‘That’s easily done. I’ll pass your advice on to the architect.’

She eyed him warily. ‘Are you making fun of me, Rob Dorning?’

‘No, certainly not. I want this house to be a comfortable home for both the master and the servants.’

‘Then you could put proper washing facilities on the top floor where the servants sleep,’ Judy said firmly. ‘If you’d had to carry ewers filled with hot water up several flights of stairs—’ she broke off as he started to laugh.

‘I know, Judy. You don’t have to spell it out for me, and you’re quite right. I should consider those who work for me as well as my own comfort and that of my guests and family.’

‘You said you haven’t any family, apart from your aunt Adeline. Will she live with you?’

‘I’m going to do my best to persuade her to move in with me, but Aunt Adeline is a very independent woman and extremely stubborn. One day I hope I might find a woman who will put up with me.’

‘With all your money I don’t think that will be difficult. I’m sure the young ladies in the county will be falling over themselves in an attempt to gain your good opinion when you move into Creek Manor.’

‘You’re forgetting my background. My fortune was made through ill-gotten gains. Who would want to be associated with such a man?’

‘Who indeed?’ Judy eyed him warily. The teasing light in his eyes was disconcerting, and she had a feeling that involving her in the design of his new home was merely a way of taking her mind off the problems that beset her. She glanced over her shoulder as the door opened and, to her surprise, it was Colonel Catchpole who strode into the taproom, closely followed by two yellow Labradors and a small terrier.

‘Sit!’ The colonel’s strident tone made the dogs skid to a halt and sit down, tongues hanging out as they gazed up at their master.

‘Good afternoon, Colonel.’ Judy went behind the bar. ‘What can I get you, sir?’

‘I’ll have a tot of rum to ward off the cold. It looks like snow to me.’

She poured him a measure of the spirit and he knocked it back in one mouthful. ‘Could your mother use a side of bacon, Miss Begg? Got a surplus, so to speak, so she’d be doing me a favour in taking it off my hands.’

‘I’m sure she could, Colonel. If you’re sure you can spare it. How much do we owe you?’

He shook his head. ‘Another tot of rum will settle the bill, my dear. We all do our bit for each other in Little Creek.’ He downed the drink in one and turned to leave. ‘I’ll have it sent round in the morning. Come, boys.’

The dogs leaped to attention and followed him out of the building, tails wagging.

‘What did I tell you?’ Rob said, grinning.

‘He can’t know what my stepfather did already.’