The idyll was shattered by the sound of her aunt’s voice raised to a shriek and a loud thud emanating from the cottage. Forgetting her charge, Daisy dropped the reins and ran towards the house.

Chapter Three

‘Are you all right, Aunt Eleanora?’ As she reached the doorway Daisy saw Nick and Toby lifting Uncle Sidney from beneath the wood-bound leather travelling trunk. ‘Oh, my goodness, is he hurt?’

Aunt Eleanora clutched her hands to her bosom. ‘Is anything broken? Are you all right, Sidney, my love?’

Sidney struggled to his feet, aided by Toby and Nick. ‘Stop fussing, woman. Of course I’m all right. I’m not a fragile flower.’ He stomped off. ‘I’ll be in the parlour. Tell Hattie to bring me a glass of brandy – for medicinal purposes, of course.’

Eleanora turned on Toby. ‘You’re a doctor. Go and look after your uncle.’

‘He’s fine, Aunt. What do you want us to do with this?’ He poked the trunk with the toe of his boot.

‘Leave it there. The removal men should be here soon. They’re trained to heft boxes and heavy objects. I can’t be doing with any more falls. I’m going to the kitchen to see how Hattie is getting on with the range or we won’t have anything to eat today.’

Daisy glanced anxiously out of the door, but Hero had his head down and was munching the grass. ‘I’m sorry, Nick,’ she said hastily. ‘I should have stayed with the animal.’

‘Don’t worry, he’s not coming to any harm.’ Nick turned to Toby. ‘I’ll go now and leave you to settle in.’

Toby leaned over to brush his aunt’s flushed cheek with a kiss. ‘I’ll get out of your way, dear aunt. I’m not much use when it comes to unpacking and that sort of thing.’ He turned to Nick. ‘How about I come with you now?’

‘That’s fine with me, if your aunt and uncle don’t need you?’

‘No, take him away,’ Eleanora said crossly. ‘Toby might be a good doctor, but he’s useless around the house.’

‘Will you be all right, Daisy?’ Toby asked anxiously. ‘I mean, I could stay, but …’

Torn between annoyance and amusement, Daisy gave him a gentle shove towards the door. ‘Go, for heaven’s sake. We’ll do better without you.’

‘I’ll bring him back after supper, but perhaps you would like to come to the Hall some time, Daisy.’ Nick hesitated, frowning. ‘Not tomorrow, of course, because I won’t be there, but maybe the day after?’

Daisy smiled and nodded. ‘Thank you. That would be lovely.’

‘Come on, Nick,’ Toby hurried outside, glancing up at the lowering clouds. ‘I think it’s going to snow again. Let’s get going. I’ll see you later, Daisy.’

‘Yes,’ she said as she watched them climb into the trap. ‘You’ll come home when all the work is done. Nothing changes.’

‘Daisy, will you go and help Hattie in the kitchen?’ Eleanora said anxiously. ‘If there’s a nest in the chimney there might be a trapped bird and they make me nervous. I’ll go and make sure your uncle is all right.’ She bustled into the parlour without waiting for an answer.