by Dilly Court
‘What am I supposed to say to that? I want you to come to Australia with me and build a new life.’
‘I think you’ve answered my question. You’re a spoilt child who refuses to grow up.’ Judy went to the bar and poured a measure of brandy. She handed him the glass. ‘Drink up and go back to Jay. You can tell him that I’m not easily bought by vague offers of a better life. For all I know, you might be like your brother and have a wife in Australia.’
He downed the spirit in one gulp. ‘I’m hurt. You know me better than that.’
‘Do I? Maybe at one time I did, but not now. I don’t understand why your brother is so keen to get his hands on Creek Manor, but that’s his business. All I’m concerned about is providing for my family and keeping a roof over our heads.’
‘Is that your last word?’
‘It most certainly is. Now go, please.’
‘I don’t want to leave you like this. You’re placing me in a difficult situation, Judy.’
‘What do you mean by that?’ Instantly alert, she faced him angrily. ‘Jay did send you to persuade me to leave here, didn’t he?’
‘Not exactly, but you know it would be better all round. Honestly, Judy, where will you go? How will you live? Be reasonable and agree to leave of your own volition. Maybe Jay would allow you another day, if you promised me you would move out after Christmas.’
She eyed him curiously. ‘Why does Jay want the Crooked Billet?’
‘It belongs to him, Judy. It’s the only part of the estate that he didn’t sell, and we need somewhere to stay while we’re here. He’s set on getting Creek Manor estate back, and nothing is going to change his mind.’
‘But you and he plan to return to New South Wales?’
‘Yes, I made no secret of it. I’m being totally honest with you, and I truly want to atone for the way I treated you. I’ll marry you, if that’s what it takes.’
‘It’s too late for that. Nothing is as it used to be. Go away, please.’
‘All right, I’ll do as you say, but you belong with me, Judy. You’ll see sense eventually.’ Jack walked to the door where he hesitated, turning to give her a pitying look. ‘You don’t have to go through this. It’s Christmas and all you have to do is agree to Jay’s terms and we could all be together, as we were in the old days. Dove said she would love you to come to Creek Hall for Christmas dinner. We’ll all be there.’
Judy crossed the floor in angry strides. ‘Get out and let me lock up. Tell Jay that we’re staying put. Merry Christmas, Jack.’ She slammed the door after him, locked and bolted it with such force that the timbers shook. The taproom echoed with silence and the Christmas tree in the corner suddenly looked tawdry and out of place. She had been looking forward to the festivities, but now her hopes for the New Year were dashed. How they were going to survive if they were forced to leave was the burning question, although the most pressing problem was how they were going to hold out if Jay came mob-handed. Judy could not imagine there would be many local men who would band together under his lead, but time alone would tell.
It was pitch-dark outside when Jay arrived promptly at six o’clock. She could not tell if he was alone or whether he had brought a small army of men to intimidate her family further, but she refused to answer his urgent demands to open the door. The kitchen door was barricaded and they had closed the wooden shutters on the downstairs windows, but Jay continued to hammer on the door and shout all manner of threats, which Judy chose to ignore.
After half an hour of constant harassment, Jay acknowledged temporary defeat.
‘You win for now, Judy Begg. But we’ll be back tomorrow. Enjoy your last night on my premises, because tomorrow you’ll be thrown out.’
Judy leaned against the door, waiting for another round of abuse, but there was none.
‘Has he really gone?’ Hilda asked faintly. ‘I thought he might break the door down.’
‘He stopped at that, thank goodness.’ Judy sank down on the settle by the door, her knees having turned to jelly. ‘He’ll be back, that’s for certain.’
‘Maybe we should have done what he said.’ Hilda went to sit by the fire, wrapping her arms around her body. ‘I’m sure Daisy would have taken us in, even if we had to sleep in the stables.’
Judy managed to rise to her feet and she made her way to the bar. Jack had been the last person to drink brandy, but now she poured measures for herself and her mother. Nate was nowhere to be seen. She took a glass to her mother and pressed it into her hand.
‘Sip this, Ma. If you’d like Nate to take you to Colneyhurst Hall you have only to say so. I don’t think Jay will bother us again tonight, but I’m sure he’ll be back tomorrow.’
Hilda clutched the glass in her hand. ‘I’ll only go if you’ll come, too. Don’t be stubborn, Judy. You know he’ll get his way in the end.’
‘I don’t know that at all, Ma. I refuse to be driven out of my home by someone who is wealthy enough to have property anywhere he chooses. Jay is doing this out of spite, for what reason I don’t know.’
‘Jack wants you to go with him.’
‘You were listening?’
‘It was impossible not to hear what was going on. You two were shouting at each other for ages. You were always together when you were younger. I really thought you would make a match of it.’
Judy took a mouthful of brandy and swallowed it. She closed her eyes as the spirit hit her empty stomach like a cannonball. ‘I don’t know how I feel now, but I don’t trust him. That’s the worst of it, Ma. He can’t just turn up and expect things to be as they were in the past. He’s fallen under Jay’s influence, and we all know how Jay treats the people who love him. He married two women without bothering to divorce his first wife, and that sums him up nicely. He takes what he wants, no matter what it does to others.’
‘But Jack isn’t like him, and they are only half-brothers.’
‘I don’t care, Ma. I need time to think, and this business with Jay has only made matters worse.’ She turned her head at the sound of footsteps and Nate strolled into the taproom.
‘What’s for supper, Ma? I’m starving.’
Judy stifled a giggle. ‘Of course you are, Nate. So am I, if it comes to that. You sit there and rest, Ma. Nate and I will see to supper. It might be the last meal we have in the Crooked Billet so let’s enjoy it.’
Judy had half expected Jay to turn up again in the early hours, but, perhaps because of the bitter cold and the lying snow, they had an undisturbed night. Christmas morning dawned bright and clear with the pale sun sparkling on the calm waters of the estuary, and the wildlife in the saltings going about their daily business as usual. Judy quite envied them their settled routine and seemingly endless supply of food. The larder was not quite bare, in fact they had supplies to last for a few days, but there had been no time to bake mince pies or to go to market to buy a fowl for their Christmas dinner. That and the threat of eviction was bound to overshadow what should have been a festive occasion.
She rose from her bed, washed and dressed, and set about the routine chores of lighting fires and making breakfast. She decided to give Hilda a treat and take her porridge and coffee upstairs so that she could enjoy it in the privacy of her room. Hilda was sleepily grateful, but clearly upset because she had no present to give Judy, especially when she opened the wrapping paper on her gift.
‘What beautiful mittens. They’re just what I’ve always wanted, dear girl. How thoughtful of you, but I have nothing to give you in return. I haven’t had time to go shopping.’
‘I had time to purchase a few things in Maldon, and you don’t need to give me anything, Ma. I can’t help feeling a bit guilty for the trouble we’re in.’
Hilda picked up her spoon. ‘Why would you feel guilty, Judy?’
‘If I’d given Jack some encouragement, or given in to Jay’s demands, we might have been sharing Christmas dinner with Dove and Nick and the rest of Jack’s family. Goodness knows what will happen later today.’
/> ‘We owe the Tattersalls nothing. Remember that.’ Hilda swallowed a mouthful of porridge. ‘This is delicious. I hope you’ve had yours. As to the rest, we’ll deal with whatever comes.’
Judy smiled and nodded but she was close to tears as she left the room and descended the stairs. She had just reached the bottom when she heard someone tapping on the front door. For a moment she froze, but then she realised that it could not be Jay – he would be hammering on the door and shouting. She went through the motions of unlocking and unbolting the door and to her surprise she found Wilby, Colonel Catchpole’s gardener, standing outside holding an item wrapped in brown paper.
‘Merry Christmas, Miss Begg,’ Wilby said, grinning. ‘The colonel’s compliments of the season and he says there was one too many birds made ready for the table, so perhaps you might have a use for this.’ He unwrapped the brown paper, exposing a fine goose already prepared for the oven.
Judy accepted it with a delighted smile. ‘This is so generous and quite unexpected. Please thank the colonel.’
Wilby tipped his cap. ‘And the colonel says if you need any assistance he is ready to send troops.’
‘That’s most kind, and greatly appreciated.’ Judy stood in the doorway watching as he walked off towards the waiting dog cart and clambered onto the driver’s seat. ‘Merry Christmas, Mr Wilby.’ She closed the door and carried the offering to the kitchen where she laid it on the table.
Nate looked up from his empty bowl and licked the spoon. ‘Where did that come from?’
‘Colonel Catchpole’s gardener just delivered it. I think Eli must have spread the word that Jay was causing trouble.’
‘Who cares?’ Nate said gleefully. ‘We’ll have a splendid Christmas dinner after all. We just need someone to send a plum pudding and some mince pies and we’ll have everything we need.’
As the morning progressed there were more visitors, despite the freezing temperatures. Hepzibah Egerton’s sister, Hannah, arrived at the back door with a Christmas pudding, again claiming that it was surplus to their needs. Half an hour later George Keyes, the village shopkeeper, knocked on the door and presented Judy with a basket containing a dozen mince pies, and close behind him came Clem Guppy, bringing a rush basket filled with eggs.
‘We heard about your problems, Judy,’ he said grimly. ‘If you need me you know where I live. I don’t hold with bullying women, nor do I think it right to turn people out of their homes, especially on Christmas Day.’
Judy managed a smile although the kindness of the villagers brought tears to her eyes. ‘Thank you, Clem. I really appreciate that, and the eggs are most welcome.’
He tipped his cap. ‘Better get back to the family, but don’t be afraid to ask for help if you need it.’ He backed away and Judy closed the door quickly, just in case Jay happened to be hiding round the corner. She took the basket to the kitchen where her mother was about to place the goose in the oven.
Flushed and smiling, Hilda closed the heavy iron door. ‘We’ll have the best Christmas dinner ever. What have you got there, Judy?’
‘Eggs from Clem Guppy. I can’t believe how generous people have been.’
‘It just shows that we are part of the village. I can’t quite believe that they see us as anything other than newcomers, but it does seem as though they care about us.’ Hilda’s smile faded. ‘What will we do if Jay returns? He might break the door down.’
‘Let’s try and forget Jay for now. Maybe his family will dissuade him from doing anything today, but I think we’ll have to face the fact that he does own the property, and we will have to find somewhere else to live quite quickly.’
‘I thought you said we would stay here,’ Nate said, scowling. ‘What changed your mind?’
‘I said we’d stay here for Christmas, but we can’t barricade ourselves in for long. This is an inn and it was our livelihood. I don’t know what we’ll do next, but let’s not think about that now. I’m looking forward to a splendid dinner, thanks to our kind friends.’
‘You’d better enjoy it,’ Hilda said gloomily. ‘It might be the last decent meal we ever have.’
They did justice to the goose and demolished the Christmas pudding. Nate even managed to eat three mince pies before finally admitting defeat. It was mid-afternoon and there had been no sign of Jay or his men. Judy was beginning to hope that Jack might have persuaded his brother to change his mind, but within the hour there was a loud thudding on the pub door. Judy raised herself from her chair in the parlour and went to stand by the door.
‘Go away.’
‘You leave me no choice other than to break the door down,’ Jay shouted angrily. ‘Don’t make this any harder than it need be.’
‘We will leave here, but only when we’ve found somewhere else to live.’
‘That’s not good enough. This place belongs to me and you are squatters. The law is on my side.’
‘Then get the law to throw us out. I don’t think you’ll find any constable willing to come out here on Christmas Day. Go back to your family, Jay, and leave us alone.’
‘You’ve been warned. Break the door down, men.’
His words were followed by a sickening thud on the door and the sound of splintering wood, but somehow the timbers remained intact. The first blow was followed by another and another, and then the final strike caused the wooden panels to splinter and collapse. Judy backed away with Hilda clutching her hand. Nate strode forward but was knocked to the ground by a burly man who barged in first, followed by Jay.
‘Steady, Gittins,’ Jay said sternly. ‘There’s no need for violence, providing the people here are willing to be reasonable.’
Hilda went down on her knees beside her prostrate son. Nate opened his eyes and attempted to sit up, but was obviously dazed by the sudden fall.
‘You brute,’ Hilda cried passionately. ‘He’s just a boy.’
‘He got in the way.’ Gittins glanced at Jay, who acknowledged his unspoken question with a nod. ‘That’s what happens to folk who take on the boss.’
‘Someone is talking sense at last.’ Jay slapped Gittins on the back. ‘Wait outside. I don’t think they’ll give me any more trouble.’
Gittins ambled towards the door, but was shoved aside by Rob, who entered, bringing with him a flurry of snow.
‘They might not give you trouble, Tattersall, but I will.’ Rob faced up to Jay. ‘Call your man off.’
Gittins grunted and made a move towards Rob, but Jay held up his hand.
‘It’s all right, Gittins. I can handle this fellow.’ Jay waited until his man was out of earshot. ‘What the hell d’you think you’re doing, Dorning? You aren’t welcome here.’
‘Is that so?’ Rob walked past him and helped Nate to his feet. ‘Are you all right?’
‘He caught me unawares.’ Nate dusted himself down, glaring at Gittins.
‘Just what I’d expect.’ Rob turned to Jay with a scornful curl of his lip. ‘Making war on defenceless women and boys is about your mark.’
Nate fisted his hands, glaring at Jay. ‘Leave my family alone.’
‘We’re safe now, Nate,’ Hilda said urgently. ‘Go to the stables and make sure that the horse is all right.’
Nate looked as though he was about to argue, but Judy gave him a gentle shove in the direction of the kitchen. ‘Do as Ma says. We’ll be fine.’
‘Your sister is right, old chap,’ Rob said easily. ‘I’ll make sure your mother and sister are safe.’
‘Get out of here, Dorning.’ Jay squared up to Rob. ‘I own this premises and I’m telling you to leave.’
‘Please do as he says, Rob,’ Judy said anxiously. ‘This isn’t your battle, it’s mine.’
‘You’re wrong there, Judy. And it’s Tattersall who is the trespasser. I own the Crooked Billet and the land around it.’
‘You’re lying,’ Jay snapped. ‘I have the deeds.’
‘A forgery, I’m afraid. You see I have the original document. That’s why I went to London a few day
s ago. Until now I’ve kept my identity to myself, but now I think it’s time to put matters straight. I am the true heir to the Creek Manor estate and I can prove it.’
The colour drained from Jay’s face and he turned on Gittins, who was hovering by the door listening to every word. ‘Get out and wait until I call you.’
Gittins obeyed reluctantly, leaving the two men facing each other like gladiators ready for mortal combat.
‘You’re lying,’ Jay said through clenched teeth.
‘You are the bastard son of Esmond Tattersall and a young servant girl whom he seduced.’
‘He repented and married my mother on his deathbed. He left the estate to me.’
Rob shook his head. ‘My mother was Miriam Dorning, a member of the family who ran the preventive men ragged for nearly a century. Despite their own shortcomings, her family forbade her to have anything to do with Esmond Tattersall, but the couple eloped and I was born less than a year later. I am the legal heir to my late father’s estate and I can prove it. I have all the documents here.’
‘But he left everything to me,’ Jay said dazedly.
‘The will is not valid. It was written under duress and I have witnesses who will attest to that. Esmond Tattersall was a dying man, not in a fit state to know what he was doing, and anyway, you are illegitimate. You own nothing, my friend.’
Judy looked from one to the other. ‘Heaven’s above! That means you two are half-brothers.’
‘I’ll hire a good lawyer and I’ll fight you through the courts, Dorning,’ Jay said angrily. ‘It was your rotten family who stole my ship and caused me no end of trouble. I never knew why the Dornings were so against me, until now.’
Rob shrugged. ‘I can’t be held responsible for that branch of the family. I inherited my fortune from a Dorning who was transported for life to Australia. It seems we are somewhat bound to that country, Tattersall. You’ve obviously done well enough for yourself out there, and you had the money from the sale of Creek Manor. I think you’ve come out of it very well.’
‘You can’t take my birthright away from me, Dorning. You’ll hear from my solicitor. This is just the beginning.’ Jay’s dramatic departure turned to farce when his coat snagged on a nail as he stormed through the shattered door. He uttered an explosive stream of expletives as he stamped on the hard-packed snow outside. He slammed what remained of the door, sending a shower of splintered wood onto the floor.
