by Dilly Court
‘There’s your meat pie. I gave mine to Nate, otherwise it’ll be bread and cheese. I would have brought some bacon but I didn’t have enough money.’
‘I’m sure Mr Dorning would rather have the pie.’
Hilda dropped the plate she had been about to wash and it fell to the floor, smashing into shards on the flagstones. ‘Dorning?’
‘That’s right. His name is Rob Dorning.’
‘We don’t want his sort round here,’ Hilda said urgently. ‘The Dorning family are notorious. You were too young to know what was going on, but they caused no end of trouble for Jay before he went off to Australia.’
‘It was a long time ago.’ Judy unwrapped the pie and placed it on a plate together with a thick slice of bread and butter and a chunk of cheese. ‘This will have to suffice. Anyway, he might never come here again, so I’m not going to worry.’
‘The Dornings are bad news,’ Hilda said darkly. ‘You ask Daisy. She’ll tell you all about them.’
Judy shrugged. ‘He seems harmless enough. Maybe things have changed after all these years. Anyway, he is probably just passing through.’
She took the plate through to the taproom. ‘I’m afraid this is all I can offer you at the moment,’ she said apologetically. ‘We’ve only just taken over the inn, so we aren’t quite up to scratch as far as serving food is concerned.’
He took the plate from her with a smile that would have melted the hardest heart. ‘I understand, and this looks excellent.’ He picked up the pie and took a large bite, eating with obvious enjoyment.
‘I suppose you are just passing.’ Judy scooped a shovelful of coal from the scuttle and threw it onto the fire, adding a log for good measure.
Rob put his head on one side, grinning. ‘Someone has been telling you stories about my family’s exploits.’
Judy felt the blood rush to her cheeks and she turned away, wiping her hands on her apron. ‘People gossip.’
‘I feel I should put your mind at ease. That particular branch of the family paid the price for their crimes, although in those days most people who lived along the coast were involved in free trading in one way or the other.’
‘I remember the secret passage that led from Creek Manor to the cove,’ Judy said, frowning. ‘The old squire was involved in free trading, as you call it.’
‘It doesn’t pay well enough now.’ Rob finished the pie. ‘That was good, but I’m sure you could make better pastry.’
Judy stared at him in surprise. ‘What makes you say that?’
‘You were at Creek Manor as a child. It follows that they put you to work very young, and I suspect you might have been sent to the kitchen.’
‘How did you know?’
He chuckled and reached out to take her hand. ‘Your hands are too smooth and soft to be those of a skivvy or a laundry maid.’ He stroked her fingers gently. ‘And your hands are cold, just right for making pastry, I’d say.’
She drew away, startled by the accuracy of his comments. ‘I did work in the kitchen, although it was because I wanted to learn how to cook and Mrs Pearce was kind to me.’
‘Then I can’t wait to sample your efforts.’ Rob rose to his feet. ‘I have to go now, but I’ll be back sometime soon. Then I hope to enjoy a meal cooked by you, Judy Begg.’ He took his cap from the settle where he had left it and sauntered out into the darkness, closing the door behind him.
Judy stared after him. He had worked out her past with surprising accuracy and yet he had not given away anything about himself. She picked up the plate and saw the bread and cheese had been left untouched even though he had paid handsomely for the meal.
Nate chose that moment to rush into the taproom. ‘I have to go now or I’ll be in trouble at the stables.’ He eyed the bread and cheese. ‘Is that going to waste?’
Judy smiled and handed the plate to him. ‘Take it to eat on the way, but do be careful. You’ve made an enemy of Faulkner – I refuse to call him our stepfather – and who knows what he might do next?’
Nate wrapped the slice of bread around the cheese and stuffed it in his pocket. ‘I’ve eaten, but I’ll take this for Pip. He’s always hungry, and I’d better return the gun, or I’ll be in trouble.’
‘You will think about what Ma said, won’t you, Nate?’ Judy asked anxiously. ‘I mean you and Pip are more than welcome to live here. We’ve plenty of room and, to be honest, we could do with the help. It would be wonderful to have the family together again. Maybe Molly might come and live here one day, too.’
Nate nodded eagerly. ‘I’ll see what Pip says, but I’ll definitely be back.’
‘Without the gun next time,’ Judy said firmly.
He laughed. ‘You don’t have to worry. I’ve already promised Ma.’
Next day Judy set out for Colneyhurst to discuss the release of the boys from their apprenticeship at the stables, but that was not the only thing she wanted to ask Daisy. As luck would have it, Daisy was at home and Judy was shown into the drawing room.
‘This is a lovely surprise, Judy.’ Daisy motioned her to sit down. ‘We’ll have a tray of coffee and cake, please, Lizzie.’
‘Yes’m.’ Lizzie grinned at Judy as she left the room.
‘I can see that you have something exciting to tell me,’ Daisy said, smiling. ‘You never were good at keeping your feelings secret.’
‘It’s nothing really. I came to ask you if Nate would be allowed to leave your employ and come to work with us at the Crooked Billet.’
‘Yes, of course. It was only meant to be a temporary arrangement anyway. I took the boys on to make sure they had somewhere to live, but I can see that you might need at least one of them.’ Daisy sat back in her chair, eyeing Judy curiously. ‘You don’t want to rob me of Molly, too?’
‘I didn’t come with that in mind,’ Judy said tactfully. ‘Molly always does as she pleases.’
‘There’ll be another baby in the nursery next spring.’ Daisy patted her belly. ‘I didn’t mention it before because it’s early days, but now I’m certain.’
‘That’s wonderful. Do you mind if I pass the good news on to Hilda?’
‘No, of course not. I really thought that after my last difficult birth that I wouldn’t be able to have any more children, but it seems I was wrong. Marius always wanted a large family, so now we’re well on the way.’ Daisy smiled and relaxed against the silk cushions. ‘But here am I going on about our good news, and there’s something else on your mind, Judy. I can always tell.’
‘I wanted to ask you about the Dorning family,’ Judy said slowly. ‘Hilda said you knew all about them.’
Daisy’s happy smile faded. ‘They’re a bad lot, all of them. You don’t want to get mixed up with them in any way.’
‘What did they do to turn you against them? Who are they? Hilda won’t tell me much.’
‘They ran a smuggling gang in the Burnham area for many years, and most of them went to prison, or were transported to the penal colony in Australia. Unfortunately, Jay got himself mixed up with them, and it caused no end of problems. I hope they haven’t come back to cause more trouble.’
‘A man walked into the pub yesterday and he said his name was Rob Dorning. He had a drink and something to eat and he was very pleasant, but he wouldn’t talk about himself. I was just curious.’
‘And I suppose he was quite good-looking,’ Daisy said, smiling. ‘I’m just teasing you, Judy. I don’t know him personally, but he could be related to the Dornings. Although it doesn’t mean that he’s a criminal like the others.’
‘Ma was very suspicious.’
‘The family have a dreadful reputation, but he might be a perfectly decent fellow. I’d just say be careful.’
‘Why is that? Please tell me anything you know.’
‘It was a long time ago, Judy. You would have been too young to take much notice of what went on around you, but Jay had somehow become involved with the Dorning brothers. Anyway, I was desperate for information and I went looking for them.�
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‘Did you find them?’
Daisy shook her head. ‘No. I was told they frequented a disused chapel on the edge of the marsh, some three miles south of Little Creek. Perhaps it was fortunate for me, but they weren’t there and I had to return home, having achieved nothing.’
‘I do remember the servants talking about Jay, but I didn’t pay much attention to what they were saying.’
‘Jay was bold and charming, and I was quite smitten with him at first,’ Daisy said with a rueful smile. ‘Just be careful, Judy.’
‘I can understand why you were attracted to Jay, as I was to Jack. But that’s all over now.’
They were interrupted by the arrival of Lizzie with a tray. She placed it on the table without mishap. Judy was suitably impressed and she smiled at Lizzie as she made her way to the door.
Daisy filled a coffee cup and handed it to Judy. ‘Do I detect a hint of regret?’
‘I don’t know what you mean.’
‘It’s not long ago you were devastated because Jack went off to Australia, and to my knowledge you haven’t shown interest in anyone else, unless you count the handsome Dr God. Although to my mind he’s too good to be true.’
‘Really?’ Judy stared at her in surprise. ‘Why do you say that?’
‘I’m probably being very unfair to the poor chap, but somehow he’s too charming and I wonder if it’s quite genuine.’
‘What would he gain from pretending to be something he isn’t?’
‘Trust, I think is the right word. He’s talking investors into putting hundreds of pounds, maybe thousands, into building the hospital for which they might not get any return on their investments. I just thank heaven that my brother isn’t wealthy enough to risk his money in such a way.’
‘Do you think it will be a failure?’
Daisy shook her head. ‘I don’t know what to think, but Marius is very dubious and he’s a very good businessman. Ben Godfrey approached him at the start but Marius wouldn’t have anything to do with the scheme.’
‘It seems such a worthy cause,’ Judy said slowly. ‘I believe Dr Godfrey is a good man.’
‘Maybe he is, but that doesn’t make him a good businessman.’ Daisy picked up the plate of dainty cakes and offered it to Judy.
‘I suppose not.’ Judy selected a cake. ‘This looks delicious, thank you.’
‘Changing the subject, and I don’t want to offend you, Judy, but are you all right for money?’ Daisy asked anxiously. ‘I mean it can’t be easy setting up in business on a shoestring.’
‘Dr Godfrey has paid in advance for his room, and that’s helped us enormously. He says he’s going to stay very often when the building work commences, and he was talking about renovating the old slipway so that materials could be shipped to Little Creek.’
Daisy frowned. ‘It all sounds very ambitious and extremely costly. I do hope he’s gone into it properly, because so many local people have contributed to the scheme.’
‘Why don’t you like him?’ Judy eyed her curiously. ‘Has he upset you?’
‘No, not at all. In fact he’s always been charm itself when I’ve met him, but I can’t help being a little suspicious.’
Judy shook her head. ‘I think you’re wrong. At least I hope you are, because we’re depending on the money he advanced to keep us going.’
‘Maybe I’m being overcautious,’ Daisy said hastily. ‘I hope so for your sake.’
‘So do I, but it would be wonderful to see something good rising from the ashes of Creek Manor. It almost seems that there really was a curse on the old house.’
‘Not that I believe in that superstitious nonsense, but it doesn’t seem as though the house was ever a happy one. Maybe you’re right and whatever is built there now will have a brighter future.’
Judy ate the cake with relish. ‘I could almost imagine that Mrs Pearce had made this delicious fancy.’
‘You’re right, she did. My cook left suddenly to look after an ageing parent and I went to find Nell. I’m afraid Jay treated the servants very badly, but at least I’ve been able to help out a little.’
‘I’m so glad. Mrs Pearce was like a second mother to me while I was growing up.’ Judy rose to her feet. ‘Anyway, thank you for the tea and cake, and the good advice. Don’t worry about me, Daisy. I’ll mind what you said about Dr Godfrey, although I think you’re wrong.’
‘I hope so, too. But time will tell.’
‘Is it all right if I go to the stables now and take Nate home with me? We really need him.’
‘Of course it is. I’ll make sure that he gets any wages owing to him. Goodbye, dear, and please remember what I said about the Dornings.’
Several weeks went by without any further visits from Wilfred. Slowly the customers began to trickle into the pub, but these were mainly farm workers on their way home from toiling in the fields, and a few fishermen. They drank a pint or two of cider or ale and then they went on their way. There had been no carriage trade, and there had been no sign of Dr Godfrey or the rush of business that he had predicted. Winter was almost upon them, and the proposed building of a new hospital seemed as far away as ever. Judy was beginning to wonder if Daisy had been right about Dr Godfrey. He might be well-meaning dreamer, or worse, a man who was prepared to take money from others with no intention of fulfilling his promises. Judy did not want to think ill of him, and his room was kept ready for him.
There had been no sign of Rob Dorning after his initial visit and it seemed to Judy that she had been correct in thinking that he had been passing through. She had put him out of her mind when, one frosty morning at the end of November, he strolled into the pub as if he had never been away.
Judy happened to be on her own in the taproom. She was polishing the oddments of old horse brasses that she had found in the stable, and had pinned to the beams that surrounded the bar. She was enveloped in a large apron with a scarf tied around her head, and she had not expected to see much trade until later in the day.
‘Good morning, Judy,’ Rob said cheerfully. ‘I can see that you’re busy.’
She wiped her hands on her apron. ‘I’m never too busy to serve a thirsty customer.’
‘Then I’ll have a pint of ale and something to eat, if you have your kitchen organised by now.’
Stung by his casual remark, she took off her soiled apron and laid it on the bar counter. ‘Of course we have. There’s a very good stew or …’ She racked her brains to think of something she could conjure up from bread and a heel of cheese, and then she remembered the apple pie that Hilda had made for their supper the previous evening. ‘There’s apple pie, too.’ She crossed her fingers behind her back, praying silently that Nate had not eaten the last slice.
‘A bowl of stew will be fine,’ Rob said easily. He went to sit in the inglenook while Judy pulled a pint of ale. She placed it on the table in front of him.
‘Have you got business in this part of the world, Mr Dorning?’
‘Rob,’ he said, reaching for the tankard. ‘Please call me Rob. As to business, you might say that, yes.’
She could not let it rest. Daisy’s words had been bothering her ever since their last conversation. ‘Might I ask what it is that brings you to Little Creek?’
He opened his mouth to reply, but at that moment the door burst open and Wilfred Faulkner erupted into the taproom. ‘Where is she? Heaven knows I’m a patient man, but I won’t wait another day for the trollop to return home.’
Judy took a step towards him. ‘You had her answer weeks ago, Mr Faulkner. I’m asking you politely to leave.’
‘I ain’t going nowhere without Hilda.’
Rob had been sitting in the inglenook, unseen by Wilfred, but now he rose swiftly to his feet. ‘You heard what Miss Begg said.’
‘Abel Dorning. By God! He’s dead and gone and you ain’t no ghost. You’re the spitting image of him.’ Wilfred’s jaw dropped and his eyes bulged. ‘Keep away from me, Dorning. I don’t want no trouble.’ He wrenched the door
open and fled.
Chapter Twelve
Judy turned to Rob, staring at him in amazement. ‘Do you know that man?’
He shrugged. ‘I’ve never seen him before.’
‘But he seems to know you,’ Judy said warily. ‘And he was terrified.’
‘I must remind him of my late uncle. Who is Hilda?’
‘She’s his wife, but she left him because of the way he treated her.’
‘I can’t say I blame her if that’s an example of the way he behaves.’ Rob sank down on the settle. ‘Anyway, thanks to Uncle Abel, he seems to have fled. So what about that stew?’
‘I’ll go and fetch it for you.’ Judy hurried to the kitchen where she found Hilda leaning against the pine table, her face pale and drawn.
‘I heard him. Where is he now?’
‘He’s gone. He took one look at Rob Dorning and left in a great hurry.’
‘That’s really odd. I never saw Wilfred scared of anyone.’
‘It seems your Wilfred knew Abel Dorning. When Wilfred saw Rob he was terrified, and the family likeness was enough to send him packing. Anyway, more to the point, Mr Dorning wants a bowl of stew.’
‘There’s no meat in it,’ Hilda said ruefully. ‘It’s just vegetables. If we could afford to buy better ingredients we might attract more customers.’
Judy set about cutting slices from a freshly baked loaf of bread. ‘We can’t afford meat unless Dr Godfrey sends some trade our way, but I must admit I’m getting worried, Ma. Daisy said he might have taken on more than he can handle, and she wasn’t very impressed with his plans to build the new hospital. I don’t know what to think.’
‘Handsome is as handsome does,’ Hilda said darkly as she ladled the savoury-smelling stew into a bowl. ‘Tell Mr Dorning there’s apple pie if he’s still hungry after he’s eaten this.’
Judy spread butter more lavishly on the slices of bread than was strictly necessary. ‘I already have. But I must say he’s a mystery. I wish I knew more about him.’
‘I have a feeling you’re not going to let it go at that,’ Hilda said, chuckling. ‘Take that awful scarf off and take the food to him. I’m sure you can turn the conversation your way, if you really want to.’
