very different here,’ Nick said, chuckling.

‘Please hurry,’ Eleanora called over her shoulder as she retreated into the house. ‘Sidney is stuck halfway up the stairs and Hattie is struggling with the kitchen range. I think there might be a bird’s nest in the chimney.’

‘I think I might get the train back to London,’ Toby said grimly. ‘Life in the countryside is far too hectic for my taste. Give me peasoupers and smoky taverns any day of the week.’

Nick shooed him over the threshold. ‘Stop grumbling and do something useful.’ He glanced over his shoulder, giving Daisy an apologetic smile. ‘I won’t be long.’

‘Don’t worry about me.’ She stroked the horse’s velvety muzzle. ‘I’m new at this, Hero,’ she said softly. ‘Please be a good creature and don’t bolt or do anything silly.’

Hero rolled his eyes and nodded, as if complying with her request. She sighed with relief. Perhaps she could get used to being this close to such a large creature, although she hoped that Nick would return quickly. She cocked her head on one side, listening to the rushing sound of the water and the cawing of crows. The countryside seemed almost too quiet after the constant din of traffic and the babble of voices in the city. Here there was nothing but the gentle whispering of the wind in the trees and the sounds of nature …

The idyll was shattered by the sound of her aunt’s voice raised to a shriek and a loud thud emanating from the cottage. Forgetting her charge, Daisy dropped the reins and ran towards the house.

Chapter Three

‘Are you all right, Aunt Eleanora?’ As she reached the doorway Daisy saw Nick and Toby lifting Uncle Sidney from beneath the wood-bound leather travelling trunk. ‘Oh, my goodness, is he hurt?’

Aunt Eleanora clutched her hands to her bosom. ‘Is anything broken? Are you all right, Sidney, my love?’

Sidney struggled to his feet, aided by Toby and Nick. ‘Stop fussing, woman. Of course I’m all right. I’m not a fragile flower.’ He stomped off. ‘I’ll be in the parlour. Tell Hattie to bring me a glass of brandy – for medicinal purposes, of course.’

Eleanora turned on Toby. ‘You’re a doctor. Go and look after your uncle.’

‘He’s fine, Aunt. What do you want us to do with this?’ He poked the trunk with the toe of his boot.

‘Leave it there. The removal men should be here soon. They’re trained to heft boxes and heavy objects. I can’t be doing with any more falls. I’m going to the kitchen to see how Hattie is getting on with the range or we won’t have anything to eat today.’

Daisy glanced anxiously out of the door, but Hero had his head down and was munching the grass. ‘I’m sorry, Nick,’ she said hastily. ‘I should have stayed with the animal.’

‘Don’t worry, he’s not coming to any harm.’ Nick turned to Toby. ‘I’ll go now and leave you to settle in.’

Toby leaned over to brush his aunt’s flushed cheek with a kiss. ‘I’ll get out of your way, dear aunt. I’m not much use when it comes to unpacking and that sort of thing.’ He turned to Nick. ‘How about I come with you now?’

‘That’s fine with me, if your aunt and uncle don’t need you?’

‘No, take him away,’ Eleanora said crossly. ‘Toby might be a good doctor, but he’s useless around the house.’

‘Will you be all right, Daisy?’ Toby asked anxiously. ‘I mean, I could stay, but …’

Torn between annoyance and amusement, Daisy gave him a gentle shove towards the door. ‘Go, for heaven’s sake. We’ll do better without you.’

‘I’ll bring him back after supper, but perhaps you would like to come to the Hall some time, Daisy.’ Nick hesitated, frowning. ‘Not tomorrow, of course, because I won’t be there, but maybe the day after?’

Daisy smiled and nodded. ‘Thank you. That would be lovely.’

‘Come on, Nick,’ Toby hurried outside, glancing up at the lowering clouds. ‘I think it’s going to snow again. Let’s get going. I’ll see you later, Daisy.’

‘Yes,’ she said as she watched them climb into the trap. ‘You’ll come home when all the work is done. Nothing changes.’

‘Daisy, will you go and help Hattie in the kitchen?’ Eleanora said anxiously. ‘If there’s a nest in the chimney there might be a trapped bird and they make me nervous. I’ll go and make sure your uncle is all right.’ She bustled into the parlour without waiting for an answer.

Daisy sighed and shook her head as she made her way to the kitchen where she could hear Hattie shouting and crashing about. A gust of smoke enveloped her as she opened the door.

‘I’ll never get used to this brute,’ Hattie said, flicking a cleaning cloth at the stove. ‘Maybe there’s a nest on top of the chimney pot. Whatever it is, I can’t get the fire to draw properly.’ She wiped her face with the back of her hand, leaving a streak of soot on her cheek.

Daisy looked round the large kitchen and spotted a besom propped up against the back door. ‘Maybe I can clear the blockage,’ she said hopefully.

‘You’re never going to push that broom up the chimney, are you?’ Hattie demanded anxiously. ‘You’ll bring a fall of soot.’

She spoke too late. Daisy had snatched up the besom and was poking it up the chimney. A shower of soot, dried leaves and bits of twig covered everything, including Daisy. She stood for a moment, coughing and gasping for air.

‘I told you so.’ Hattie threw up her hands. ‘Look at the mess you’ve made. Well, I ain’t cleaning it up. I warned you, but would you listen? No, you would not, and everything is covered in soot. I’m going to tell the mistress.’ She stomped out of the room.

Left to clean up, Daisy stared down at her once clean travelling gown, which was now ruined. Soot was still settling on every surface and she could only be thankful for the fact that most of their china, pots and pans had yet to be unpacked. She was wondering what to do when someone knocked on the back door.

‘Come in.’

The door opened and a pale-faced young woman stepped inside. She was muffled against the cold and her fair hair hung limply from beneath her bonnet. ‘You’ve had a bit of a mishap, miss,’ she said calmly.

‘The chimney was blocked.’ Daisy eyed her curiously. ‘Can I help you?’

‘It looks like I can help you.’ The stranger took off her bonnet and shawl and hung them on a row of pegs. ‘I was on my way home when the young doctor stopped to enquire about my mum – she’s been took sick these last few days. I told him that she was getting better, thanks to the medicine he gave her.’

‘That must have been Dr Neville, but why have you come here?’

‘You’re Miss Marshall, aren’t you?’

Daisy gazed down at her sooty clothes and smiled ruefully. ‘Yes, although I doubt if my friends would recognise me now.’

‘I’m Linnet Fox, from the village. Dr Neville knew I was looking for work because I’d been to Creek Hall to enquire, but he said you might need some help, miss.’

‘I don’t know how much my uncle would pay, Linnet, but we do need someone.’

Linnet rolled up her sleeves. ‘Let’s clean the range first then, miss. We’ll get the fire going and then we can heat up some water and sort out the rest.’

The door burst open before Daisy had a chance to reply and her aunt came to a sudden halt, with Hattie peering over her shoulder. ‘Good heavens! I’ve never seen anything like it.’ She glared at Linnet. ‘Who is this?’

‘Dr Neville sent her, Aunt Eleanora,’ Daisy said hastily. ‘He thought we might need some assistance in getting things straight.’

‘Who is she and how do we know she’s trustworthy?’

Linnet bobbed a curtsey. ‘I’m Linnet Fox, ma’am. My pa was gamekeeper at Creek Hall when the old doctor was alive, but he’s too poorly to work now, and my mum is sick with lung fever. I’m a hard worker and honest.’

‘I’ve got to have someone, ma’am,’ Hattie added, peering over Eleanora’s shoulder. ‘I can’t be expected to cope on me own.’

Eleanora glanced round the room. ‘You may have a trial period, at the usual rate, whatever that might be. My husband will sort that out, but consider yourself hired, and please get this disaster sorted out as quickly as possible. We’ve been travelling for hours and we need a hot meal.’

‘Don’t worry, Aunt,’ Daisy said firmly. ‘I’ll help Linnet. We’ll get the kitchen cleaned up in no time.’

Eleanora nodded and turned on her heel, bumping into Hattie, who was still grumbling. ‘I told her not to poke the broom up the chimney, ma’am. I told her not to do it, but she done it all the same.’

‘Yes, thank you, Hattie. I think I get the gist. You can unpack my things upstairs while they get to work, and let’s hope that Pickford’s manage to get our furniture here before dark, otherwise we’ll be sleeping on the floor.’ She shooed Hattie away and closed the door behind her.

‘You might like to wash your face and hands first, miss,’ Linnet suggested tactfully. ‘Soot burns something chronic if it gets in your eyes. I’ll make a start sweeping up.’

It took almost an hour to get the kitchen clean, and Linnet had proved herself invaluable as she set about the work methodically, managing to get the fire going so that it blazed up the chimney. She showed Daisy where the pump was situated in the back yard, and the privy, which was in a small wooden hut that had been built to straddle a narrow stream.

‘Does the night soil collector get this far out?’ Daisy asked.

Linnet’s laughter echoed off the outbuildings. ‘Lord, no, miss. Lean closer and you’ll hear the brook racing down to the creek. You sit on the seat and let nature do the rest. No need to dig latrines or such.’

Daisy felt a blush rise to her cheek. As a person raised in the city she knew she had a lot to learn. ‘Thank you, Linnet. An excellent idea, I’m sure.’

‘And don’t worry about the pump water,’ Linnet said, smiling. ‘You’re luckier than most of the people in the village: this one taps into a spring deep down. The water is crystal clear and safe to drink.’ She lifted the pump handle and began to work it vigorously. ‘But this will be my job. You’re a young lady and you don’t need to know this.’

‘I’ll have to find something to do with my time.’ Daisy watched closely. ‘I never gave a thought to how hard servants have to work, but I’m beginning to appreciate it now.’ She went indoors, leaving Linnet to her labours. It was little wonder that the servants at the Carringtons’ establishment had treated her with scorn. They must have considered her to be ungrateful and idle, while they had to slave from dawn until well after dark in order to please their employers. Daisy felt a twinge of sympathy for them as she looked down at her reddened hands. She held the door open for Linnet as she staggered past her, hefting two wooden pails filled with water.

‘Thank you, Linnet,’ she said earnestly. ‘I don’t know how I would have managed if you hadn’t come knocking on the door.’

‘Thank the young doctor, miss. He’s so good and kind – I just hope he decides to stay in Little Creek, but I’m afraid he’ll go away and leave us without a physician again.’

‘Was it so very bad before he came to live here?’

‘I doubt if you could imagine it, miss. I mean it’s obvious you’re used to better things. You’re a lady for a start and you’ve got hands that have never known hard work, but for us in the village it’s a matter of life and death to have a doctor nearby. My cousin died in childbirth, and the babe soon after. If Dr Neville had been at Creek Hall I dare say they’d both be alive now.’

‘I’m so sorry,’ Daisy said gently. ‘How sad.’

‘Life is hard, miss.’ Linnet filled two large pans with water and placed them on the hob. ‘We can finish up when the water is warm enough. Then your cook can make a start on supper and I’ll head off home. Mum will be wondering where I’ve got to.’

‘But you will come tomorrow?’ Daisy asked anxiously.

‘Yes, of course, miss. I’ll be here early, so no need to worry.’ She cocked her head on one side. ‘That sounds like your furniture has arrived. I can finish up here if you want to go and help the old lady.’

Daisy smothered a giggle. ‘My aunt is Mrs Marshall and she wouldn’t thank you for calling her old. I will go and help, and I just want you to know I’m very grateful to you, Linnet. You’ve worked so hard.’

‘That’s what I’m here for, miss.’ Linnet wiped her hands on her apron.

Daisy left the kitchen and went to help her aunt, who was firing instructions at the delivery men like an army sergeant.

‘Perhaps they’d like some refreshment, Aunt,’ Daisy said softly. ‘There’ll soon be enough hot water to make a pot of tea and they’ve had a long journey from London.’

‘Let them do their job first. Time for tea when they’re finished. You can help by unpacking the linen. It’s in that wicker hamper.’

‘It looks as if they’re unloading the beds first. I’ll make them up, if you wish.’

‘That’s a job for Hattie or the girl.’

‘I need to be usefully employed, Aunt. I can’t spend my days idling.’

‘You’ve been brought up to be a young lady, Daisy. I owed it to your parents to see that you have the best chance in life. It’s just a pity you allowed Julian Carrington to get away. Rich husbands don’t grow on trees, my girl. I’m afraid you’ve lost your chance now, and that nice Dr Neville isn’t likely to stay for long. No doubt he’ll go where he can earn a decent living. I’m afraid you’ll be on the shelf if you don’t do something about it, and you know how hard life is for women without means, as well as the disgrace of being an old maid.’

‘I’ll find something to do with my life, Aunt. I don’t intend to be a burden on you for much longer. I just need to work out what is best for me, and then nothing will stop me. I promise you that.’

Chapter Four

Eleanora and Sidney had retired soon after supper, and Hattie had gone to her room on the dot of ten, leaving Daisy to wait up for Toby. She spent the time unpacking boxes of linen, but she was tired, and when he had not returned by midnight she decided to go to bed, leaving the key under a flower-pot outside the front door. Despite the lateness of the hour she was not worried – she imagined him and Nick playing cards after a good dinner, or sitting by the fire chatting about their student days. Toby, she knew, kept London hours and she suspected that Nick was glad to have his company. It must be lonely living in a large house without the comfort of a family to fill the rooms with laughter. Although, thinking back, there had not been much jollity in the Carrington household, and Master Timothy had often come crying to Daisy when his father had punished him severely for some minor misdeed. Julian had been the only member of the household who had had a kind word and a smile for Daisy, and now she was away from Queen Square she realised how easy it must have been for him to charm her into believing his promises of undying love and devotion.

All these thoughts passed through Daisy’s mind as she lay in her bed with the covers pulled up to her chin and prepared for sleep. It came eventually, and she awakened to the sound of the wind rattling the branches of a tree close to her window, and the scrape of thorns on the windowpanes as the stems of a climbing rose brushed against the glass. It took a moment or two for her to work out why she was sleeping in a strange room, and then the memories of the previous day came flooding back. She sat up and yawned, but the chill in the room was even greater than that of her small bedchamber in Queen Square. Mrs Carrington had not allowed the governess to have the benefit of a fire, no matter how cold it was, and Daisy had often had to break the ice in the pitcher before she could pour the water into the washbasin. She reached for her wrap and was about to get up when someone tapped gently on the door.

‘Come in.’

The door opened and Linnet entered carrying a jug of steaming water in one hand and a cup of tea in the other. ‘I took the liberty of bringing this up to you. The mistress was asking why you wasn’t at breakfast.’

‘That’s very thoughtful of you, Linnet. Thank you.’ Daisy took the cup and saucer from her and sipped the tea. ‘It’s so cold. Is it snowing again?’

Linnet placed the jug on the oak washstand. ‘The east wind got up in the night. It blows in off the sea – straight from Russia, so my pa says. If it goes round to the north, there’ll be more snow.’

‘It feels much colder here than it does in London, but I dare say I’ll get used to it. Would you be kind enough to tell my aunt that I’ll be down soon?’

‘Yes, miss.’ Linnet bobbed a curtsey. ‘I could light the fire for you, if you so wish.’

‘Maybe this evening. We don’t want to waste coal.’

‘There are plenty of logs in the shed. I lit the fires downstairs and helped Hattie to get the range going. She’s still grumbling about it, but I dare say she’ll get used to it, given time.’

Daisy sipped her tea, which was still quite hot and more than welcome. ‘I’m afraid she might leave and return to London. It’s very different here in the heart of the countryside.’

‘There’s plenty who would be more than willing to take her place, miss.’ Linnet backed towards the doorway. ‘There’s not many jobs to be had in Little Creek and times are hard. We just hope that the doctor will stay, but people are saying he’ll go back to London.’

‘I think that’s up to Dr Neville.’ Daisy placed the cup and saucer on a small table near the window. ‘I must get dressed and I mustn’t keep you from your work, but it’s good to have you here, Linnet. We need someone young and capable like you.’

Linnet’s plain face flushed scarlet. ‘Ta, miss.’ She hurried from the room and her booted feet clattered on the bare boards as she hurried downstairs.

Eleanora was about to rise from the table when Daisy walked into the small dining room. ‘Your uncle has been up for hours,’ she said, sighing. ‘I hope he isn’t going continue like this or I’ll never get any peace.’

Daisy suppressed a smile. ‘Where is he now, Aunt?’

‘Goodness knows. He put on his hat and coat and went out muttering something about fishing, although he’s never shown any interest in such a thing before.’

Daisy took a seat at the table and helped herself to porridge, adding a generous amount of sugar and cream. ‘It would be good for him to have something to occupy his time. A man who’s worked all his life might find it hard to do nothing.’

‘I suppose so, and we could eat the fish he caught. At least it gets him out from under my feet and I have such a lot to do.’

‘I can help you.’

‘Thank you, dear, but I need to do things my way, and I’ll get the village girl to help. She has to learn our ways.’

‘You mean Linnet. She has a name, Aunt.’

‘I don’t want to be too familiar. Servants get above themselves in such a situation.’

‘You call Hattie by her Christian name.’

‘Hattie has been with me for twenty years or more, and I don’t want to lose her. Anyway, I know how to handle my servants, thank you, Daisy. Why don’t you wrap up and go for a walk? Get to know the area, and if you see your uncle tell him to keep away from the river-bank. He can’t swim.’ Eleanora left the room and Daisy was able to finish her breakfast in peace.

She was about to clear the table when Linnet appeared, carrying a tray. ‘I’ll do that, miss. Your aunt sent me.’

Daisy knew better than to argue. ‘Thank you.’ She hesitated in the doorway. ‘I seem to have nothing to do so I thought I’d walk to Creek Hall and fetch my brother. Which way is it?’

‘Creek Hall is on the edge of the wood overlooking the saltings. Just follow the creek.’

‘The saltings?’

‘It’s a salt marsh that’s covered by the sea at high tide. It’s not the place to go walking unless you know the area well.’

‘Don’t worry, I’m not that adventurous, but I will take a stroll.’

Having left Linnet to do her work Daisy retrieved her bonnet and cape from the row of pegs in the entrance hall before setting off. The sun was shining and the threat of more snow seemed to have passed, but the bitter east wind made her eyes water. The ground was uneven and she had to take care not to trip over the ridges created by wagon wheels or to step into the ruts filled with snow melt. Despite the chill, the air was bracing and the sun’s rays reflected in the water, trapping the pale blue of the winter sky in the ripples, although as she approached the woods the shadows grew longer and the water lost its sparkle, appearing muddy and menacing. Daisy walked on, wrapping her woollen cape tightly around her. She quickened her pace and it was a relief to come out into the open where the saltings stretched out in front of her in a mass of vegetation growing haphazardly like a jigsaw puzzle tossed into the brackish water.

To her left she spotted Creek Hall, standing on its own at the edge of the wood with an uninterrupted view of the salt marsh. Sea birds circled overhead, mewing and crying like lost souls, while others waded in the shallow water, probing the mud with their long beaks in the search for food.

As she drew nearer she could see that the carriage sweep was losing the battle with couch grass and weeds, and some of the windowpanes in the upper floor were missing, but there was something about the warm red bricks of the Tudor house that spoke of permanence and solidity – two factors that appealed strongly to Daisy. She trod the gravel path, avoiding the patches of fast-melting snow, and went to knock on the door. After a while it was opened by a young woman who bore a striking resemblance to Linnet.

‘Good morning,’ Daisy said, smiling. ‘I came to see if my brother, Dr Marshall, is still here.’

‘You’d best come in then.’ The girl, who was probably a year or two older than Linnet, stood aside, staring curiously at Daisy as she crossed the threshold.

Daisy returned the stare. ‘Are you related to Linnet Fox, by any chance?’

A slow smile curved the girl’s generous lips. ‘I’m her sister, Dove.’

‘Dove?’

‘Yes, miss. Our mum loves birds. We all had such names.’

‘Dove, who is it?’ Nick’s voice rang out from somewhere at the far end of the entrance hall.

‘It’s Miss Marshall, Doctor. She’s come for her brother.’

Dressed for riding, Nick came to greet her. ‘Miss Marshall, this is an unexpected pleasure. I hope you weren’t worried when Toby failed to return home last night.’

Daisy smiled. ‘Not at all. I’m afraid it was blatant nosiness that brought me this way. I was eager to see Creek Hall.’

‘And here you are. I’d be delighted to show you round, although you might be disappointed.’

Daisy eyed his riding boots and topcoat. ‘But you’re going to Maldon to see your solicitor. You mustn’t let me hold you up.’

‘Another ten minutes or so won’t make any difference, but first you must have some refreshment. It’s bitterly cold and you’ve obviously walked here.’ He turned to Dove. ‘We’ll have coffee in the dining room.’

‘Yes, Doctor.’ Dove hurried off.

‘Toby is just finishing his breakfast and there’s a fire in the dining room. I only use a couple of the downstairs rooms – the others are under covers all winter, although I’m afraid that does encourage damp.’ Nick eyed her, frowning. ‘Would you like to take off your cape, or would you prefer to keep it on?’

‘I’ll keep it on for the time being, if you don’t mind.’

‘Not at all. I’m wearing several layers myself. Come this way.’ Nick led her across the wainscoted hall, through a door at the far end and down a long corridor to the dining room, where Toby was seated at the table. He pushed his plate away and jumped to his feet.

‘Good Lord, Daisy. Are you checking up on me? I thought Aunt Eleanora was bad enough, but this takes the biscuit.’

‘Don’t be so touchy, Toby. I’ve already admitted that I was curious to see Creek Hall, and I’m not disappointed.’

‘You aren’t?’ Nick said. ‘It’s not exactly a grand house.’

‘It feels homely, unlike the Carringtons’ mansion in Queen Square. It was grand and expensively furnished but it wasn’t a home.’

‘If you equate homely with shabby, then you’ll love Creek Hall. I’ll show you round,’ Nick said cheerfully. ‘Although I’m afraid the rest of the house is even colder than it is in here.’ He turned to Toby, who was munching a slice of toast and marmalade. ‘Are you coming with us?’

Toby shook his head. ‘No, thank you. I’m not nosy like my sister. I’ll sit here and finish my breakfast in peace.’

Daisy chose to ignore her brother’s teasing and she followed Nick from the room. The floorboards creaked as they negotiated the narrow passageways, and there were patches where the plaster had crumbled away from the walls, leaving the laths exposed. But if there were whispers from the past in the old house, the memories were happy ones.

‘I’ll introduce you to my housekeeper, Mrs Boynton, or Mrs Bee as I call her,’ Nick said over his shoulder as they approached the kitchen at the back of the house. ‘Mrs Bee has been with the family ever since I can remember, and she’s a wonderful cook. I don’t know why she stays on but she looked after my father in his last days – she was devoted to him.’

Daisy gathered from his tone that Mrs Bee’s opinion mattered, and as they entered the kitchen she braced herself for the inevitable interrogation. But it was the size of the kitchen and the height of the beamed ceiling that took her by surprise. At the far end of the room there was a huge open fireplace as well as an ancient range. The heat from a blazing log fire contrasted sharply with the chill rising from the flagstone floor.

A thin elderly woman, dressed in black from head to foot apart from a spotless white apron, rose from a chair at the table where she had been writing something in a ledger. ‘Good morning, Master Nick.’

‘I’ve brought Miss Marshall to meet you, Mrs Bee. She’s Toby’s sister.’

Mrs Bee looked Daisy up and down and a slow smile softened the harsh lines on her face. ‘You’ll be the young lady who’s just moved into Creek Cottage.’

‘I’m staying with my aunt and uncle, although I might return to London. I haven’t quite decided.’

‘We need new blood in the village. I hope you’ll make your home in Little Creek, Miss Marshall.’

‘If anyone can persuade her I’m sure you can, Mrs Bee.’ Nick leaned over to brush the housekeeper’s thin cheek with a kiss. ‘I don’t know what I’d do without you.’

‘You’re just like your late father: he could charm the birds from the trees if he so chose.’

‘He loved Creek Hall and so do I, but everything depends upon my visit to the solicitor today.’

‘It will be all right. There’s nobody going to take Creek Hall away from you. It’s been in the family for over two hundred years. You tell him that, Master Nick.’

‘I will, and if all else fails I’ll take you with me next time, Mrs Bee. We’ll leave you in peace, but I had to show Miss Marshall the beating heart of Creek Hall.’

‘Get away with you.’ Mrs Bee shook her head, but she was smiling as she sat down and picked up her pen. ‘Good day to you, Miss Marshall. I hope we’ll see more of you at Creek Hall.’

‘It was nice meeting you, Mrs Bee,’ Daisy said over her shoulder as she hurried after Nick, quickening her pace in an attempt to keep up with his long strides. ‘Do you really think you might lose Creek Hall?’

‘My father left considerable debts. He was a good doctor but a poor businessman, and he rarely charged any of his poorer patients. Unless I can find a way to pay all or even some of the money back to the creditors, it looks as though I’ll have to sell Creek Hall.’

‘That’s terrible. I can see how much it means to you.’

He came to a halt as they reached the entrance hall. ‘You don’t think I’m being overly sentimental?’

‘Heavens, no! Why would I think that? If I owned a property that had been in my family for so many years I’d do anything to hold on to it.’

A smile lit Nick’s hazel eyes. ‘I believe you would.’ He glanced at the grandfather clock as it chimed the hour. ‘I didn’t realise it was so late. I’m sorry but we’ll have to finish the tour another day. I have to leave for Maldon right away.’

‘I understand. Of course you must go, so don’t worry about me. I’ll go home with Toby.’

‘Explain to him for me, please.’

‘I will.’ She stood aside as he made a grab for his hat and riding crop. ‘Good luck.’

He smiled. ‘Thanks. I’ll need it. Tell Toby I’ll call round this evening and let him know how I got on.’

Daisy nodded but he was already out of the door and she found herself alone in the hallway surrounded by echoes of the past. She could imagine the Neville ancestors pleading softly for someone to save their old home. If this house belonged to her family she would fight to the last to keep it.

‘The coffee is getting cold,’ Toby said crossly when she returned to the dining room. ‘What kept you so long?’

‘I met the redoubtable Mrs Bee.’ Daisy picked up the coffee pot and filled a cup, adding a dash of cream. She sat down beside her brother. ‘Nick had to leave, but he said he’d call round this evening and let you know how his meeting with the solicitor went. I do feel sorry for him.’

Toby shrugged and took another bite of toast. ‘He could sell this old pile of bricks and move on. That’s what I’d do if I were in his position.’

‘But this is the family home, Toby. One of Nick’s ancestors built it.’

‘It’s old and it’s crumbling. Besides which, who in their right mind would want to live in the wilds of Essex? It would be impossible to make a decent living round here.’

‘But the people need a doctor. Doesn’t that mean anything to you?’

‘Then they should move to the nearest town. I intend to do my stint at the London, and then I’m heading for Harley Street where I can make a fortune and retire early so that I can enjoy the fruits of my labours.’

She shook her head. ‘You have no soul, Toby Marshall.’

‘And you are all heart, Daisy.’ He leaned over to kiss her on the forehead. ‘Have you fallen in love with the house or with my friend Nick?’

She chuckled but, even so, she felt the blood rush to her cheeks. ‘The house, of course. I’m done with romance. It leads to heartbreak.’

He squeezed her fingers. ‘Only if you fall for the wrong man, little sister. If I ever meet that cad Julian Carrington I’ll give him what for.’

‘He’s not worth it, Toby. Forget about Julian – I have.’ Daisy drank the lukewarm coffee in two gulps and replaced the cup on its saucer. ‘We’d better go home.’

‘It’s not my home, Daisy. I’m going back to London tomorrow.’

‘So soon?’

‘There’s no point staying any longer. I have to find lodgings near the hospital and I take up my position on Monday.’

‘I’ll miss you.’

Toby eyed her speculatively. ‘Come with me, then. I’m sure we can find somewhere suitable for the two of us. You can keep house for me.’

The thought of being her brother’s housekeeper made her laugh. ‘I can’t imagine how that would work out, Toby. We’d argue all the time, and anyway, I want to do something for myself.’

‘Do you want to find another position like the last one?’

She shook her head. ‘No, never. I wasn’t cut out to be a governess, but there must be something I can do. There simply must.’

Toby caught the train to London next morning, once again offering to share his accommodation with Daisy should she change her mind. She was tempted, but she knew that if she were to leave now it would upset her aunt and uncle, and she put a brave face on it, waving goodbye to her brother as the train puffed out of the station. She set off to walk back to the cottage at a brisk pace and was approaching the village when she saw a group of small boys clustered around one of their friends, who was lying prostrate on the ground.

‘What happened?’ Daisy asked anxiously.

‘He were climbing the tree, miss. The branch broke and he fell.’ The boldest of the group wiped his runny nose on his sleeve. ‘Is he dead?’

Daisy went down on her knees beside the child. ‘What’s his name?’

‘Jack Fox, miss.’

‘Fox? Is he related to Linnet and Dove?’

The boy nodded. ‘He’s their brother.’

‘He’s killed hisself,’ cried a smaller boy. ‘Run and get help, Danny.’

Daisy laid her hand on Jack’s chest and she could feel his heart beating rhythmically. ‘He’s not dead.’ She could see that one arm was twisted beneath him and she lifted him gently, straightening the injured limb. ‘I think he’s broken his arm. We need to get him to the doctor.’

‘It’s too far to carry him,’ Danny said, sniffing.

Daisy glanced round in desperation. ‘Don’t just stand there, boys. Find me some straight sticks. I’ll make a splint for his arm while he’s unconscious and then we’ll see about moving him.’ She sat back while the boys scurried off to find the wood. ‘Jack, can you hear me?’ She brushed his dark hair back from his forehead to reveal a large egg-shaped bump that was rapidly turning blue. A head injury could be serious, but there was nothing she could do about that; the main thing was to get the boy home and send for the doctor. Daisy looked up as Danny returned carrying a bundle of twigs, some bigger and thicker than others.

‘How far is it to Jack’s home?’

‘About half a mile, miss.’

‘Is there anyone big and strong who could carry him? Or is there someone close by who owns a pony and trap?’

‘The vicar has one, miss,’ the smallest of the boys piped up eagerly. ‘I can run fast. Shall I go and fetch him?’

Danny grabbed him by the arm. ‘Don’t be stupid, Alfie. We’re supposed to be in school.’

‘I wouldn’t worry about that at the moment.’ Daisy took off her cape and laid it over Jack’s inert body. ‘The important thing is to get help. Run along, Alfie. See how quickly you can get to the vicarage.’

Alfie puffed out his chest. ‘I’m a fast runner.’ He pushed past the silent boys, and sped off.

‘Don’t look, boys,’ Daisy said firmly. ‘I’m going to tear a strip off my petticoat so that I can use it as a bandage. We’ll make Jack as comfortable as possible until help arrives.’ She lifted her skirt and ripped a long strip from the hem of her undergarment. She could see the boys peeping through their fingers, but this was not the time for modesty and the sight of a shapely ankle was not going to do them any harm.

‘He’s groaning, miss,’ Danny said importantly. ‘He’s coming round.’

Daisy worked quickly. She had read about the treatment of fractures in one of Toby’s medical books, although she had never imagined that one day such knowledge might come in useful. She immobilised the arm by making a splint from three of the stronger pieces of wood bound with the material from her petticoat. Jack was moaning and his eyes fluttered and opened. He attempted to sit up, but Daisy restrained him gently.

‘You’re all right, Jack,’ she said softly. ‘You’ve had a fall, but you’re all right now.’

He stared at her blankly. ‘Who are you?’

‘I’m Daisy Marshall. Your sister Linnet works for my aunt and uncle at Creek Cottage.’

‘I got to go to school.’ He attempted to rise once again, but Daisy shook her head.

‘We need to get you home, and you have to see the doctor. I think your arm is broken, so please don’t try to move.’

He pulled a face. ‘I’ll be for it when I get home.’

‘So will I,’ Danny added grimly. ‘I’ll get a beating from my dad and from Mr Massey.’ His remark was accompanied by a groan of assent from the rest of the boys.

‘Mr Massey?’ Daisy shot him a questioning look.

‘The schoolmaster. We don’t like him.’

Daisy tried to think of something appropriate, but she could remember teachers at the academy for young ladies whom she had hated with a passion. Some of them seemed to have taken pleasure in tormenting the pupils under their care, and she sympathised silently with the boys. She looked up at the sound of hoof beats and the rumble of wheels.

Danny leaped to his feet. ‘It’s the doctor, and Alfie’s sitting beside him in the trap. You’ll be all right now, Jack.’

Chapter Five

‘You’ve done well, Daisy.’ Nick lifted Jack gently and placed him on the seat. ‘You’d best sit beside him,’ he added in a low voice. ‘We don’t want him to fall off and suffer even more damage.’

Daisy nodded and climbed up to sit beside Jack, who was very pale and obviously in pain. ‘It’s all right, Jack, you’ll be home soon and Dr Neville will look after you.’ She glanced down at Danny and Alfie, who were watching intently. ‘I think you’d best go to school and tell your teacher there’s been an accident, but Jack is in good hands now.’

Nick eyed them sternly. ‘Do as Miss Marshall says, and think twice next time you decide to wag school. Jack was fortunate – he only broke an arm – it could have been his neck.’ He leaped onto the seat and picked up the reins. ‘Walk on.’

Jack was trembling, either from shock or the pain or both, and Daisy placed her arm round his shoulders, holding him close. ‘It was fortunate that Alfie met you on his way to the vicarage, Doctor.’

Nick urged the horse to a trot. ‘I was called to tend to a difficult birth. The locals have been used to sending for my father and they seem to assume that I’ll be taking his place.’

‘Will you?’ Daisy eyed him curiously.

‘I don’t know whether it’s possible, although I’d like to carry on my father’s work.’

‘We didn’t see you last evening. How did you get on at the solicitor’s office?’

‘I’m sorry, I intended to come and see you and Toby, but it was very late by the time I reached home.’

‘What did the solicitor say?’

‘He showed me my father’s will and statements from his bank. Unfortunately my worst fears were confirmed. Father had tried to get a mortgage on the house, but the bank refused and probably as a last resort he borrowed money from the squire, who now owns at least half the properties in the village.’

‘Is that a bad thing?’

‘You wouldn’t have to ask had you ever met Esmond Tattersall. Unfortunately my father was so desperate that he agreed to pay an exorbitant rate of interest on the loan.’

‘Did he keep up the repayments?’

Nick shook his head. ‘Apparently not. I always knew that Pa had a soft heart, and it seems I was right – he rarely took money from his poorer patients. According to Mrs Bee they paid him with produce from their gardens, a chicken or some eggs, but hardly ever with actual cash.’

‘What will you do now?’

‘I’m afraid I’ll have to sell Creek Hall in order to pay off Tattersall, and I’ll move to a more lucrative practice elsewhere.’

Jack’s eyes flew open. ‘Don’t go, Doctor. My sister needs the job at the hall.’

‘Not a word of this to anyone, young Fox,’ Nick said firmly. ‘It won’t be for a while, and who knows? Maybe a miracle will happen and I’ll be able to take up where my father left off.’

‘There’s our cottage.’ Jack pointed with his good hand. ‘Don’t tell me mum that I was wagging, sir. She ain’t well and neither is me dad.’

Nick drew his horse to a halt outside the house. ‘I’ll be tactful, but only if you promise to attend school regularly, when your arm is healed. A bright boy like you could go far, providing he’s had a good education.’

‘I promise, sir.’

Daisy climbed down and stood aside while Nick lifted Jack gently in his arms.

‘Would you be kind enough to bring my medical bag, Daisy?’

‘Yes, of course.’ Daisy reached into the foot well and picked up the bag, which looked as though it must have belonged to Nick’s father, judging by the well-worn leather. She followed them into the cottage, and she had to wait for a moment or two for her eyes to adjust to the darkness indoors. The rancid smell of tallow mingled with the pervading odour of damp, and a desultory fire burned in the small black-leaded range. As her eyes grew accustomed to the dim light Daisy could see that the coal scuttle was filled with pine cones and furze, and the temperature indoors was barely higher than that outside. She had always been aware that people lived in poverty, but this was the first time she had seen it first hand, and it came as something of a shock.

The sound of coughing from upstairs echoed round the small room and a man, whom Daisy assumed must be Jack’s father, rose from a chair by the range. He was tall and gaunt with several days’ growth of beard masking his features.

‘What’s happened?’ he demanded hoarsely.

‘Jack had an accident, Lemuel. I need to take a look at his arm and make sure he has no other injuries.’

‘I fell out of a tree, Dad,’ Jack said warily. ‘The branch broke.’

A bout of coughing prevented Lemuel from replying, but he pointed to a truckle bed placed beneath the stairs, and Nick laid Jack gently on the straw-filled palliasse.

‘I’m just going to take a look, Jack. I’ll be as careful as I can.’ Nick kneeled down on the flagstone floor. ‘I need some light, Lemuel.’

Daisy looked round for a lamp or some candles, but there were only a couple of rush lights, which would account for the smell of burning animal fat. She could see that Lemuel Fox was embarrassed by the doctor’s request, and she felt a rush of pity for the man who was reduced to living in such straitened circumstances. It was easy to see why his daughters needed to work for low pay in order to provide even the basics to keep the family alive.

‘Would you open the door wider, please, Daisy?’ Nick said urgently. ‘I need more light.’

Daisy held the door and winter sun shone palely into the room. Nick worked quickly, soothing Jack with a few words as he dealt with the fracture. He set the bone with a deft movement and Jack cried out, but was silent while his arm was bandaged.

Nick rose to his feet. ‘I don’t suppose there’s much point in telling you to rest, Jack, but take things easy – no tree climbing for the foreseeable future.’

‘Yes, Doctor.’ Jack turned his head away, but not before Daisy had seen tears running down his cheeks. He was a little older than Timothy Carrington, who always tried hard to be a brave little soldier, and her heart went out to the boy. She put her hand in her skirt pocket and took out a poke of peppermint humbugs, a treat she had been saving for Hattie, who had a passion for the sweets. But Jack’s need was the greater and Daisy pressed the paper package into his good hand.

‘I’m sure the doctor would prescribe these to be taken freely, Jack. I believe they are very good for sore limbs.’

Jack’s eyes lit up and he crammed a sweet into his mouth. ‘Ta, miss. Ta, ever so.’

‘Don’t speak with your mouth full, boy,’ Lemuel said crossly. ‘You shouldn’t spoil him, miss. Jack wouldn’t have injured himself if he’d been in school. It’s God’s way of punishing him.’

Nick hesitated as he was about to close his medical bag. ‘It was an accident, Lemuel. I think Jack has learned his lesson, and he won’t be doing much climbing for a while.’ He gave Lemuel a searching look. ‘How long have you had that cough?’

‘It’s nothing, Doctor. Just the usual winter ailment, same as the missis upstairs, only she’s took to her bed.’

Nick took a small brown bottle from his bag and laid it on the kitchen table. ‘You might find this helps. The instructions for taking it are on the label.’

‘I don’t want it, Doctor. I can’t pay.’

‘It’s a commercial traveller’s sample; it cost me nothing, so it’s just taking up space in my bag.’ Nick snapped the locks together and made for the doorway. ‘I’ll call again tomorrow. Make sure you behave yourself, young Fox.’ He placed his hat on his head as he stepped outside into the cold, clear morning air.

Daisy followed him to the cart. ‘That wasn’t a free sample, was it?’

‘It will give Lemuel and his wife a little ease from the chest complaint.’

‘Consumption?’

‘That would be the worst diagnosis, but it could be simply inflammation of the lungs caused by the damp conditions and poor food. It’s what happens to people who live in poverty, and I’ve seen it all too often at the London.’

‘Is there nothing you can do for them?’

Nick handed her onto the driver’s seat and climbed up to sit next to her. ‘I wish there were, but all I can do is to hand out laudanum and advice as to their diet, which I know they cannot follow on such a limited income.’

‘You’ve employed Dove and you sent Linnet to us,’ Daisy said gently. ‘At least the girls are looked after, but what will happen to Jack?’

‘The boy will have to leave school and look for work. He has an elder brother, but Jay fell foul of the law and came to no good, according to Mrs Bee, who loves to fill me in with all the village gossip.’ Nick flicked the reins. ‘Walk on.’

Relieved to get away from the depressing subject of illness, Daisy was intrigued by the Fox family. ‘The girls have birds’ names, but Jack is presumably short for James or John.’

Nick laughed and encouraged the horse to trot. ‘I believe he was christened Jackdaw, but understandably prefers the shortened version.’

‘And the other son?’

‘Jay is the black sheep of the family. We used to play together as boys, but then I went to boarding school and university and we went our separate ways.’

‘Perhaps someone ought to inform Jay that his parents are ill?’

‘You’re right, of course, although I wouldn’t know how to contact him. I’ve been away from the village for a very long time.’

‘But Mrs Bee might be able to help. You said that she knows everyone.’

‘Again, you’re quite right. I’ve learned how to diagnose and deal with disease, but it seems I still have much to learn about dealing with patients’ problems. Maybe I’m more suited to working at a big hospital or in Harley Street. Perhaps Toby has the right idea.’

‘My brother isn’t like you, Nick. I think you would make a very good country doctor, and I suspect that the people in places like Little Creek are in desperate need of your services. London is full of hospitals and doctors’ practices, but you said yourself that the villagers have had no one to look after them since your father passed away.’

‘That is true but my position is untenable. If I can’t make the repayments to the squire I’ll have to sell the property.’ He concentrated on the road ahead. ‘Anyway, that’s my problem. Will you stay in Little Creek? You didn’t seem too keen on the idea yesterday.’

‘It’s different for me,’ Daisy said, sighing. ‘I really don’t want to go back to being a governess, but I’m not qualified to do anything else.’

‘Then we’re both at a crossroads, and neither of us knows which way to go.’

He drove on in silence until they reached Creek Cottage, where he reined in and drew the horse to a halt. ‘Come to dinner this evening, Daisy. I’ll show you the rest of Creek Hall and you’ll see the extent of my problem. Nothing has been done to preserve the old house for many a year despite my father’s attempts to renovate the building. I’m afraid it might be too late to save it now.’

‘That’s not the most exciting invitation I’ve ever had,’ Daisy said, laughing. ‘But I would like to see more of the house. It just needs some loving care to bring it back to life.’

Nick leaped to the ground and helped her to alight from the chaise. ‘I’ll call for you at six, if that’s convenient.’

‘Thank you. I’ll look forward to it.’

Dove served their meal in the dining room. Candlelight reflected off the old oak panelling, adding to the feeling of warmth and comfort, and the steak and kidney pie was excellent, but Daisy’s thoughts were with the Fox family, living in squalid conditions less than a mile away.

‘You aren’t eating, Daisy,’ Nick said gently. ‘Isn’t the food to your liking?’

She looked up with a start. ‘No, I mean yes. The pie is delicious. I was thinking of Jack and his family.’ She hesitated, at a sudden loss for words.

Nick sat back in his chair, eyeing her thoughtfully. ‘Their situation really bothers you, doesn’t it?’

‘Yes, but I hope I didn’t show it in front of Jack’s father. I should imagine he’s a very proud man.’

‘You were very quiet. It’s more what you haven’t said than anything else.’

‘Is their home part of your estate?’

‘It was once, but my father sold the properties in the hope that the new landlord would make the necessary improvements. Sadly this doesn’t seem to have happened.’

‘Did you say that the squire owns them now?’

‘Yes, I did. The wretched fellow lives in the manor house on the other side of the river, and I should think he owns half the county. He’s also the local Justice of the Peace.’

‘Perhaps someone ought to tell him that his tenants are living in slum conditions.’

‘He’s not the sort of man who would take kindly to criticism, even if well meant.’

‘I don’t like the sound of Squire Tattersall. Thank goodness my aunt owns Creek Cottage.’

‘She might own the building, but I dare say the squire retained the leasehold. I believe he is an astute businessman, whatever people say about him.’

‘I’ll have to ask Aunt Eleanora, although she might not be aware of such a thing. The cottage was left to her by a relative.’

‘Then I suggest she takes advice from a solicitor. Tattersall is not the sort of man to be sentimental when it comes to money.’

‘Maybe if he saw how the condition of the cottages affects the health and wellbeing of his tenants he might do something about it.’

Nick smiled and shook his head. ‘You have more faith in mankind than I have, Daisy. Let’s enjoy our meal and then I’ll show you the rest of the house. It looks slightly less shabby by lamplight.’

Dove brought the dessert, and after a generous helping of jam roly-poly smothered in creamy custard, Daisy was ready for the promised tour of the house. But Mrs Bee hurried into the morning parlour with the news that it was snowing again, and the road might soon become impassable.

‘You’d better take the young lady home, Doctor,’ Mrs Bee said in a tone that did not invite discussion.

‘You’re right, of course.’ Nick rose from the table. ‘I’ll fetch the trap and bring it round to the front door. You will see the rest of the house one day, Daisy. I promise.’

Mrs Bee followed him from the room, returning moments later with an umbrella and a travelling rug, which she handed to Daisy. ‘You’ll need these, miss.’

‘Thank you, Mrs Bee. And thank you for a wonderful meal.’

‘You’re welcome, miss. It’s good to see the doctor so cheerful. I’ve known him since he was a little boy and he took his pa’s death very much to heart.’

‘You’ll miss him if he decides to go away again.’

‘If that happens it will be the end of Creek Hall. He’d almost certainly have to sell it and who knows what would happen then? I wouldn’t want it to get into the hands of Squire Tattersall.’

‘You’re the second person who’s led me to think that the squire isn’t a good man.’

‘I can only repeat what I’ve heard, but apparently he’s ruthless in business and shows no mercy as a magistrate. His poor wife died young, and they say that he drove her to an early death, but I wouldn’t know about that. All I do know is that he’s a bad landlord and his tenants live in fear of him.’

‘Well, I don’t think I want to meet the squire. I’ll take care to avoid him.’

‘Very wise, miss.’ Mrs Bee walked over to the window and peered out into the darkness. ‘I thought I heard the rumble of wheels. The doctor is waiting for you. Best hurry, miss. The snow seems to be falling faster.’

Nick was waiting to help her on to the driver’s seat and he wrapped the rug round her knees. ‘I’m sorry we’ve had to cut the evening short, but we’ll do this again when the weather improves.’

Daisy unfurled the umbrella and held it over him while he climbed up to sit beside her. ‘I look forward to it. I think I’m falling under Creek Hall’s spell even now.’

‘Walk on.’ He tapped the horse gently with the tip of the whip. ‘The old house does that to people. I can remember visitors coming when I was a child, and some of them stayed on for days, if not weeks. There were people around all the time and the place was alive. Now it feels as though it’s sleeping, but I don’t want it to slip away from me.’

‘You talk about the hall as if it were a living entity.’

‘Do I? I didn’t realise I was so fanciful. I suppose everyone feels like that about their childhood home, especially when it was a happy one. What about you, Daisy? What made you leave London and come to live in the wilds of Essex?’

‘A broken engagement.’ She had not meant to tell anyone outside the family, but Nick was different and he invited confidences.

‘I’m sorry. Do you want to talk about it?’

‘Not really. Julian is the elder son of the Carrington family and I was employed as governess to his younger brother. I don’t know how it happened, but Julian and I fell in love. He asked me to marry him, but he wanted to keep our engagement a secret until his twenty-first birthday.’

‘His parents might have objected?’

‘Yes, they would, although it didn’t come to that. Julian wrote to me from Oxford, telling me that he’d been offered a job in the diplomatic service in Paris, and was leaving immediately.’

‘I don’t see why that would matter. In fact, it would seem ideal for a young married couple to set up home far away from the disapproving family.’

‘Perhaps, but Julian obviously didn’t see it like that. Maybe he had second thoughts. I don’t know.’

‘I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you, Daisy.’

‘I’m all right.’ Daisy shot him a sideways glance and smiled. ‘In fact, I’d forgotten about Julian for a while. I’ve had more important things to think about.’

‘Meaning the Fox family?’

‘I really would like to do something for them, Nick. But I wouldn’t know where to start.’

‘You are helping by giving Linnet a job, and you could call on Jack each day to see how he’s getting on. His mother and father are obviously too sick to look after him properly.’

Daisy stared ahead into the swirling snow. ‘I wonder if they would allow me to take him to Creek Cottage. He’s not ill, he just needs someone to make sure he gets proper food and rest until his arm heals. I could help him with his lessons, if the schoolmaster would allow such a thing.’

‘I think that’s an excellent idea. You’d have Linnet to help you, and I could put a word in with Lemuel, if you wish. Again, I’ve known him since I was a boy, and he trusts me.’

‘I’ll have to ask my aunt and uncle, but I’m sure they’d agree. There’s plenty of room in the cottage, and it would give me something to do. I’m not the sort of person who enjoys being idle.’ Daisy huddled beneath the travelling rug, holding the umbrella so that it shielded Nick as well as herself from the driving snow. They lapsed into silence as the horse plodded along the now familiar road with the wood on one side and the creek on the other. The water gleamed silkily in the cold light reflected off the snow, and the trees in the wood stood out dark and mysterious against a silvery background. The cold was intense and soon Daisy had lost all the feeling in her toes and fingertips.

It was a relief when the lights from Creek Cottage beamed at them like a welcoming smile. Nick climbed down to help her to the ground and they stood for a moment, so close that she could feel the warmth of his breath on her cheek.

‘Thank you for supper and for bringing me home.’ Daisy moved away as the front door opened and they were caught in a beam of light from the lantern Eleanora held in her hand.

‘Is that you, Daisy? I was beginning to worry.’

‘I brought her home safe, Mrs Marshall,’ Nick said cheerfully. ‘You must excuse me if I don’t linger, but I want to get back before the snow gets any deeper.’

‘I wish we’d never come to this godforsaken place.’ Eleanora reached out to grab Daisy by the hand. ‘Good night, Doctor.’

‘It isn’t always like this, Mrs Marshall.’ Nick tipped his hat, sending a shower of soft snow into the air. ‘Spring can’t be far off and it’s really beautiful here in the summer.’

‘I doubt if we’ll be here much longer if this dreadful snow persists.’ Eleanora dragged Daisy into the cottage and slammed the door. ‘I didn’t mean to be rude, but it’s too cold to stand there and discuss the weather.’

‘I still have his umbrella.’ Daisy opened the door in time to see the chaise disappearing into the darkness.

‘It will probably be pelting with rain tomorrow,’ Eleanora said grimly. ‘Give it back to him when the weather improves. Anyway, your uncle has gone to bed and I’m about to follow him. I was just waiting up for you, Daisy.’

‘But it can’t be much later than nine o’clock, Aunt.’

‘It feels much later.’ She put the lantern on the hall table and lit a candle. She headed for the stairs, holding the chamber candlestick in one hand and clutching the banister rail with the other. ‘Good night, Daisy.’

‘Good night, Aunt.’ Daisy watched her aunt as she marched up the stairs, accompanied by the shadow cast by her candle. She had made her feelings about living in the country quite clear, and Daisy decided that this was not the right time to ask if Jack could stay with them while his broken bone mended.

She shivered and flexed her fingers, which were tingling painfully. A cup of hot cocoa would be just the thing to settle her for the night and she made her way to the kitchen, but as she entered the room she was aware of soft, even breathing. She held the lantern higher and she could just make out Linnet’s sleeping form, curled up like a kitten in front of the range.

‘Linnet, are you all right?’

Linnet stretched and opened her eyes. She scrambled to her feet. ‘I’m sorry, miss. I didn’t know you wanted anything.’

‘I didn’t mean to disturb you,’ Daisy said hastily, ‘but you shouldn’t sleep on the floor. You’ll be stiff and aching in the morning.’

‘It won’t be the first time, miss. At home I used to sleep on a mattress top to toe with my sister, with Jack snoring away in the truckle bed.’

‘I thought you went home every night.’

‘The missis said I could stay because of the snow.’

‘Then at least she should have made sure you had a proper bed to sleep on.’

Linnet scrambled to her feet. ‘No, miss. Please, it’s all right. I don’t want to make a fuss or I’ll lose my job.’

Daisy placed the lantern on the table. ‘I understand, but we can’t have you lying on the floor like an animal. I’ll fetch some bedding and I think we both could do with a cup of cocoa. Do you know how to make it?’

‘It’s our Christmas morning treat, miss. I made it this year, so I know what to do.’

‘Lots of sugar,’ Daisy said, smiling. ‘You do that and I’ll see what I can find to make you more comfortable.’ She hesitated in the doorway. ‘You heard about Jack’s injury, I suppose?’

‘Hattie told me, miss. She said that you and the doctor had looked after him. He’s a young limb if ever there was one, always in trouble, but he’s a good boy at heart.’

‘I believe that, Linnet. He was very brave when Dr Neville set his arm.’

Daisy left Linnet to make the cocoa while she went upstairs to take the coverlet and a pillow from Toby’s room. It was unlikely that he would come to stay in the foreseeable future, but she did not want to offend her aunt by allowing a servant to sleep in his bed. There were a couple of small attic rooms beneath the eaves on the top floor. Hattie had one and with a little effort the second could be made habitable for Linnet. It would be up for discussion tomorrow, when, she hoped, Aunt Eleanora would be in a happier mood, and Daisy would bring up the subject of taking care of young Jack. It would make life a lot easier if his sister were to live in – Daisy smiled to herself. With luck all the pieces would fall into place, and just maybe her aunt would feel more settled in the country. It would be a shame to return to London too soon. There were people who needed her help, Dr Neville being one of them.

Chapter Six

Daisy was up early next morning, but she was not the first down to breakfast. She entered the small dining room to find her uncle had finished his meal of eggs and bacon and was about to leave the table.

‘I didn’t expect to see you up so early, Uncle.’

Sidney wiped his lips on a clean white napkin. ‘Ah, but I have a purpose for getting up from my bed this morning.’

Daisy sat down opposite him. ‘That sounds interesting.’

‘The landlord of the village pub has fishing tackle he wants to sell. I’m going to take a look at it and make him an offer.’

‘Do you know anything about fishing, Uncle?’

‘Not a thing, but I’m eager to learn. It would give me something to do and put food on the table. We have to be careful with the pennies now that I’ve retired from the business.’ He stood up and stretched. ‘That was an excellent breakfast. Everyone should have a good start to the day.’ He headed for the door. ‘If your aunt says anything, tell her I had to leave early or I might not get what I want.’

Daisy smiled and nodded as he left the room. She had never seen her uncle so enthusiastic about anything.

The door had hardly closed when it opened again to admit her aunt.

‘Really, he’s like an excited child,’ Eleanora said crossly. ‘He’ll spend money on a fishing rod and it will be thrilling for five minutes. He’ll change his mind when he spends hours on the river-bank and catches nothing other than a cold.’

‘He might enjoy it, Aunt. And Hattie can cook the fish he brings home.’

Eleanora went to the sideboard and filled a bowl with porridge. ‘I have so little appetite these days,’ she said as she took her seat and reached for the sugar bowl. ‘Pass the cream, please, Daisy.’

Daisy did as she asked and sat back, nibbling a slice of buttered toast as she watched her aunt spoon porridge laced with cream and sugar into her mouth.

‘Thank goodness Hattie came with us,’ Eleanora said, scraping the last morsels from the bowl. She licked the spoon with obvious enjoyment. ‘She is such a good cook.’

‘It was kind of you to take Linnet on. She’s a bright girl and eager to learn.’ Daisy eyed her aunt warily. So far so good. ‘Do you intend to make her position permanent?’

‘We have certain standards to keep up, and I can hardly expect Hattie to do all the work. She’d pack up and return to London in a blink of an eye.’

Encouraged, Daisy leaned forward, giving her aunt a persuasive smile. ‘Then perhaps Linnet ought to be given a room of her own. There’s a small one in the attic, next to Hattie’s.’

Eleanora reached for a small brass bell and rang it. ‘If you say so, dear. I haven’t been up there myself, but it does make sense to have the girl living in, and it will take some of the burden from Hattie.’

‘That’s a yes, then?’

‘I said so, didn’t I?’ Eleanora was about to ring the bell again when Linnet burst into the room.

‘You rang, missis?’

‘You are supposed to knock,’ Eleanora said firmly. ‘And you address me as Mrs Marshall or ma’am.’

‘Yes, ma’am.’ Linnet placed a plate of crisp bacon and two fried eggs in front of Eleanora. ‘Is there anything else, ma’am?’

‘Yes, Linnet. My niece tells me that you will be happy to live in. There’s a room next to Hattie’s that you may use. Daisy will help you to make it comfortable.’

Linnet’s cheeks flushed and her eyes shone with delight. ‘Ta, ever so, missis. I mean, thank you, ma’am.’

‘That’s all. You may go.’

‘Yes, ma’am.’ Linnet gave Daisy a radiant smile as she hurried past her and almost ran from the room.

‘She’ll have to learn a few manners, but she’ll do. One can’t expect town polish in a backwater like Little Creek.’ Eleanora picked up her knife and fork and began to attack the bacon with a determined look on her face.

‘I was wondering …’ Daisy began tentatively.

‘What, dear? Don’t start a sentence and let it hang in the air.’

‘Well, I know how kind-hearted you are, and Linnet’s younger brother had an accident yesterday. Dr Neville and I happened to be passing and we took him home. Jack had broken his arm and he was very brave when Dr Neville was treating him.’ Warming to her subject Daisy leaned across the table. ‘The family are so poor, Aunt. You can’t imagine how they live. Their cottage is damp and in a dreadful state of disrepair. Mr and Mrs Fox are both ill with chest complaints and they have barely enough to feed them, let alone a sick child.’

Eleanora looked up from her plate, frowning. ‘It’s sad, but that’s how the lower orders live, Daisy. There are plenty of poor people in London who are living in even worse conditions. We can’t look after them all.’

‘No, of course, not,’ Daisy said hastily. ‘But I was wondering if Jack might stay here for a week or two, just until his bones mend. Dr Neville thinks it would be a very good thing.’

‘Does he indeed? Then perhaps Dr Neville ought to take the boy into his house and look after him. Hattie tells me that Creek Hall is huge. She had it from someone she met in the village whose sister used to work for the old doctor.’

‘Nick can’t afford the upkeep of the hall, Aunt. He thinks he might have to return to London, or find a practice elsewhere. He might even have to sell his old home.’

‘That is a pity, but there’s nothing we can do about it, dear.’ Eleanora reached for a slice of toast, broke off a shard and dipped it in the egg yolk. She ate it with relish. ‘You ought to have a cooked breakfast, Daisy. You’re all skin and bone as it is, and in this weather you need a bit of flesh on your bones.’

‘I had a big meal at Creek Hall last evening, Aunt. Mrs Bee is an excellent cook.’

‘I’m sure Hattie is the better of the two.’

‘Oh, undoubtedly,’ Daisy said tactfully. ‘But what about young Jack? I can imagine Toby might have been like him when he was younger.’

Eleanora hesitated with the toast halfway to her lips, and Daisy knew she had scored a point in Jack’s favour. Toby was her aunt’s favourite – she had always known that, but it had never bothered her. Toby had a way with him that women of all ages found irresistible.

‘How old is the boy?’ Eleanora popped the toast into her mouth.

‘He’s about nine or maybe ten. I didn’t ask, but all he needs is a comfortable bed and good food. He’s very undernourished. I would hate to think of Toby suffering like that.’

‘Your uncle and I have given our lives to rearing you and your brother. Never let it be said that I turned my back on a child in need. You may bring him here and he can stay until his broken bones knit together, but then he must return to his family. I want that clear from the start.’

‘Yes, absolutely, Aunt. If it’s all right with you I’ll go and tell Dr Neville the good news and I’ll leave it to him to persuade Mr and Mrs Fox that it’s the best thing for their son.’

Eleanora eyed her speculatively. ‘I suppose a doctor could earn a comfortable living, in the right place. It’s a respectable profession.’

‘Yes, Aunt.’ Daisy knew better than to argue. She rose from the table. ‘I’ll set off for the hall. It’s stopped snowing and the sun is shining. Perhaps a thaw has set in.’

‘One can but hope.’ Eleanora buttered another slice of toast. ‘I must persuade your uncle to buy a pony and trap. Life would be much more pleasant if one could drive out once a week or so. I miss the shops and the bustle of London, and I doubt if I’ll ever get used to living in the country.’

Daisy had no answer to this and she hurried from the room. She went to the kitchen where she found Hattie seated at the table, enjoying a cup of tea and a slice of toast, while Linnet washed the dishes in the stone sink.

‘My aunt says that Linnet may have the small room next to yours, Hattie. I’ll help her to get it ready, so it won’t cause you any extra work.’

‘I think it’s a good idea. Linnet’s a good worker and I’m not as young as I used to be.’

‘Excellent.’ Daisy tried not to sound too relieved. Hattie was a dear, but she could be awkward and vinegary when she chose. ‘And the other thing is that my aunt has agreed to have your younger brother here until his arm heals, Linnet. Do you think your parents would agree?’

Linnet’s plain face was transformed by a smile. ‘Oh, miss, that would be too good to be true. Mum and Dad get sick every winter and it’s Jack who suffers the most. Us older ones can look after ourselves, but Jack is only a nipper. But …’ she hesitated, frowning, ‘they wouldn’t want charity from no one.’

‘I guessed as much,’ Daisy said quickly. ‘That’s why I’m going to walk to Creek Hall and ask Dr Neville to speak for me. I think your parents might listen to him.’

‘Yes, they would. They respected the old doctor – we all did. The village won’t be the same if Dr Neville goes away for good.’

‘Who told you that, Linnet?’

‘I’m sorry, miss. It’s common knowledge that the old doctor was in trouble moneywise. Stands to reason that Dr Neville will be, too.’

‘Is nothing private in Little Creek?’

Linnet chuckled and turned back to washing the dishes. ‘No, miss. Not a thing.’

‘Well then, perhaps you’d be good enough to take a message to Creek Hall when you’ve finished what you’re doing? I’ll write a note to the doctor, asking him to persuade your parents that it would be in everyone’s best interests if Jack stayed with us, for a while at least. You could look after him and he’d feel quite at home with you living here as well.’

‘It ain’t right to take a child from his ma and pa,’ Hattie said grimly. ‘You shouldn’t interfere in other folks’ business, Miss Daisy.’

‘Don’t be such a wet blanket, Hattie. Having Jack here will lift all our spirits.’ Daisy left the kitchen before Hattie had a chance to argue.

‘They’ve arrived,’ Daisy said, peering from the parlour window. ‘Dr Neville has brought Jack.’

Eleanora rose from the chair by the fire, smoothing her skirts. ‘I don’t know why I agreed to this.’ She followed Daisy into the hall and stood behind her as she opened the door. ‘And I can’t think why I allowed you to persuade me that the boy ought to have Toby’s room.’

‘We won’t see much of my brother for the foreseeable future, and Jack will only be with us until his arm heals.’ Daisy looked out into steadily falling rain. With the usual vagaries of the British climate, the temperature had risen and rain was falling steadily, turning the snow into slush.

‘You’ll drop the child,’ Eleanora cried anxiously. ‘Do be careful, Doctor.’

‘Put me down, Doctor. I can walk,’ Jack protested. ‘I ain’t a baby.’

Eleanora wagged a finger at Jack. ‘You’ll do as you’re told, young man. We don’t allow boys to be cheeky in our house.’

Daisy exchanged wry smiles with Nick as he stepped inside and put his wriggling burden down. ‘Welcome to Creek Cottage, Jack. There’s a fire in the front parlour, or would you rather go straight to your room and rest?’

‘I don’t want to go to bed,’ Jack said angrily. ‘If they’re going to mollycoddle me I’d rather go home, Doctor.’

‘Mrs Marshall is just thinking of your comfort, Jack.’ Nick rested his hands on the boy’s shoulders, turning him to face Daisy and her aunt. ‘I suggest you thank the ladies for taking you in and making you welcome.’

Jack scowled, glaring at Eleanora with a sulky frown. ‘Ta ever so, missis.’

Daisy held her breath, but to her surprise Eleanora’s lips began to quiver and she started to laugh. ‘You do remind me of my nephew. Toby hated being fussed over. You’ll do, young man, but you’ll remember your manners while you’re under my roof.’ She turned to Linnet, who was hovering in the background. ‘Bring your brother a cup of cocoa and a slice of Hattie’s seed cake. I’ve never known a small boy who didn’t have a large appetite.’

Daisy was about to follow them into the parlour, but her aunt forestalled her. ‘No, Daisy. I’ll take this opportunity to get to know our young guest. You have the advantage over me there, so I suggest your take Dr Neville to the kitchen and see that he has some refreshment to keep out the damp.’ She closed the door firmly.

‘There,’ Nick said, chuckling. ‘You’ve been put in your place, Daisy.’

‘I know. It’s always like this. Aunt Eleanora can’t get used to the idea that I’m a no longer a child.’

‘She seems to have taken to young Fox.’

‘She said that he reminds her of my brother. Toby can wrap Aunt Eleanora round his little finger. Anyway, perhaps you’d like to come to the kitchen and meet Hattie. She thinks she runs the household, and she’s not far wrong. My aunt relies on her completely, so it’s good that she has Linnet to help out.’

‘With the two girls living in and earning money, even if it’s not a high wage, the Fox family should be able to survive the winter. They aren’t alone in their struggles either. There are others in the village, the squire’s tenants in particular, who suffer equally.’

‘You really care about the people of Little Creek, don’t you?’ Daisy said softly. ‘I don’t think you’d have the heart to walk away.’

‘That’s my dilemma, Daisy. My head tells me to sell up and move on, but my heart wants to continue the work begun by my father. It’s not an easy decision to make.’

‘I know you’ll do what’s right.’ Daisy led the way to the kitchen, where the aroma of hot cocoa mingled with the savoury smell of the mutton stew simmering on the range.

‘So you’re the famous Dr Neville,’ Hattie said without giving Daisy a chance to make introductions. ‘This young girl speaks very high of you, sir.’ She nodded in Linnet’s direction. ‘But she says you’re going back to London.’

Nick held out his hand. ‘You must be Hattie. I’ve heard so much about you from Miss Marshall. How do you do?’

Hattie’s thin cheeks flushed scarlet and she shook his hand before bobbing a curtsey. ‘Very well, thank you, Doctor.’

‘Perhaps you’d like some tea or cocoa, Nick?’ Daisy said hastily.

‘Tea would be nice, if it’s no trouble.’

Hattie bustled over to the range, pushing Linnet out of the way. ‘Of course, Doctor. I’ll make a fresh pot now and Linnet will bring it to you in the front parlour.’

‘My aunt is getting to know Jack,’ Daisy said, keeping a straight face with difficulty. It was obvious that Hattie wanted to make a good impression on the doctor. ‘We’d best use the dining room.’

‘There’s no fire lit,’ Hattie argued. ‘The missis said to be economical with the coal and logs and only light the fire half an hour before dinner.’

‘I could see to the fire for you, Doctor,’ Linnet volunteered eagerly.

‘Thank you, we’ll manage.’ Daisy backed towards the doorway. ‘Tea for two in the dining room, please.’ She ushered Nick out of the kitchen and closed the door. ‘They’re trying to kill you with kindness,’ she added, giggling. ‘I’ve never known Hattie to be so eager to please.’

‘It’s the profession, not me personally. The people of Little Creek had great respect for my father, which was well-earned because he worked tirelessly for their benefit.’

‘He must have been a great man.’

‘He was, and I know he wanted me to continue his work, but I really don’t think it’s going to be possible.’

Daisy took a seat next to him. ‘I wish I could help.’

‘There’s just one avenue open to me now. It’s one I didn’t want to take, but I’ll lose my home and the practice if I do nothing.’

‘What is it? Can you talk about it?’

‘I have an aged aunt, living in Canterbury. We used to visit her once a year on her birthday, and her anniversary is coming up next week. She’s very wealthy and I’m her closest relative. She might lend me enough money to pay off the squire, and then I could stay and set up in practice.’

‘You would still face the same problems, wouldn’t you? If your patients are too poor to pay for your services you would be in the same position as your father.’

‘I would have to ensure that I charged enough.’

‘Did you ask for payment when you set Jack’s arm?’

Nick shook his head. ‘How could I? You saw how the family live, and Jack’s father hasn’t worked for years.’

‘My point exactly. You might borrow money from your aunt, but it wouldn’t be long before you were in exactly the same position as your father.’

A tap on the door preceded Linnet, who entered carrying a tray of tea and two large slices of seed cake. ‘Mrs Cribb says she hopes you enjoy the cake, Doctor. And if you have a moment, could you look at her left shoulder? It pains her when she lifts anything heavy.’

‘Yes, of course,’ Nick said, smiling. ‘I’ll take a look at it before I go.’

Daisy waited until the door closed on Linnet. ‘You see! You are too kind and obliging. People know that and they take advantage of your good nature.’

‘I’ll accept a cup of tea and a slice of that delicious-looking cake as payment.’

Daisy passed him his tea and cake. ‘That will be your downfall, Dr Neville.’

‘Making a fortune has never been my aim, but a comfortable living and the upkeep of Creek Hall is something I have to consider. One day I hope I’ll be in a position to marry and raise a family, and for that I need a steady income.’

Daisy was tempted to ask if he had anyone in mind, but that might lead to embarrassment on both sides and she hastily changed the subject. ‘I thought I’d visit the village school tomorrow and ask if I might help Jack with his lessons at home, at least until he feels well enough to go back to school.’

‘I’m sure Massey will be delighted. He’s fairly new and I’ve only met him once, but he seems like a decent fellow.’

The sun was shining next morning and the thaw continued. The creek had swelled with snow melt and the crystal-clear water rushed past, tumbling small branches and pieces of flotsam over rocks in its haste to join the river and continue its journey out to sea. Daisy walked briskly, but she still had time to look around and marvel at nature. Already there were tight little buds on the trees, just waiting for spring to arrive and the warm kiss of the sun to burst into leaf. At the side of the lane, beneath the hedgerow, she saw a small patch of snowdrops and she was tempted to stop and pick them, but she was on a mission to persuade the schoolmaster to allow Jack to keep up with his studies at home. Jack had been showing signs of boredom, and it was astonishing how much difference good food and rest could make in such a short time.

As she approached the village Daisy was conscious of the interest she was creating. Some of the women she met greeted her with a smile and a nod, while others gave her sidelong glances and walked on. The Marshalls were still the subject of interest and speculation, as reported daily by Linnet. People had little to talk about and a new family in the village gave the gossips something new to discuss behind closed doors.

The school itself was situated opposite the village pub and the church, and the children had been allowed outside at break. The boys had found pockets of snow and were hurling snowballs at each other, while the girls played skipping games and chanted rhymes that were new to Daisy. She made her way between the different groups, narrowly avoiding being hit by a snowball thrown by a boy she recognised as being Danny, one of Jack’s friends. He caught up with her as she was about to enter the building.

‘Where’s Jack, miss? Is he all right?’

‘He’s staying at Creek Cottage for a while,’ Daisy said, smiling. ‘He broke his arm, but Dr Neville set the bones and Jack has to be careful he doesn’t injure it again.’

‘When will he come back to school?’

‘As soon as the doctor says it’s all right. Now, where will I find Mr Massey?’

‘He’s right there, miss. Behind you.’ Danny turned and raced back to join his rowdy friends.

Daisy turned to find herself facing a tall, dark-haired young man, whose black jacket was worn at the cuffs and dusted with chalk. ‘May I help you, miss?’

‘You must be Mr Massey, the schoolmaster.’

‘That’s correct. I’m Elliot Massey. Might I ask your name?’

‘I’m Daisy Marshall and I live at Creek Cottage. We only moved in recently, although it feels as if I’ve lived here for months.’

A slow smile lit his grey eyes. ‘I know the feeling. How may I help you?’

‘I was wondering if you could set some work for Jack Fox. I expect you know that he injured himself falling from a tree.’

‘Yes, of course. I know that he’s been taken in by the new people from London.’

‘Mr and Mrs Marshall are my uncle and aunt, and Dr Neville thought it a good idea if Jack came to stay with us for a while. Jack’s parents are unwell and his sisters are in service.’

‘I am aware of the family history. It’s impossible to do anything in Little Creek without everyone knowing.’

‘You’re not the first person to tell me that,’ Daisy said, smiling. ‘Anyway, if you think it a good idea perhaps I could help Jack with some work at home, so that when he returns he doesn’t find himself far behind the other children.’

‘Of course, and thank you. If only the parents of some of the other children thought the same as you my life would be so much easier. I try my best to make learning exciting and interesting, but it’s impossible to get through to some of my pupils. Young Jack shows promise but he’s easily distracted.’

‘If you would allow me to take a couple of books and a slate, I’ll do my best.’

‘I can do better than that, Miss Marshall. If you can wait until this afternoon, I’ll bring the books after school.’

At that moment a bell rang and the children raced past them, bringing gusts of cold air with them.

‘I can see that you’re busy,’ Daisy said hurriedly. ‘I’m sure Jack would appreciate a visit from his teacher.’

Elliot leaned down to grab a small boy who was clutching a handful of snow. ‘Take that outside, Benny. You don’t bring snowballs into the classroom.’

The child shrugged and stomped out into the schoolyard where Daisy caught sight of him throwing what remained of the snow at a little girl, who started to cry.

‘Thank you, Mr Massey. I’d better go now, but I’ll tell Jack you’re coming to see him.’

Daisy threaded her way through the crowd of rosy-cheeked children as they pushed and shoved in order to get inside out of the cold. She noticed that, although most were scrubbed clean, their clothes were patched and mended and their shoes down at heel. It was obvious that Little Creek was not a rich village, and she understood a little more of the dilemma that Nick Neville faced. She could only hope that his meeting with the aged aunt would prove fruitful.

The sun was still shining, but the temperature was plummeting when Daisy set off towards home, but as she passed the pub she saw her uncle strolling on ahead with a fishing rod over his shoulder and a wicker basket clutched in his hand. She quickened her pace and caught up with him.

‘You’ve bought the fishing tackle.’

‘I tried it out yesterday. Perkins, the pub landlord, showed me how to cast and we spent a good two hours on the river-bank, until my poor feet and fingers were frozen, but now I’m off to try downstream. We’ll have fish for supper tonight, Daisy.’

‘I look forward to that.’ Daisy fell into step beside him. ‘You seem to have settled in to country living so easily, Uncle.’

‘It’s something I’ve dreamed of since I was a boy, my dear. Now I’ve got my chance and I’m grabbing it with both hands. I just hope your aunt can adjust, although I know she loves London and she’ll miss the shops and the theatres.’

‘It is a big change, Uncle.’

He turned his head to give her a searching glance. ‘And what about you, Daisy? Are you happy here?’

She was about to answer when something further downstream caught her eye. She grabbed her uncle’s arm. ‘Look, on the river-bank. Oh heavens! I think it’s a dead body.’

Chapter Seven

Daisy broke into a run. She could hear her uncle’s heavy tread as he lumbered along behind her. He was calling out for her to stop, but although her heart was pounding and she was afraid of what she might find, she could not bring herself to hold back. The man was lying face down in the mud and the water was lapping round his ankles. Daisy came to a halt, holding her breath as she gazed down at his inert form. At first she thought he was dead, but a slight movement of his clenched fist was followed by a shuddering breath.

Sidney arrived at her side, puffing and gasping for air. ‘Don’t touch him, Daisy. He might have died of some terrible disease.’

‘We can’t just leave him like this, Uncle.’ Daisy bent down and with a huge effort managed to turn the man on his back. Despite the mud that caked his face she could see that he was young, perhaps in his mid-twenties. ‘We need to get him out of the water,’ she said urgently. ‘We don’t know how long he’s been lying here, but he’s still breathing.’

Together they managed to pull him clear of the creek and Daisy took her hanky from her pocket to wipe the mud from his face. ‘We need to get help, Uncle. He’s too heavy for us to move.’

‘You go, Daisy. You’re quicker on your feet than I am, and he might wake up and become violent. He could be a drunk who’s fallen in the water on his way home. Go to the pub and tell Abel Perkins what’s happened. He’ll know the fellow, like as not.’

‘All right. I’ll be as quick as I can.’

Daisy picked up her skirts and raced back the way they had come. She burst into the pub and made her way between the tables to the bar where a portly man was polishing tankards with a grubby-looking cloth. ‘Are you Mr Perkins?’ she asked breathlessly.

‘That’s me, dearie.’ He looked her up and down. ‘We don’t get many young ladies in here,’ he added, chuckling. ‘What can I do for you?’

‘There’s a man lying on the river-bank. He’s unconscious and my uncle and I need help to move him.’

‘Your uncle? You must be the young lady from London then?’

‘I’m Daisy Marshall. Could you help us, please?’

‘It’s probably some vagrant who’s lost his way in the dark. Dare say he was drunk. I dunno how many times we’ve fished a corpse out of the creek.’ Abel lifted the hatch in the counter and beckoned to two men who were huddled round the fire. ‘Give us a hand, lads. We’ve got another drowned rat.’

The men downed their pints and stood up. ‘Who is it this time, Abel?’

‘We’ll find out shortly.’ Abel opened the door and a gust of cold air drew smoke from the chimney into the taproom. ‘Best wait here, miss.’

Daisy did not argue but she followed them anyway, and when they reached the casualty she was relieved to see that he was attempting to sit up.

‘Well, I’ll be damned,’ Abel said, chuckling. ‘Look who it is.’

‘Can’t tell for all that there mud.’

‘It’s that Jay Fox. I wonder what sort of trouble he’s got hisself into this time.’ Abel heaved Jay to his feet. ‘Let’s get you home, boy.’

‘Wait a minute.’ Daisy laid her hand on Abel’s arm. ‘His mother and father are unwell. You can’t take him home in that state.’

‘Don’t interfere, Daisy,’ Sidney said in a low voice. ‘It’s none of our business.’

‘Maybe not.’ Daisy turned to him angrily. ‘But he obviously needs to see the doctor. If anything, he ought to be taken to Creek Hall. His sister is there and she’ll know what to do.’

‘Look here, miss. I can’t go traipsing around the countryside because Jay Fox is in trouble again. This chap has been nothing but a worry to his family ever since he took his first breath.’

The elder and more vocal of the men from the bar nodded. ‘That’s true. He ran away to sea when he was just a boy. Spent some time in prison, so they say.’

Jay groaned and opened his eyes. ‘What’s going on?’

‘He’s all right.’ Abel relaxed his hold and Jay’s knees buckled beneath him. He sank to the ground, coughing. ‘I’ve got a pub to run.’ Abel slapped Sidney on the back. ‘I’d leave the feller here and let him find his own way home, if I was you, Sidney, my friend.’ He strode off in the direction of the pub, followed more slowly by his two erstwhile customers.

Sidney helped Jay to his feet. ‘Can you walk, young man?’

‘You’d better come home with us,’ Daisy said firmly. ‘Your brother, Jack, is at our house and so is Linnet. You can clean up and dry your clothes before you go home.’

‘Daisy, is this wise?’ Sidney protested.

‘What else can we do, Uncle? Anyway, Creek Cottage is nearer than the Foxes’ home, and I’ll send Linnet to fetch the doctor. I just hope he hasn’t left for Canterbury.’

Jay shook his head. ‘I’m all right. Thanks for your offer, but I’d best go home.’

Daisy stood aside. ‘Let’s see you walk then.’

He scrambled to his feet, stumbled and would have fallen if Sidney had not caught him.

‘Daisy is right,’ Sidney said reluctantly. ‘We’ll take you to our house, and you can go home when you’ve regained your strength.’ He hooked one of Jay’s arms around his shoulder and between them Daisy and her uncle helped Jay to Creek Cottage.

‘Are we to have the whole Fox family dependent upon us?’ Eleanora demanded angrily. ‘Now you tell me that he has a bad reputation, and you have no idea how he came to be in this state.’

Sidney and Daisy exchanged anxious glances. ‘Well, my love, we could hardly leave the poor fellow there. He would have died from exposure to the elements.’

‘And Dr Neville said he must have been attacked and beaten. Jay has a slight concussion and needs to rest,’ Daisy said earnestly. ‘We couldn’t take him home in such circumstances.’

‘What is it about the Fox family?’ Eleanora cried, throwing up her hands. ‘Why have we become responsible for their offspring?’

Daisy glanced over her shoulder as Nick entered the room. ‘Is he going to be all right?’

‘He was lucky you found him when you did, but he’ll be fine. Jay is tough and he’ll recover, although I’m a bit worried about the concussion. Anyway, I’ll take him back to Creek Hall, and his sister and Mrs Bee will look after him.’

‘Thank the Lord,’ Eleanora said wholeheartedly.

‘What happened to him?’ Daisy asked eagerly. ‘Did he say?’

‘I didn’t ask too many questions. I’m not even sure he remembers, but I hope that will improve as he recovers. He suffered a bad beating and he spent some time in the water, so I need to keep an eye on him for the next few days at least.’

‘Someone had better let his parents know.’ Sidney gazed out of the window. ‘Anyway, you don’t need me now so I think I’ll go fishing. Is that all right with you, Eleanora?’

‘I suppose so,’ she said, sighing. ‘You go off and enjoy yourself, Sidney. I’ll stay here and mind other people’s children.’

‘We’ll be on our way, Mrs Marshall,’ Nick said hastily.

Daisy followed him into the hall. ‘He will be all right, won’t he?’

‘As I said, Jay is tough. We might have gone in different directions, but we’re still friends, so you’ve no need to worry.’

‘I thought he was dead when I first saw him.’

‘You probably saved his life. If you hadn’t found him when you did the outcome could have been very different. As it is I’m sure he’ll make a full recovery.’

She smiled. ‘I did what anyone else would have done.’

‘Not everyone, it seems. Abel Perkins walked off and left a girl and an old man to manage on their own. I’m sure Jay will thank you both when he’s fully recovered.’

‘It was fortunate for Jay that you hadn’t gone to see your aunt. I was afraid we might have missed you.’

‘I had some things to do, so I decided to go tomorrow.’ Nick met her worried gaze with a smile. ‘Mrs Bee and Dove will take care of Jay while I’m gone, and I don’t imagine he’s in any real danger. At least, not now.’

‘Perhaps we’d better rescue him from Hattie’s ministrations,’ Daisy said, chuckling. ‘The last I saw of her she was making him a mustard footbath, which she swears by as a cure for just about anything.’ She led the way to the kitchen where Jay was seated in a chair by the range with his bare feet soaking in a bowl of hot water laced with yellow mustard. His fair hair had been washed and it curled wildly around his head, giving him the look of a fallen angel. One eye was half closed and would be blackened by morning, but his good eye was an interesting shade of blue edged with long thick lashes that would make any female jealous. He was dressed in some old clothes that Toby had left behind when he decided they were not smart enough for a professional gentleman. The trouser legs were rolled up to keep them away from the mustard water, but the jacket sleeves were far too short, exposing Jay’s bony wrists and muscular forearms.

‘How are you feeling?’ Daisy asked anxiously. ‘Does your head hurt?’

He managed a lopsided grin. ‘Not too much, thank you, miss.’

‘He’ll be fine,’ Linnet said casually. ‘Jay has a thick skull. If he fell on his head as a child we knew he would be all right.’

Hattie pursed her lips. ‘He should be tucked up in bed with a hot-water bottle.’

‘I’m all right,’ Jay said abruptly. ‘I wish everyone would stop fussing. I said, I’m fine.’

‘I need to keep an eye on you, Jay.’ Nick picked up a towel and tossed it at him. ‘Dry your feet. I’m taking you to Creek Hall whether you like it or not.’

‘I should go home, Nick. I’ve been away too long.’

‘Your parents are far from well at the moment and they can’t be expected to look after you. It’s best if you come home with me. Mrs Bee will delight in fussing over you.’

Linnet picked up a towel and began to dry her brother’s feet. ‘You’ll do as you’re told for once, Jay Fox.’

‘I wish you’d all leave me alone,’ Jay said with a groan. ‘I’m quite capable of looking after myself.’

‘Well, you haven’t been very successful, considering you’ve just been fished out of the river, half dead.’ Hattie gave a disapproving sniff. ‘Gallivanting around won’t do you any good.’

‘Don’t worry, Mrs Cribb,’ Nick said smoothly. ‘Jay will be well cared for, and I’m sure you have enough on your hands with young Jack.’

Jack had been sitting quietly at the table, munching cake, but he looked up and grinned. ‘It was worth breaking an arm to come here and be treated like a young gent. Mrs Cribb makes the best cake ever.’

Hattie puffed out her chest. ‘Flattery will get you nowhere, young man.’

‘You’d best be ready to see your teacher,’ Daisy said hurriedly. ‘Mr Massey is coming here after school with some books for you to study while your arm heals.’

Jack’s mouth drooped at the corners and he pushed his plate away. ‘I thought it was too good to be true. I don’t like Mr Massey.’

‘I thought he was charming,’ Daisy said firmly. ‘And you need to work hard in order to keep up with the rest of the class.’

‘You’ll have me to answer to now, Jack. I won’t stand any nonsense.’ Jay attempted to rise but subsided with a groan.

‘Your brother will be around for a while yet.’ Nick helped Jay to his feet. ‘I need to give you a more thorough examination, Jay. You might have cracked a couple of ribs.’

Jack pulled a face. ‘I bet he’s on the run from the coppers again.’

‘Cheeky brat.’ Jay made to cuff Jack round the head as he limped past, but missed. ‘I’ll get you next time, nipper.’

Jack poked out his tongue and was scolded by Hattie and Linnet in unison.

‘Maybe you ought to come with us to Creek Hall,’ Nick said severely. ‘You need someone to keep you in order, young fellow.’

‘I’ll be good. Don’t take me away from here. I never had such lovely grub, nor such a soft bed. Let me stay, please.’

‘Of course you’ll stay with us.’ Daisy gave him an encouraging smile. ‘I’m going to help you with your lessons.’

‘Can I join the class, too, teacher?’ Jay said, chuckling. ‘My spelling ain’t up to standard.’

Nick grabbed him by the arm. ‘You’ll behave yourself now you’re home. I’d like to know what got you in this state in the first place.’

Jay’s reply was lost as Nick propelled him out of the room and the door closed behind them. Daisy and Hattie exchanged worried glances.

‘Don’t worry about my brother,’ Linnet said calmly. ‘Jay might have got in with the wrong company at one time, but whatever happened to him I’m sure it wasn’t his fault.’

‘That’s right,’ Jack added. ‘Jay’s a good ’un.’

‘Never mind all the chit-chat,’ Hattie said briskly. ‘We’ve got work to do, Linnet. There’s water to fetch, wood to chop, and make sure the fire doesn’t go out in the front parlour. We don’t want the schoolmaster to think we can’t afford to live decently.’

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