‘You can ride, Judy. I’ll remain here to help move the wreckage or at least to see if it can be salvaged. Is there a smithy near here, Joe?’

Judy smiled to herself at the familiarity that had sprung up between the two very different men. Joe Trundle was old enough to be Rob’s father, and Rob was a wealthy landowner, but that did not seem to bother either of them. She glanced at Seth, who was scowling like a spoilt child and it was obvious that he resented the fact that his father seemed to have taken a liking to the stranger in their midst.

‘I can take you home on the cart, miss,’ he said sulkily. ‘It ain’t a smart vehicle like your chaise, but it’ll get you to where you want to go.’

‘That’s very kind of you, Seth.’ Judy flashed him a sympathetic smile. ‘We might still be suffering had you not decided to come out and look for us. We’re very grateful to you, aren’t we, Rob?’

‘Yes, indeed. You showed great presence of mind, Seth. Thank you.’

Mrs Trundle placed a heavy iron pan on the table and when she lifted the lid a delicious aroma filled the kitchen. ‘Hand the plates round, Seth. There’s a good boy. I’ll take the bread from the oven and then we’ll eat.’

‘We’ll say grace first,’ Joe said, glaring at each of them in turn as if he expected someone to object. ‘And when we’ve eaten it’s bed for all of us. We’re early risers here,’ he added, fixing Judy with a hard stare. ‘Five o’clock and we’re up and about. There’s milking to be done and animals to feed.’

Prudence pulled out a chair and sat down. ‘Don’t take any heed of my husband, Judy. You get up when it suits you. No one expects you to earn your board. Do they, Father?’ She gave her husband a stern look.

He folded his hands and closed his eyes. ‘For what we are about to receive, may the Lord make us truly thankful. Amen.’

Next morning Judy was awakened by the sound of activity. Doors banged, heavy footsteps trod the stairs and she could hear cows lowing as they waited to be milked. She rose from the bed and shivered as her feet touched the bare boards. The water in the ewer on the washstand had frozen and the fire had died to nothing but ashes. She drew back the curtain and even though it was still dark the snow gleamed white and sparkling in the moonlight. She wrapped the coverlet around herself and went downstairs to the warmth of the kitchen. As she had hoped, the men had gone about their work, leaving Mrs Trundle to her household duties.

‘Good morning, Mrs Trundle.’

‘It’s Prudence, dear. As I told you last evening. Did you sleep well?’

‘I did, thank you. Is Rob still asleep?’

‘No, my dear. Not much chance of that when he was sharing with Seth. They went out together to see what can be done with your vehicle, if anything.’