The Christmas Wedding

by Dilly Court

  Jay picked up a drying cloth. ‘Here, let me help.’ He took a couple of bricks and started to pat them dry. ‘I can be useful.’

  ‘I don’t doubt it.’ Daisy smothered a sigh.

  ‘What’s the matter? You look troubled.’

  ‘I just wish I could let everyone know that I’m safe and well.’

  Jay pulled up a chair and sat down. ‘By that I suppose you include Nick.’

  ‘He’s a friend and we’ve worked closely together all summer, but my brother will be frantic and so will my aunt and uncle.’

  ‘There’s just a chance that I could get you to Little Creek, but it’s risky.’

  ‘What is it? I can’t let them spend Christmas thinking I might have been murdered and my lifeless body tossed into the Thames.’

  A wry smile curved his lips. ‘I was tempted a couple of times when you were first on board my ship.’

  ‘I’m sure you were, and I was feeling much the same about you when you wouldn’t put me ashore.’

  ‘Then I’ll try to make amends. If I’d known how long the snow was going to last I wouldn’t have left Ramsden on board, but I intend to row out to bring him ashore anyway.’

  ‘How does that help me?’

  ‘The tide will be right in the morning and if the winds are favourable Ramsden and I might be able to take the jollyboat around the saltings and get close enough to Little Creek for you to reach your aunt and uncle’s cottage.’

  ‘If that’s possible, why didn’t you suggest it before?’

  ‘Don’t get on your high horse, Daisy. The freeze hadn’t set in then, but the snow is so hard-packed now that it might be possible to walk a short distance, and it’s a question of going with the tide, which should be just right, as I said, first thing tomorrow morning.’

  ‘I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to sound ungrateful, although you did put me in this position in the first place.’ Daisy met his frown with a smile. ‘I’ll risk it if you will.’

  He bent down to pick up another wooden block. ‘You’ll be safe with your aunt and uncle.’

  ‘You’re going to leave me there?’ Daisy dropped the brick she had just picked up and it fell into the sink, sending up a spray of dirty water.

  ‘Isn’t that what you want?’

  ‘Yes, of course. I mean I hadn’t expected to go home so soon, not before Christmas, anyway.’

  Jay eyed her thoughtfully. ‘Perhaps it’s time to let you get back to the life you know, Daisy. I can’t keep you here for ever, even if I wanted to.’

  ‘And do you want me to stay?’ She had to ask the question, and she held her breath, waiting for his response.

  ‘That’s neither here nor there. You have to decide for yourself. I’m not going to force you into anything. It’s time you went home, for both our sakes.’

  The atmosphere in the kitchen had changed subtly and Daisy shivered despite the warmth. It was as if the squire had returned to make sure that whatever hopes were cherished in a person’s heart were snatched away from them.

  ‘I’ve done here,’ she said briskly. ‘I’d better find something to wrap up these toys. I was looking forward to seeing them open their presents.’ Tears filled her eyes and she began to stow the soldiers back in the toy box. When she looked round Jay had gone and she heard the door click on its latch as he left the room.

  She stayed up late, wrapping the presents in what remained of the wallpaper and labelling them with the name of the appropriate child. It took several trips to place them beneath the tree, but the end result even drew a smile of approval from Molesworth as he went on his late night rounds, locking doors. But when she was finally in bed, tired and aching from the exertion, Daisy found that sleep evaded her. She was desperate to go home and let everyone know she was all right, but she realised with something of a shock that she wanted to stay in the house she had grown to love, with the people, or perhaps more importantly, the person she most wanted to spend her life with. She had felt the old house awakened after a long sleep and opening its arms to embrace the future, but Jay was sending her back to her old life, and he had made it clear that their brief relationship was over. Tomorrow she would go home and carry on as before, but somehow the spirit of Christmas had evaporated, leaving her feeling alone and bereft.

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  It was still dark when they left the house next morning. Daisy followed the bobbing light of Jay’s lantern as he made his way to the folly at the end of the garden, and the hard-packed snow crunched beneath her feet. It was at least two hours before dawn, but it felt like the middle of the night. Daisy had barely slept for thinking about their perilous journey, although it was the ultimate consequences that worried her most. She realised now that the last few days had been the happiest time she ever remembered, and going back to her old way of life was going to prove more difficult than she could have imagined. She knew that Jay thought he was doing the right thing by taking her to her family, and she was eager to see her aunt and uncle, but fate seemed to have taken her on another and unexpected journey. Nothing was certain, least of all her future, and she felt as though she had reached a crossroads – but which way to take? And did she have a choice? It seemed that Jay had decided for her and this would be a final farewell.

  ‘Hold my hand.’ Jay reached out to her. ‘Just until we get to the bottom of the steps – they’re very slippery.’

  The air in the tunnel was dank and it seemed to stretch even further than it had when they first came ashore, but the temperature underground had remained constant and it was only when they emerged onto the foreshore that the extreme cold struck her forcibly. Jay seemed impervious to anything other than the business in hand, and having handed Daisy into the jollyboat he heaved it into the water. She could see the dark shape of the Lazy Jane bobbing idly on the slack water and she experienced an almost overwhelming desire to ask Jay to turn back, but she was too anxious to speak and wary of giving away her innermost feelings to the man who was suddenly treating her like a stranger. It was hard to forget their previous passionate embraces and yet too painful to remember them in the light of what might follow.

  As they drew nearer the vessel Jay shipped oars and cupped his hands round his mouth to call out to Ramsden. He had to repeat himself several times before a tousled head appeared above the ship’s rail. Ramsden was anxious about leaving the boat unmanned, but Jay managed to convince him that no one in their right mind would be out on the water in this weather. His reasoning seemed to convince his reluctant crew member and Ramsden climbed down the Jacob’s ladder, lowered himself into the boat and took up a set of oars.

  Daisy could do nothing other than sit tight and hold on to the bulwarks when the waves grew higher and the small boat careened dizzily and then righted itself. Jay and Ramsden rowed tirelessly, fighting against the wind and the crosscurrents they met as they headed out to sea to avoid beaching on the salt marsh. The first grey light of dawn in the east brought with it an icy blast, but as they headed towards Little Creek they had the advantage of the wind behind them. Even so, it was daylight by the time they reached the shore nearest to Creek Cottage and Jay leaped out to heave the boat onto firm ground. Daisy was preparing to climb over the bulwark when Jay lifted her to the bank. Despite the physical contact he might as well have been hoisting a sack of corn or a barrel of ale, and he set her down without looking at her. An invisible barrier seemed to separate them – it was as clear as glass and just as impenetrable. Daisy picked up her skirts and made her way carefully along the snowy river-bank. She could see a plume of smoke rising from the chimney of Creek Cottage and a light in the window. Set in the midst of the wintry scene it made a pretty picture, but she was shocked to realise it was no longer her home.

  Suddenly Jay was at her side, taking her by the arm as she almost lost her footing. ‘I’ll see you safely to the door.’

  ‘You’re leaving me here?’ She knew the answer even before he spoke and the last vestige of hope evaporated.

  ‘It’s
what you wanted, isn’t it? You’ve been worried about your family ever since we left London.’

  ‘Of course I have. None of them knows what has happened to me.’

  ‘Now I’m trying to atone.’

  They had reached Creek Cottage and she hesitated with her hand on the doorknocker. ‘Atone for what, Jay?’

  He leaned over and kissed her on the lips. ‘I’m not sorry for kidnapping you, but I know I did you an injustice. Now I’m going to do the right thing.’ He covered her hand with his and rapped on the door. ‘I’m returning you to your family, where you belong. Goodbye, Daisy.’ He backed away, holding her gaze with a long look, and then he turned on his heel and strode over the icy ground as if his feet had suddenly developed wings.

  Daisy’s hand flew to her cold lips. She could feel his kiss imprinted on them and she tried to call him back, but she could not form the words, and then the door opened.

  ‘Miss Marshall. Well, I never did!’ Linnet stared at her in astonishment. ‘You’ve come home at last. We thought something terrible must have happened to you.’

  Daisy glanced over her shoulder and her spirits plummeted at the sight of Jay pushing the jollyboat into the water. He leaped in and picked up the oars, shouting an order to Ramsden as he steered the boat into the deeper water mid-channel.

  ‘Come in out of the cold, miss. You must be frozen.’

  There was little Daisy could do, although for a fleeting moment she was tempted to run to the water’s edge and call out, begging Jay to return and take her with him. But that would be foolish and dangerous, and he had obviously decided that she was better off without him, or perhaps he had simply been amusing himself and was glad to be rid of her. The unhappy notion convinced her to step inside and close the door on what might have been.

  ‘Where is my aunt? I must see her and explain.’

  Linnet’s smile was wiped away by a worried frown. ‘I’m sorry, miss, but the master and mistress travelled up to London the moment they heard you was missing.’

  ‘Oh, my goodness! How awful. They must have been so worried.’

  ‘I believe the police was called, too. Constable Fowler came to the door making enquiries and he said the coppers in London was looking for you. There’s been a hue and cry, miss.’

  ‘I knew they would worry, but I didn’t realise it had gone so far. I thought everything would have come to a halt because of the weather.’

  ‘Where’ve you been, miss? I don’t mean to pry, but you disappeared off the face of the earth.’

  ‘It’s a long story, Linnet. It all happened so quickly and I couldn’t get home. Anyway, that’s not important. How can I contact my aunt and uncle? Do you know where they intended to stay?’

  ‘No, but they said they was going to see Dr Marshall.’

  ‘Poor Toby, he must have been frantic, but there really was nothing I could do.’

  Linnet eyed her curiously. ‘Dr Neville came to the house – quite upset he was when I told him you wasn’t here and no one knew where to find you. He seemed very put out. Anyway, if you’d like to go upstairs and change out of those damp clothes I’ll make you a pot of tea. Have you had breakfast?’

  ‘No, not yet. Is there a fire in the parlour? I’d like to get warm before I go to my room.’

  Linnet moved to bar the door. ‘No, miss. I’ll light one straight away.’

  ‘But someone must be in there. I saw the candle in the window.’

  ‘No, miss. I was cleaning the grate.’

  ‘What are you hiding, Linnet?’ Daisy asked suspiciously. ‘Is there something in the parlour you don’t wish me to see?’

  Linnet shook her head. ‘No, of course not, miss.’

  ‘I’ll take a look.’ Daisy pushed past her to fling the door open and came face to face with Elliot Massey. The small tea table had been set with two places and it was obvious that the pair had been sharing a meal. ‘You two have some explaining to do.’

  ‘Don’t blame, Elliot,’ Linnet cried passionately. ‘I begged him to stay because I don’t like being here on my own. Hattie went to London with the mistress.’

  ‘It was my fault, Miss Marshall.’ Elliot stepped in front of an agitated Linnet. ‘I shouldn’t have taken advantage of the situation, but we’re in love.’

  ‘Oh, Elliot!’ Linnet breathed, gazing at him with a rapturous smile.

  ‘I don’t want to be a killjoy,’ Daisy said sharply, ‘but it does look as though you’ve been abusing my aunt and uncle’s hospitality, Mr Massey.’

  ‘I know and I’m sorry, but I came calling last evening and it was snowing too hard to risk going home. I know it seems bad, but I love Linnet and I want to marry her.’

  ‘I wish you both well, but that’s not what concerns me most. If my aunt and uncle are in London I need to get word to them that I’m safe.’

  Linnet exchanged worried glances with Elliot. ‘Will I be dismissed? I know I done wrong.’

  ‘No, of course not, Linnet.’ Daisy turned to Elliot, who looked pale and shaken. A lock of lank hair fell across his brow and he was visibly trembling as he clutched his hands to his chest. Daisy wondered how such a weakling had managed to win the affection of the two sisters, and yet Linnet appeared to have deep feelings for him despite the fact that the gossips had, rightly or wrongly, paired him and Dove. Daisy managed a shadow of a smile. ‘I won’t say a word, but the weather has improved a little and I think you should make your way home now, Mr Massey. If the village gossips find out you’ve been staying here they’ll make both your lives a misery.’

  ‘I intend to marry her,’ Elliot said stoutly. ‘If she’ll have me.’

  ‘Yes, with all my heart.’ Linnet cast a wary look in Daisy’s direction. ‘It will be all right, won’t it, miss?’

  ‘Congratulations,’ Daisy said briskly. ‘I hope you’ll be very happy, but I need to get to the village post office where I can send a telegram to my brother. I’m certain he’ll know where to find Mr and Mrs Marshall.’

  ‘I have my pony and trap in the stable, Miss Marshall.’ Elliot took his jacket off the back of the chair and slipped it on. ‘If, as you say, the road to the village might be passable I’d be happy to take you to the post office, but I wouldn’t advise you to go on foot. We can leave now, if you so wish.’

  ‘Thank you. I can’t allow my family to spend Christmas worrying about me.’ Daisy thought quickly. There was someone else she needed to contact urgently. ‘Would it be possible to get as far as Creek Hall?’

  ‘I can’t say, but we could try if you need to see the doctor.’

  ‘I want to let Dr Neville know that I’m all right.’

  ‘And tomorrow is Christmas Eve,’ Linnet said enthusiastically. ‘We’ll be able to celebrate with happy hearts because you’ve come back to us, Miss Marshall.’

  A vision of the huge Christmas tree in the entrance hall at the manor house flashed before Daisy’s eyes, and she tried to imagine the children’s faces when they unwrapped their presents, but the scene faded as quickly as it had come. ‘I’ll spend it quietly here, but you are free to do as you please, Linnet. You may spend Christmas with Mr Massey if you so wish.’

  Linnet blushed rosily. ‘I don’t know what to say, miss. Thank you.’

  The ride to the village in Elliot’s trap was even more hazardous than the trip in the jollyboat. His horse kept slipping on the treacherous road surface and the wheels sunk into the softer snow on the side of the road. Elliot had to leap down and dig them out several times, but eventually they reached the post office and Daisy sent a telegram to Toby at his lodgings. She would have sent another to Mrs Wood to let her know that she was safe and well, but she was short of money, and reluctantly she said goodbye to the curious postmaster and climbed back into the trap.

  ‘I think it’s too dangerous to risk the road to Creek Hall,’ she said reluctantly. ‘I might try to walk there later when I’ve had something to eat and a change of clothes.’

  ‘Looks like you won’t have to, Miss Mars
hall.’ Elliot pointed his whip in the direction of an approaching vehicle.

  Daisy recognised Hero and she smiled with relief when she recognised the person on the driver’s seat.

  ‘Nick.’ She stood up in the footwell and waved.

  He reined the horse in and came to a halt beside them. ‘Daisy. Where the hell have you been?’ He acknowledged Elliot with a brief salute. ‘Good morning, Schoolmaster.’

  ‘Good morning, Doctor.’

  Daisy looked from one to the other, detecting a slight hint of antagonism between the two men. Then she remembered what Mary had said about Dove having grown close to the doctor, when at one time it had seemed that she was sweet on Elliot. Why, Daisy wondered, was life so complicated when it came to affairs of the heart?

  ‘You have some explaining to do, Daisy.’ Nick glared at her, but she sensed that his anger was born of anxiety.

  ‘If you have time to visit Creek Cottage I’ll explain everything,’ she said, eyeing Elliot warily. He was not above passing on juicy bits of gossip. Some people had called the schoolmaster ‘an old woman’, but perhaps that was unfair.

  ‘Very well,’ Nick said grudgingly. ‘I have a couple of calls to make and then I’ll come to Creek Cottage on my way home. I hope you’ve got a good explanation because your disappearance has caused a great deal of trouble.’

  ‘Just a minute,’ Daisy cried angrily. ‘You have no right to criticise me when you don’t know the facts.’

  Nick blinked and stared at her in surprise. ‘Well, I …’

  ‘Help me down, Mr Massey.’ Daisy held her hand out to him. ‘I refuse to argue in public,’ she added, noticing that the postmaster was standing in the doorway of his cottage, taking in the scene with apparent interest. ‘Thank you for bringing me into the village, but I’ll go with the doctor on his rounds.’