‘Eli must have told someone and it came to Constable Fowler’s attention. As I said before, Judy. Word flies round faster you can blink in Little Creek. The colonel obviously doesn’t blame your family for what Faulkner’s done, so why should anyone else?’

Starting later that afternoon they received a constant trickle of visitors, led by Grace Peabody and Eleanora Marshall, who arrived at the Crooked Billet to lend their support to Hilda and her family. Women who would never normally put a foot over the threshold came with small gifts: a couple of fresh eggs, a few onions or anything they could spare. Judy knew it was their way of showing sympathy for Hilda, quite contrary to her expectations of being branded a pariah. It seemed that far from being considered outsiders, Little Creek had taken the Begg family to its heart and their struggles had not gone unnoticed. Their prospects looked even brighter when Rob’s architect booked a room for an indefinite period. The building of the new manor house was about to begin, despite the sudden change in the weather. Christmas was almost upon them and the cold snap gave way to rain and howling gales.

At Rob’s suggestion Nate took the cart to the grounds of Creek Manor and he arrived back at the Crooked Billet with a huge load of berried holly, and a large bunch of mistletoe. He helped Judy to decorate the taproom and their private parlour, and Rob provided a Christmas tree.

‘It’s lovely,’ Judy said wistfully, ‘but all the decorations were lost in the fire at the manor house.’

‘I’ve thought of that. Get your cape and bonnet, we’re going to Maldon.’

She hesitated. ‘I don’t know about that. I can’t leave Ma to do all the work.’

‘Nonsense. I’ve asked Hilda and she says you’ve earned a day off, besides which she needs some things and she’s writing a list as we speak.’

Judy glanced out of the window at the dreary overcast weather, and she smiled. ‘Well, it would be nice to go to town. I haven’t been anywhere since I returned from London.’

‘That’s settled then. I could do with some time away from the site of the old house, and I’ll enjoy a day out with you, Judy. Fetch your things and we’ll be off.’

The drive to Maldon was uneventful and the rain held off, although a cold east wind made Judy huddle beneath the rug that Rob had placed over her knees. He, however, seemed oblivious to the cold and the sharp slaps of the wind as it reddened his cheeks and threatened several times to snatch his hat from his head. He merely laughed and held it on with one hand while holding the reins in the other. Nothing seemed to bother him and he was in a good humour, keeping Judy amused with tales of his misspent youth that made her chuckle, and the time passed so quickly that she was surprised when they reached the outskirts of the town.