‘I don’t know. Anywhere but here.’

‘There is another room you can have. It’s smaller, but it has a view of the estuary, and I’m sure you’ll find it very comfortable. I’ll light the fire while you’re eating your supper.’ She pressed him back onto the chair. ‘I’ll bring you some pie. A good night’s sleep is what you need, and you’ll be able to think more clearly in the morning.’

His eyes were bloodshot as he met her anxious gaze. ‘Why are you doing this for me?’

‘Because everyone at the hospital said that you are a good doctor. You might have been unlucky in business, but I’m sure you can come to some arrangement with the people to whom you owe money. Perhaps Dr Neville could help you to find another position.’

He poured himself another glass. ‘Who will trust me now?’

Judy shook her head. ‘I can’t answer that, but feeling sorry for yourself won’t help. Stay there and I’ll bring you some food, and then I’ll prepare you a room.’

‘I don’t deserve your kindness.’

‘Now you’re being maudlin. That’s what Jack would say, although I had to look the word up in his dictionary. Anyway, think of it as repayment. You helped us over a difficult time when we first moved into the Crooked Billet, and now I can return the favour.’ She left him to finish his drink while she went to the kitchen.

Having served him a plate of pie and mashed potato, she went upstairs to make a room ready. Dr Godfrey’s confession was shocking, but it paled into insignificance compared to Rob Dorning’s announcement that he was now the owner of the Creek Manor estate.

Judy’s mind buzzed with questions as she lit the fire. Who was Rob Dorning? And how could he afford to purchase a country house and an estate? All these thoughts went through her head as she made up the bed with fresh sheets and added a couple more blankets. She smoothed the coverlet and then crossed the floor to draw the curtains on the wild night outside. Through the rain-spattered windowpanes she could just make out the white crested waves as they pounded the foreshore, whipped up by the wind as it howled around the building, rattling windows and sending the inn sign swinging to and fro so that it looked as if it might take off and fly away. She pulled the thin material together and moved the oil lamp to a safer place. The room looked inviting enough, although she doubted if the doctor would notice much when he eventually staggered up the stairs to bed. She had been startled by the sudden change in his demeanour. The Dr God she had first met in the hospital seemed to be a very different person from the broken man who slumped against the bar, feeling sorry for himself. She left the room and went downstairs to help Hilda.

Nate met her at the foot of the stairs. ‘Can you do something with the doctor, Judy? He’s squiffy but he wants another bottle of brandy. What shall I do?’