‘Come in.’

The door opened and Linnet entered carrying a jug of steaming water in one hand and a cup of tea in the other. ‘I took the liberty of bringing this up to you. The mistress was asking why you wasn’t at breakfast.’

‘That’s very thoughtful of you, Linnet. Thank you.’ Daisy took the cup and saucer from her and sipped the tea. ‘It’s so cold. Is it snowing again?’

Linnet placed the jug on the oak washstand. ‘The east wind got up in the night. It blows in off the sea – straight from Russia, so my pa says. If it goes round to the north, there’ll be more snow.’

‘It feels much colder here than it does in London, but I dare say I’ll get used to it. Would you be kind enough to tell my aunt that I’ll be down soon?’

‘Yes, miss.’ Linnet bobbed a curtsey. ‘I could light the fire for you, if you so wish.’

‘Maybe this evening. We don’t want to waste coal.’

‘There are plenty of logs in the shed. I lit the fires downstairs and helped Hattie to get the range going. She’s still grumbling about it, but I dare say she’ll get used to it, given time.’

Daisy sipped her tea, which was still quite hot and more than welcome. ‘I’m afraid she might leave and return to London. It’s very different here in the heart of the countryside.’

‘There’s plenty who would be more than willing to take her place, miss.’ Linnet backed towards the doorway. ‘There’s not many jobs to be had in Little Creek and times are hard. We just hope that the doctor will stay, but people are saying he’ll go back to London.’

‘I think that’s up to Dr Neville.’ Daisy placed the cup and saucer on a small table near the window. ‘I must get dressed and I mustn’t keep you from your work, but it’s good to have you here, Linnet. We need someone young and capable like you.’

Linnet’s plain face flushed scarlet. ‘Ta, miss.’ She hurried from the room and her booted feet clattered on the bare boards as she hurried downstairs.

Eleanora was about to rise from the table when Daisy walked into the small dining room. ‘Your uncle has been up for hours,’ she said, sighing. ‘I hope he isn’t going continue like this or I’ll never get any peace.’

Daisy suppressed a smile. ‘Where is he now, Aunt?’

‘Goodness knows. He put on his hat and coat and went out muttering something about fishing, although he’s never shown any interest in such a thing before.’

Daisy took a seat at the table and helped herself to porridge, adding a generous amount of sugar and cream. ‘It would be good for him to have something to occupy his time. A man who’s worked all his life might find it hard to do nothing.’

‘I suppose so, and we could eat the fish he caught. At least it gets him out from under my feet and I have such a lot to do.’