The Country Bride

by Dilly Court

  ‘I’ll be back in a minute.’ Judy hurried after the doctors and she caught up with them as they were preparing to leave the house. ‘Are you really hopeful, Dr Godfrey,’ she asked anxiously, ‘or were you trying to keep up our spirits?’

  ‘A bit of both, I suppose. As I said, it’s a difficult one to predict, but time will tell.’

  ‘Mrs Tattersall is naturally very concerned,’ Judy insisted. ‘Could you be more specific? Will Jack ever be as he was before the accident?’

  Dr Godfrey patted her on the shoulder. ‘I’ll do everything I can for him, but I can’t promise anything. However, I can see that he has an excellent nurse, and it’s just a matter of time before we know anything for certain. In the meantime, try to keep him calm and don’t allow him to worry.’

  Judy dropped her gaze. She could feel the colour rising to her cheeks as it had done when she first met Dr Godfrey. ‘Thank you, Dr Godfrey.’

  ‘I’ll drive you to the station, Ben,’ Dr Neville said cheerfully. ‘Unless of course you’d like to stay on for a day or two.’

  ‘I’d love to, but I have patients to see at the London, although I might take you up on that offer when I return. Little Creek seems such a charming village and a pleasant change after the hurly-burly of the East End.’

  ‘The station it is then.’ Dr Neville gave Judy an encouraging smile as he left the house. ‘Try not to worry, Judy. We’ll do our best for Jack.’

  ‘Yes, Doctor. I know you will.’

  Judy stood in the doorway, watching them as they climbed into the chaise and drove away. She knew that they would do what they could for Jack, but she had hoped for more encouraging words from both doctors, and she struggled with feelings of disappointment and frustration. Jack might be laid up for weeks, months or, heaven forbid, even years, and what would happen to the estate? It would not run itself and she had made a solemn promise to do what she could to avert disaster. The servants would do their very best and Clem Guppy was capable of dealing with the day-to-day problems that arose on the estate, but it was clear that Mary Tattersall was close to breaking point. Judy had never before considered how hard it must be for a woman on her own to take charge of a large household as well as the demands of a working estate, but it was becoming clear to her now. Suddenly the divide between mistress and servant had narrowed. Judy knew that she owed it to Jack to do whatever she could to ensure that things ran smoothly until he was well enough to take over.

  She turned to James, who was standing behind her waiting to close the door.

  ‘James, will you send a message to the stables, please? I’d like a horse saddled and ready to leave for Colneyhurst in twenty minutes.’

  ‘Yes, miss. I’ll see to that myself.’ James hesitated, clearing his throat, and it was obvious that he had something to say.

  ‘What is it, James?’

  ‘We’re wondering if things will go on the same now, miss. I mean with the master laid up for goodness knows how long, will there still be a place for the likes of me and some of the other servants?’

  ‘Of course there will,’ Judy said firmly.

  ‘Begging your pardon, but can you say that for certain? I’ll be honest with you, miss. There’s talk of bankruptcy in the servants’ hall. They say that Madam has allowed the estate to run into debt.’

  ‘I’m sure that’s untrue, James.’ Judy was shocked, but she tried to sound positive. ‘But it does look as though the master might be laid up for a while. You can tell them in the servants’ hall that I have matters in hand. We will keep going until the master is well again. Have no doubt about that.’

  ‘Thank you, miss. I hope you don’t mind me asking.’

  ‘Please send the message to the stables. If anyone asks, I’ll be back in time for dinner.’ Judy headed for the grand staircase, taking the steps two at a time as she made her way to Jack’s room. She burst in without knocking.

  ‘Well? What did you think of Dr Godfrey?’

  ‘He prodded me about as if I were a lump of meat.’

  ‘He had to examine you, Jack.’

  ‘He tried to sound hopeful, but I still can’t feel my legs. I think it will always be like this.’

  Judy hurried to his bedside and sat down, holding his hand. ‘I want you to stop talking like that. The doctor was much more hopeful when he was talking to your mother and me. We have to be positive, Jack. You’re not to give up; I won’t let you.’

  He raised her hand to his cheek with a wan smile on his lips. ‘You’re a bully, Judy Begg.’

  ‘I most certainly am, when need be, and I’ll be very cross if I hear you talking like that again.’

  ‘All right, I’ll try to be positive, but it doesn’t stop me worrying about what’s going on downstairs. I feel so cut off up here.’

  ‘I know you do. It’s miserable for someone like you to be confined to one room, but I’m sure it won’t be for much longer.’

  ‘I was shocked to see Mama looking so pale and wan. I don’t think she’s been coping very well, Judy. Running the estate is too much for her; I should have left university sooner.’

  ‘She’s tired and she’s worried about you. I’ll do everything I can to make life easier for her.’

  ‘I can’t expect you to manage things on your own, Judy. It’s my job, but there’s very little I can do, laid up like this.’

  ‘You have to concentrate of getting well again, and I’m going to ride over to Colneyhurst and ask Daisy for advice. She knows more about running the Creek Manor estate than anyone.’ She leaned over to brush his tangled hair back from his brow. ‘It’s only temporary, Jack. You’ll be back in charge in no time.’

  ‘That’s the trouble, Judy. I never expected to be the lord of the manor, but now I’d give anything to be able to take back the responsibilities that irked me so much.’

  ‘And you will again.’ She rose to her feet. ‘I’m leaving now, but I’ll be back in no time at all and I’ll tell you all about it.’

  ‘Don’t jump any fences. That’s how I came a cropper.’

  ‘I’m not as adventurous as you, Jack Fox.’ She left him with a cheery wave, but she was worried. Despite the doctors’ attempts to sound hopeful, she was far from certain, and trying to convince Jack that he would recover fully was exhausting. She went to her room to change into her riding habit, which fortunately had been in the valise containing her clothes that James had collected from the cottage that morning. It was only when Judy saw her garments lying on the rich damask coverlet that she realised how shabby and old-fashioned they were. Most of them had been darned or patched, and even though the mending was neatly done, it was obvious that this apparel belonged to a menial. The riding habit was perhaps the best of the collection and that was a hand-me-down from Daisy.

  Judy went to the mirror to pin the smart little hat in place. ‘You’re a fraud,’ she said out loud. ‘And everyone will know it. You are Judy Begg from Green Dragon Yard. You’re a servant, and no one will take you seriously.’

  An hour later, seated in Daisy’s elegant drawing room, Judy struggled to put her fears into words. ‘I was a child when you brought us to Creek Manor, and I grew up working in the kitchen. How can I expect the rest of the servants to take orders from me?’

  Daisy shook her head, smiling gently. ‘I started out in service, Judy. I was governess to a small boy in a grand London house. You know the story, as does everyone in Little Creek, but when I had to take over the running of the estate I had to put all that behind me. It’s not what you are, but who you are that counts. You must have faith in yourself, and the confidence to put yourself forward. It’s harder for a woman than for a man, but you can do it. You have to decide what you think is best when it comes to running the estate and the household, and then stick to your guns.’

  ‘What do you suggest? Where would I start?’

  Daisy was silent for a moment, a frown marring her smooth forehead. ‘If I remember rightly, the first thing I did was to ride around the estate and make myself kn
own to all the tenant farmers. They are always willing to express their views and they’ll probably hand out advice, whether you want it or not. You still have Clem Guppy to manage the day-to-day affairs, so you just need to assure everyone that there is someone in overall charge.’

  ‘That sounds like a good idea. What did you do when it came to running the house?’

  ‘Well, I had a chat with Mrs Ralston and we went over the household accounts. I gave her free rein to manage the house servants as she saw fit, and then I had a long talk with Cook, giving her the same responsibilities for the kitchen staff.’

  ‘What about Molesworth?’

  ‘Ask him about the cellar. That’s his favourite place, and he looks after the wines as if they were his children. He also has charge of the male indoor servants.’

  ‘What about the outdoor staff? I don’t know anything about gardening or the stables.’

  ‘You need to talk to Clem about that. He’s been a good estate manager for ten years and he’s reliable, especially with all those mouths to feed. I believe he and Ivy have seven children now.’

  ‘Will you come to the manor house and back me up? They’ll listen to you.’

  Daisy shook her head. ‘No, Judy. You must do this on your own if you want them to respect you, but I’m here if you need me, and of course I’ll ride over to see Jack. Poor fellow, how is he?’

  ‘You know him as well as I do. He hates being laid up in bed, and neither Dr Neville nor Dr Godfrey can give us a definite diagnosis.’

  ‘Dr Godfrey? Who is he? I don’t know the name.’

  ‘He’s a doctor at the London Hospital, but I believe he trained at the City Orthopaedic Hospital. He came down from London especially to see Jack.’

  Daisy smiled. ‘That will be my brother’s doing. Well, let’s hope Dr Godfrey can work miracles, because I fear that’s what it will need to make Jack walk again.’

  ‘I dare not think like that. I have to convince Jack that he’ll recover completely, and to do it I have to believe it will happen.’

  ‘He’s lucky to have you, Judy. If by some unkind twist of fate he doesn’t regain the use of his legs, he’s had the best education that we could afford to give him, and he’ll be able to take over the business side of running the estate.’

  ‘But he’s such an active person. I don’t know how he would cope with life as a cripple.’

  ‘Jack has a much stronger character than his brother. Jay couldn’t face responsibility of any kind.’

  ‘But you loved him once,’ Judy said shyly.

  ‘Yes, I don’t mind admitting it. I married him twice, didn’t I?’ Daisy laughed but there was no humour in the sound. ‘You and Molly were my bridesmaids at our spring wedding.’

  Judy smiled. ‘I remember my dress and the little baskets filled with herbs and flower petals that Molly and I strewed in your path. It was a lovely day.’ She eyed Daisy warily. ‘I mean it seemed lovely to us, but that was before Jay disappeared.’

  ‘That was a talent of his; that and marrying women bigamously.’

  ‘I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to remind you of unhappy times.’

  ‘Don’t apologise. I got over Jay a long time ago and I was lucky enough to meet Marius, who is the best of husbands and a wonderful father. I doubt if I would have been half as happy with Jay, who was selfish to the core. It was painful at the time, but I’m glad he left the country.’

  ‘Jack isn’t like his brother.’

  ‘They’re only half-brothers. You didn’t meet the old squire, Jay’s father, but he was a nasty character. He wanted me to marry him but I had the good sense to refuse his advances.’

  ‘But he married Mary.’

  ‘He did the right thing, but only because he knew he was dying and he was afraid of going to hell. Anyway, he made Jay his heir. I suppose in the eyes of the law Jay still owns the manor house and the estate, but he won’t come home to claim it back from his brother – not after all this time.’

  ‘What makes you so sure?’

  ‘I know Jay so well. He shies away from responsibility of any kind. I doubt if he’ll ever return to Little Creek.’

  Judy went back to Creek Manor with mixed feelings. Daisy had given her good advice, but she had put doubts in Judy’s mind as to the eventual outcome of Jack’s injuries. After all, Daisy had spent time as a probationer nurse at the London Hospital, and she had probably seen people with similar conditions, which made her an expert in Judy’s eyes. She went straight to Jack’s bedchamber without even stopping to remove her hat and gloves, and she found him wide awake, staring up at the ceiling. She could tell from his expression that he was in the grip of deep depression.

  ‘Let me prop you up, Jack. You don’t look comfortable.’

  ‘You’ve been gone for hours,’ he said peevishly. ‘I’ve been here all alone, apart from Ma, who keeps trying to make conversation when I’ve nothing to say. What is there to speak about when I’m stuck here like this?’

  Judy peeled off her riding gloves and plumped up the pillows. She could not lift him and she did not try, but she dropped a kiss on his forehead.

  ‘You can stop being grumpy, and I’ll tell you what Daisy had to say.’

  Jack turned his head away. ‘Go on then.’

  ‘Well, she said she was very sorry to hear about the accident, and she’s going to ride over to see you.’

  ‘I really don’t feel like seeing anyone. It’s bad enough having my sisters coming round every day.’

  ‘You should be thankful that people care about you, Jack Fox. If you keep on like this I’ll go away and leave you to sulk.’

  He shot her a sideways glance. ‘I’m not sulking.’

  ‘Well, what do you call it then? I went to see Daisy to ask her advice, because someone has to take charge until you get better, and you will recover, Jack. I refuse to let you sink into a state of depression.’

  ‘I might never walk again. What sort of man does that make me?’

  ‘You are still the same Jack Fox that you were before the accident.’

  ‘I’m as dependent as a baby. I can’t do anything for myself.’

  ‘That will change in time. Look at my mother: she’s learned to live with her disability. You have every chance of a full recovery, so don’t lie there feeling sorry for yourself. Dr Neville is coming tomorrow and maybe he’ll let you sit up in a chair. If he does, then James could carry you downstairs.’

  ‘Like a baby,’ Jack said with a wry smile. ‘I’m sorry, Judy. You’ve been working so hard to keep up my spirits. I will try to be a better patient.’

  She leaned over to kiss him on the cheek. ‘Just try to be positive, Jack. I’m doing my best.’

  Having left him in a slightly better mood, Judy went to her room to change out of her riding habit. She put on a simple grey cotton gown with a starched white collar and cuffs, and brushed her fair hair into a chignon at the nape of her neck. Small tendrils curled around her forehead, as if rebelling against her attempts to tame her thick tresses, but she was not concerned about her appearance, she had work to do. She began with Cook, her old friend and mentor Nell Pearce, and they sat at the long kitchen table, drinking tea and discussing topics as diverse as laundering the kitchen maids’ uniforms, stocking the larder and the cold room, as well as the menus for the coming weeks.

  When Judy left the kitchen she went straight to the housekeeper’s office and found Ida Ralston poring over an accounts book. Judy had grown up in awe of Mrs Ralston, but now they discussed the housekeeping duties like equals, although Judy was careful to defer to Ida’s age and experience, and they parted on the best of terms. That left Molesworth, who was getting a bit rheumaticky, but was still eager to show off the contents of the cellar and explain his method of cataloguing the wines, spirits and barrels of ale. His one complaint was that the days of dinner parties and large-scale entertainments were over, and there was little call for his expertise. Judy sensed that he was worried about his future at the manor house and she did
her best to assure him that he would not be replaced by a younger man, and that he was virtually indispensable.

  She was exhausted when she made her way to the drawing room to tell Mary about her visit to Colneyhurst, and she was surprised to find her mother seated on the sofa in deep conversation with Mary. They both looked up with a start when she walked into the room, putting Judy in mind of two children caught doing something naughty.

  ‘Is there something I should know?’ Judy looked from one to the other.

  ‘Wilfred has asked me to marry him,’ Hilda said, blushing rosily. ‘I know it’s quite sudden, although we’ve known each other for ten years, and quite ridiculous for a woman my age, but …’

  ‘But nothing, Ma.’ Judy rushed over to give her mother a hug. ‘Don’t be silly. If you love each other, of course you must marry him.’

  ‘That’s what I said.’ Mary smiled smugly. ‘Faulkner is a good man and he’s been here for as long as I can remember. I don’t see what’s stopping you, Hilda.’

  ‘My leg,’ Hilda said in little more than a whisper. ‘He hasn’t seen me undressed, and I’m afraid he might find me repulsive.’

  ‘Of course he won’t.’ Judy squeezed in between them on the sofa and put her arm around her mother’s shoulders. ‘He must know about your injury. You’ve never kept it a secret.’

  ‘I know, dear, but it’s different when you’re married.’ Hilda glanced anxiously at Mary. ‘It’s one thing having a kiss and a cuddle, but when you’re married you share a bed … well, Mary knows what I mean.’

  ‘I’m not a child, Ma.’ Judy released her mother with one last hug. ‘If it worries you so much just show him.’

  ‘What?’ Hilda cried. ‘Lift my skirt in front of a man? I’d die from mortification.’

  ‘Ma, you want to marry him, don’t you?’

  ‘I’m considering his offer.’ Hilda pursed her lips primly.

  Judy looked from one to the other, shaking her head. ‘I don’t see how you can get round it in any other way. Although, I suppose if you were to sit behind a screen, and I lifted your skirt for you, we could show Wilfred without causing either of you any embarrassment.’