The Country Bride

by Dilly Court

  Judy was the first to speak and her voice shook with emotion. ‘Oh, Ma, I’m so sorry.’

  ‘It’s all right, dear. I knew something bad was going to happen. I’m just glad he took it out on the building and not on any of us. I’m just sorry that I brought that man into our family.’

  ‘No, you mustn’t think like that.’ Judy cast a desperate look in Rob’s direction and he nodded.

  ‘Judy’s right, Hilda,’ he said earnestly. ‘I didn’t know Faulkner personally, but I know his type. They can be very skilled at presenting a different face to the world. You weren’t to know.’

  Judy eyed him curiously. ‘But Faulkner was scared of you, Rob. Can you explain that?’

  He shook his head. ‘Maybe it was the name Dorning that frightened him, or maybe a fleeting family likeness. Perhaps he had fallen foul of one of my uncles before they were caught and sent to prison? Who knows what went on in the man’s head?’ Rob turned back to Hilda with a sympathetic smile. ‘Try to forget him. As the constable said, you won’t be seeing Faulkner again for a very long time.’

  ‘Yes, I know you’re both right. I’ll try to put it out of my mind, but I can’t help feeling a bit responsible for all our friends losing their livelihoods and their homes. I brought my children here but we’ve always been regarded as newcomers in Little Creek, and now we’ve brought shame and hardship to the village.’

  ‘That’s not true, Ma,’ Judy said in desperation. ‘No one will blame you for what Wilfred’s done. You’ll see.’

  ‘I don’t think I can show my face in the village again,’ Hilda said, sighing. She held up her hands as Judy went to give her a comforting hug. ‘I’m all right, dear. What I need is to keep myself occupied. Why don’t you go back to the bar with Rob, and I’ll clear up the kitchen? Anyway, I need to make more pies for the evening’s trade. That’s if anyone ever comes here again.’ She hurried from the room, leaving Judy staring after her in dismay. She had never seen Ma brought so low, not even after the accident that left her permanently maimed.

  Rob laid his hand on her shoulder. ‘Your mother’s right. Come into the taproom and I’ll show you the plan for the new building. The sooner work starts on it the better.’

  She nodded wordlessly and walked slowly to the taproom.

  The fishermen had left and Nate was stoking the fire. He straightened up and turned to give them a curious stare. ‘What’s going on? I saw the copper leaving. What did he want?’

  ‘Don’t let Ma hear you calling Constable Fowler “a copper”,’ Judy said with a reluctant smile. ‘You know she’s brought us up to respect the law.’

  Nate shrugged and wiped his grubby hands on his trousers. ‘You’re as bad as she is sometimes, Judy. Anyway, you haven’t answered my question.’

  Rob hesitated at the foot of the stairs. ‘I’ll go and get the plans while you tell your brother what’s happened. It’s my guess that it will be all round the village by now.’

  ‘Sit down, Nate,’ Judy said wearily. ‘It’s not good news, I’m afraid.’

  ‘The old devil,’ he said when she had finished speaking. ‘I never liked the fellow, especially when he beat me for nothing, but I never said anything because I thought he was good to Ma. I wish I’d known what he was up to. I’d have knocked some sense into him.’

  Her brother’s pugnacious stance both touched and amused Judy, but she managed to keep a straight face. ‘Then it’s as well you didn’t know. He’s a strong brute, as I discovered to my cost. Anyway, I’m glad he’s out of the way now, and I hope I never see him again.’

  ‘I’ve finished here unless we get any passing carriage trade, which I doubt.’ Nate shrugged on the jacket he had discarded. ‘I’m going to saddle up Major and ride over to Colneyhurst to tell Molly and Pip. They need to know.’

  ‘Yes, of course. You’re so grown-up now, Nate. I’m proud of you. But,’ Judy added hastily, ‘be careful what you say to Ma. She’s pretending to be strong, but I could see how upset she is. She thinks the whole village will be against us.’

  Nate pulled a face. ‘Why would they think it was our fault?’

  ‘Because we only came here a relatively short time ago. Most of them have been born and bred in the village, as have their parents and grandparents. We’re newcomers and we’ve brought trouble and disgrace to Little Creek. That’s how Ma sees it.’

  ‘That’s stupid. They’d better not say anything in my hearing.’ He fisted his hands. ‘I won’t have anyone spreading untruths about my family.’ He stamped out of the taproom, slamming the door behind him.

  ‘He took that well, then?’ Rob came towards her, clutching the architect’s drawings. ‘Only to be expected from a lad of his age, I suppose.’

  ‘Nate won’t allow anyone to criticise Ma,’ Judy said defensively. ‘Neither will I.’

  Rob unfolded the large document and laid it on one of the tables. ‘I don’t think you’re giving the people of Little Creek credit for common sense. I’d be very surprised if there was any resentment against your family. Anyway, forget all that for a moment. Come and look at the plans for the new manor house. You knew the old one so well, and you might have some useful ideas. I need a woman’s point of view.’

  Somewhat reluctantly, Judy moved to his side and studied the expertly drawn outlines of what would soon be built on the site of the old manor house. To her surprise the layout was very similar, although greatly simplified and not as rambling. The original sixteenth-century building had been added to greatly over the years, but somehow the heart and soul of the dwelling had been captured and put down on paper.

  ‘What do you think, Judy?’

  She looked up, meeting his serious gaze with a feeling of surprise, and she realised that he was genuinely interested in her opinion. She studied the plans carefully, pointing out anything that would not work well when it came to running the house, especially from the servants’ point of view.

  ‘For one thing,’ she said seriously. ‘It makes sense to have the dining room a bit closer to the kitchens. If you’d ever tried to get hot food to the table when you had to negotiate draughty corridors and flights of steps, you might understand better.’

  He smiled. ‘It’s not something I’d considered, but I can see the sense in what you’re saying.’

  ‘And these rooms set aside for washing and bathing,’ Judy said, shaking her head. ‘It would be better if they were closer to the main bedchambers.’

  ‘That’s easily done. I’ll pass your advice on to the architect.’

  She eyed him warily. ‘Are you making fun of me, Rob Dorning?’

  ‘No, certainly not. I want this house to be a comfortable home for both the master and the servants.’

  ‘Then you could put proper washing facilities on the top floor where the servants sleep,’ Judy said firmly. ‘If you’d had to carry ewers filled with hot water up several flights of stairs—’ she broke off as he started to laugh.

  ‘I know, Judy. You don’t have to spell it out for me, and you’re quite right. I should consider those who work for me as well as my own comfort and that of my guests and family.’

  ‘You said you haven’t any family, apart from your aunt Adeline. Will she live with you?’

  ‘I’m going to do my best to persuade her to move in with me, but Aunt Adeline is a very independent woman and extremely stubborn. One day I hope I might find a woman who will put up with me.’

  ‘With all your money I don’t think that will be difficult. I’m sure the young ladies in the county will be falling over themselves in an attempt to gain your good opinion when you move into Creek Manor.’

  ‘You’re forgetting my background. My fortune was made through ill-gotten gains. Who would want to be associated with such a man?’

  ‘Who indeed?’ Judy eyed him warily. The teasing light in his eyes was disconcerting, and she had a feeling that involving her in the design of his new home was merely a way of taking her mind off the problems that beset her. She glanced over her shoulder a
s the door opened and, to her surprise, it was Colonel Catchpole who strode into the taproom, closely followed by two yellow Labradors and a small terrier.

  ‘Sit!’ The colonel’s strident tone made the dogs skid to a halt and sit down, tongues hanging out as they gazed up at their master.

  ‘Good afternoon, Colonel.’ Judy went behind the bar. ‘What can I get you, sir?’

  ‘I’ll have a tot of rum to ward off the cold. It looks like snow to me.’

  She poured him a measure of the spirit and he knocked it back in one mouthful. ‘Could your mother use a side of bacon, Miss Begg? Got a surplus, so to speak, so she’d be doing me a favour in taking it off my hands.’

  ‘I’m sure she could, Colonel. If you’re sure you can spare it. How much do we owe you?’

  He shook his head. ‘Another tot of rum will settle the bill, my dear. We all do our bit for each other in Little Creek.’ He downed the drink in one and turned to leave. ‘I’ll have it sent round in the morning. Come, boys.’

  The dogs leaped to attention and followed him out of the building, tails wagging.

  ‘What did I tell you?’ Rob said, grinning.

  ‘He can’t know what my stepfather did already.’

  ‘Eli must have told someone and it came to Constable Fowler’s attention. As I said before, Judy. Word flies round faster you can blink in Little Creek. The colonel obviously doesn’t blame your family for what Faulkner’s done, so why should anyone else?’

  Starting later that afternoon they received a constant trickle of visitors, led by Grace Peabody and Eleanora Marshall, who arrived at the Crooked Billet to lend their support to Hilda and her family. Women who would never normally put a foot over the threshold came with small gifts: a couple of fresh eggs, a few onions or anything they could spare. Judy knew it was their way of showing sympathy for Hilda, quite contrary to her expectations of being branded a pariah. It seemed that far from being considered outsiders, Little Creek had taken the Begg family to its heart and their struggles had not gone unnoticed. Their prospects looked even brighter when Rob’s architect booked a room for an indefinite period. The building of the new manor house was about to begin, despite the sudden change in the weather. Christmas was almost upon them and the cold snap gave way to rain and howling gales.

  At Rob’s suggestion Nate took the cart to the grounds of Creek Manor and he arrived back at the Crooked Billet with a huge load of berried holly, and a large bunch of mistletoe. He helped Judy to decorate the taproom and their private parlour, and Rob provided a Christmas tree.

  ‘It’s lovely,’ Judy said wistfully, ‘but all the decorations were lost in the fire at the manor house.’

  ‘I’ve thought of that. Get your cape and bonnet, we’re going to Maldon.’

  She hesitated. ‘I don’t know about that. I can’t leave Ma to do all the work.’

  ‘Nonsense. I’ve asked Hilda and she says you’ve earned a day off, besides which she needs some things and she’s writing a list as we speak.’

  Judy glanced out of the window at the dreary overcast weather, and she smiled. ‘Well, it would be nice to go to town. I haven’t been anywhere since I returned from London.’

  ‘That’s settled then. I could do with some time away from the site of the old house, and I’ll enjoy a day out with you, Judy. Fetch your things and we’ll be off.’

  The drive to Maldon was uneventful and the rain held off, although a cold east wind made Judy huddle beneath the rug that Rob had placed over her knees. He, however, seemed oblivious to the cold and the sharp slaps of the wind as it reddened his cheeks and threatened several times to snatch his hat from his head. He merely laughed and held it on with one hand while holding the reins in the other. Nothing seemed to bother him and he was in a good humour, keeping Judy amused with tales of his misspent youth that made her chuckle, and the time passed so quickly that she was surprised when they reached the outskirts of the town.

  They strolled arm in arm around the market and Judy purchased the items on her mother’s list, while Rob bought up every strand of tinsel and glass bauble that he could find. Judy had a little money of her own and she bought a pair of warm mittens as a Christmas present for her mother and a silk scarf for Molly. She decided on socks for her brothers, which would be sensible, and to make their gifts more festive she added slabs of toffee and Fry’s Chocolate Cream bars, a rare treat. Rob was more of a problem. He was a friend, but he was also a patron of the inn and as such needed to be treated with a degree of reserve. She waited until he was absorbed in bargaining for a box of glass decorations, and she purchased a leather-bound notebook and a pencil. It was the only thing she could think of that was relatively cheap and useful – he could make notes on the building progress and costs, or whatever came into his mind. She tucked the little present into her basket beneath the socks.

  ‘There,’ Rob said, turning to her with a beaming smile. ‘We’ll have the best decorated Christmas tree in Little Creek, and when I move into the manor house I intend to have an enormous tree every year.’ His smile faded. ‘You look chilled to the bone. We’ll get something to eat before we set off for home.’

  She managed to stretch her cold lips into a smile. ‘Yes, that would be good. I’m starving.’

  He tucked her hand in the crook of his arm. ‘We’ll drive down to the quay. I know the landlord at the inn there and his wife is an excellent cook.’

  Judy fell into step beside him. ‘I really hope so.’ She glanced up at the sky, which had darkened significantly since they arrived and the stallholders had lit the naphtha flares that were normally only used at dusk. ‘I think we’re in for a storm.’

  ‘No matter. We have to eat, and my horse needs sustenance, too, and a rest in the stables. Don’t worry, Judy. I’ll get you home safe and sound.’

  It had started out such a pleasant day, even if it was cold. The sun had shone and Judy had enjoyed every minute of their shopping expedition. It was good to get away from the confines of the inn and the day-to-day chores that seemed never-ending, but with the fickleness of the weather, particularly at this time of year, the rain started in earnest just as they reached the inn on the quay. The taproom was crowded with fishermen, seafarers and dock workers, and the landlord led them to a private parlour where a fire burned brightly in the grate, and boughs of holly decorated the mantelshelf. Polished brass andirons vied for attention and admiration with a gleaming copper coal scuttle, and two long tables were laid with cheerful gingham cloths. The room was lit by oil lamps, the atmosphere was both cosy and welcoming, but outside the sky was darkening and the storm seemed to be gathering strength. Rain turned into hailstones that battered the windowpanes and bounced off the cobblestones in the yard, scattering like a broken string of pearls.

  ‘It’s not going to be a pleasant drive home,’ Judy said anxiously.

  ‘We can’t leave while it’s like this.’ Rob took his watch from his waistcoat pocket and frowned. ‘It will be dark soon and I wouldn’t want to risk the roads in this storm. We might have to put up here for the night if the weather doesn’t improve.’ He looked up as the landlord entered the room, bringing with him the aroma of roasting meat, wood smoke and a hint of hops.

  ‘Might I recommend the roast venison, sir? It’s a particularly fine joint, if I say so myself, and my good wife is an excellent cook.’

  ‘So I’ve heard,’ Rob said pleasantly. ‘I’m happy with that. What about you, Judy?’

  ‘Yes, indeed. I’m starving.’

  The landlord’s flushed cheeks wobbled into a grin. ‘Then I suggest you start with the soup, miss. It’s chicken broth with barley. Very good.’

  ‘Yes, thank you,’ Judy said, smiling. ‘That sounds delicious.’

  ‘I’ll have the broth also, and I’ll have a pint of your best ale. What would you like to drink, Judy?’

  ‘I’d love some lemonade.’

  ‘Very well, miss.’

  Judy waited until the landlord had left the parlour before turning to Rob.
She leaned across the table, fixing him with a hard stare. ‘We can’t stay here tonight. Ma will be frantic with worry if I don’t get home.’

  ‘I think she’ll realise that we’ve been held up by the storm.’

  Judy frowned. ‘But it won’t look good. I don’t normally care what people say, but even friends might jump to the wrong conclusion.’

  ‘I promise you that my intentions are honourable,’ Rob said, chuckling. ‘Don’t look so worried. No one will know apart from your mother and Nate, and I’m sure they would believe us.’

  ‘Perhaps it will clear,’ Judy said hopefully as she gazed out of the window.

  Rob turned to look round as the landlord entered, bringing their drinks and two bowls of soup.

  ‘What do the locals say about this storm, Landlord? Do they think it will blow over soon?’

  The landlord wiped his hands on a beer-stained apron. ‘No, sir. I’d say it’s going to get worse. The fishermen didn’t go out today and all the barges are alongside, although there’s one ship that’s just anchored and they’re having a struggle to row ashore in the jolly boat. I’d have stayed put if it were me.’

  ‘Even if the hail turns back to rain the roads are going to be treacherous, especially in the dark,’ Rob said thoughtfully. ‘Have you a couple of rooms vacant, Landlord?’

  ‘No, sir. There’s but one, and it’s not the best room. That was booked just now by the ship’s agent. I’m afraid it will be the same all over town.’

  ‘Then we’ll take the one room.’

  ‘Very good, sir.’ The landlord flicked a quick look at Judy and his lips twisted in a wry smile. ‘One room it is.’

  Judy waited until he left the parlour. ‘We can’t stay here. We must try to get home.’

  ‘You can have the room, Judy. I’ll get the landlord to provide some cushions and a blanket and I’ll sleep in here.’