‘That pie looks good and I’m starving. Wait until I tell Pip what we had for dinner today. I’m going to the Hall to see him tomorrow.’

‘Then you may take a slice of pie,’ Hilda said, smiling. ‘That is if there’s any left. Judy looks hungry and Rob has a good appetite.’

‘You must cut a piece for him now.’ Judy held out her plate. ‘He can have half of mine if everyone else is being greedy.’ She winked at her brother and Nate grinned back. ‘And don’t forget Molly. She might be living well at Colneyhurst, but she loves Ma’s pies.’

‘Heavens above.’ Hilda threw up her hands. ‘I’d have made two pies if I’d known you were going to fight over them.’

Judy looked from one to the other. It was good to be home with the people she loved most in the world. If Pip and Molly were here it would be perfect. She looked up as Rob strolled into the kitchen, pulled up a chair and sat down as if he too were part of the family.

‘That smells wonderful, Hilda. You are a superb cook. I hope you’ll be generous enough to share your recipes with my cook, whoever she might be, when I move into my new home.’

Judy was amused to see her mother blush as she cut him a large slice of pie.

‘You’re a flatterer, Rob Dorning,’ Hilda said with mock severity. ‘But I’ll gladly do as you ask, and if you’ve got any sense you’ll employ all the servants that used to work at the manor house. You’ll not get any better.’

‘That sounds like good advice,’ he said, nodding. ‘I’ll bear it in mind.’

Judy eyed him sceptically. She suspected that Rob Dorning would do what he wanted no matter how much good advice he received. She tasted the pie and smiled. ‘This is one of your best, Ma. I think we should have this on the menu every day.’

‘My pies do seem very popular,’ Hilda said thoughtfully. ‘I might see if George Keyes wants some for his shop. It would be a way of making a little extra money as we’re not taking much in the bar. The bad reputation this pub had in the past won’t easily be forgotten in these parts, and we have the worst part of the winter to come.’

Rob put his knife and fork down. ‘You can count on me. I’ll be staying here until I can move into Creek Manor, and the architect I’ve employed will probably want a room for a while, at least.’

‘So you’re definitely going ahead with the rebuilding of the old manor house?’ Hilda sat down opposite him and helped herself to a small portion of pie. ‘It’s not going to fall through like it did for the doctor?’

‘No. I’ve had the preliminary plans and I’m off to Chelmsford today to confirm the details with a builder I’ve hired. The foundations of the old house are already there and the site is being cleared as we speak. In fact it’s almost ready for work to begin.’