‘Hattie told me, miss. She said that you and the doctor had looked after him. He’s a young limb if ever there was one, always in trouble, but he’s a good boy at heart.’

‘I believe that, Linnet. He was very brave when Dr Neville set his arm.’

Daisy left Linnet to make the cocoa while she went upstairs to take the coverlet and a pillow from Toby’s room. It was unlikely that he would come to stay in the foreseeable future, but she did not want to offend her aunt by allowing a servant to sleep in his bed. There were a couple of small attic rooms beneath the eaves on the top floor. Hattie had one and with a little effort the second could be made habitable for Linnet. It would be up for discussion tomorrow, when, she hoped, Aunt Eleanora would be in a happier mood, and Daisy would bring up the subject of taking care of young Jack. It would make life a lot easier if his sister were to live in – Daisy smiled to herself. With luck all the pieces would fall into place, and just maybe her aunt would feel more settled in the country. It would be a shame to return to London too soon. There were people who needed her help, Dr Neville being one of them.

Chapter Six

Daisy was up early next morning, but she was not the first down to breakfast. She entered the small dining room to find her uncle had finished his meal of eggs and bacon and was about to leave the table.

‘I didn’t expect to see you up so early, Uncle.’

Sidney wiped his lips on a clean white napkin. ‘Ah, but I have a purpose for getting up from my bed this morning.’

Daisy sat down opposite him. ‘That sounds interesting.’

‘The landlord of the village pub has fishing tackle he wants to sell. I’m going to take a look at it and make him an offer.’

‘Do you know anything about fishing, Uncle?’

‘Not a thing, but I’m eager to learn. It would give me something to do and put food on the table. We have to be careful with the pennies now that I’ve retired from the business.’ He stood up and stretched. ‘That was an excellent breakfast. Everyone should have a good start to the day.’ He headed for the door. ‘If your aunt says anything, tell her I had to leave early or I might not get what I want.’

Daisy smiled and nodded as he left the room. She had never seen her uncle so enthusiastic about anything.

The door had hardly closed when it opened again to admit her aunt.

‘Really, he’s like an excited child,’ Eleanora said crossly. ‘He’ll spend money on a fishing rod and it will be thrilling for five minutes. He’ll change his mind when he spends hours on the river-bank and catches nothing other than a cold.’

‘He might enjoy it, Aunt. And Hattie can cook the fish he brings home.’