‘We won’t see much of my brother for the foreseeable future, and Jack will only be with us until his arm heals.’ Daisy looked out into steadily falling rain. With the usual vagaries of the British climate, the temperature had risen and rain was falling steadily, turning the snow into slush.

‘You’ll drop the child,’ Eleanora cried anxiously. ‘Do be careful, Doctor.’

‘Put me down, Doctor. I can walk,’ Jack protested. ‘I ain’t a baby.’

Eleanora wagged a finger at Jack. ‘You’ll do as you’re told, young man. We don’t allow boys to be cheeky in our house.’

Daisy exchanged wry smiles with Nick as he stepped inside and put his wriggling burden down. ‘Welcome to Creek Cottage, Jack. There’s a fire in the front parlour, or would you rather go straight to your room and rest?’

‘I don’t want to go to bed,’ Jack said angrily. ‘If they’re going to mollycoddle me I’d rather go home, Doctor.’

‘Mrs Marshall is just thinking of your comfort, Jack.’ Nick rested his hands on the boy’s shoulders, turning him to face Daisy and her aunt. ‘I suggest you thank the ladies for taking you in and making you welcome.’

Jack scowled, glaring at Eleanora with a sulky frown. ‘Ta ever so, missis.’

Daisy held her breath, but to her surprise Eleanora’s lips began to quiver and she started to laugh. ‘You do remind me of my nephew. Toby hated being fussed over. You’ll do, young man, but you’ll remember your manners while you’re under my roof.’ She turned to Linnet, who was hovering in the background. ‘Bring your brother a cup of cocoa and a slice of Hattie’s seed cake. I’ve never known a small boy who didn’t have a large appetite.’

Daisy was about to follow them into the parlour, but her aunt forestalled her. ‘No, Daisy. I’ll take this opportunity to get to know our young guest. You have the advantage over me there, so I suggest your take Dr Neville to the kitchen and see that he has some refreshment to keep out the damp.’ She closed the door firmly.

‘There,’ Nick said, chuckling. ‘You’ve been put in your place, Daisy.’

‘I know. It’s always like this. Aunt Eleanora can’t get used to the idea that I’m a no longer a child.’

‘She seems to have taken to young Fox.’

‘She said that he reminds her of my brother. Toby can wrap Aunt Eleanora round his little finger. Anyway, perhaps you’d like to come to the kitchen and meet Hattie. She thinks she runs the household, and she’s not far wrong. My aunt relies on her completely, so it’s good that she has Linnet to help out.’

‘With the two girls living in and earning money, even if it’s not a high wage, the Fox family should be able to survive the winter. They aren’t alone in their struggles either. There are others in the village, the squire’s tenants in particular, who suffer equally.’

‘You really care about the people of Little Creek, don’t you?’ Daisy said softly. ‘I don’t think you’d have the heart to walk away.’