‘I left my Christmas presents in the chaise,’ Judy said, sighing. ‘I don’t know if they’ll have survived the accident, but I’d really like to go and see.’

Prudence filled a cup with tea and handed it to her. ‘Not before breakfast, dear. I make it a rule that everyone has to have something in their belly before they go out, especially in this dreadful weather.’ She ladled porridge into a bowl and slapped it on the table. ‘There you are, Judy. I don’t want any arguments.’

Smiling, Judy sat down. ‘You sound like my mother. She’ll be out of her mind with worry.’

‘Of course she will, and so would I in the circumstances. Anyway, you heard my Seth last evening. He said he would drive you home in the farm cart, that’s if you don’t mind travelling in such a way.’

‘No, of course I don’t. I’d be most grateful.’ Judy drank her tea and then started on the porridge, which was very good. She finished it with a sigh of satisfaction. ‘Thank you, that was really lovely.’

‘Your clothes are dry, so I suggest you take them upstairs and put them on, and then you can borrow my woollen cloak. It’s old-fashioned but it’s warm, and from what Seth told me it’s about a mile along the road to Maldon that you’ll find your vehicle.’

‘Thank you. I will go because I spent my last penny on the gifts and my family will be very disappointed if I go home with nothing.’

‘My dear, I think they will just be pleased that you came home in one piece. Now go and get dressed, and for heaven’s sake wrap up warm.’

As Prudence had predicted, it was bitterly cold out of doors. An east wind bullied the powdery snow into fantastical shapes, and it slapped at Judy’s cheeks as she walked, head bent and her feet sinking up to her ankles in the snow. Each breath felt like icicles stabbing her lungs, but she was determined to rescue anything she could from the wreckage. It seemed like much further than a mile, but eventually she spotted what remained of Rob’s chaise and she quickened her pace. Rob and Seth were attempting to move the damaged vehicle to the side of the road, but it was an almost impossible task.

‘It’s no use,’ Seth said, straightening up. ‘I’ll have to get Pa and a couple of the heavy horses to move this, but I don’t fancy your chances of getting it fixed, at least not in a hurry.’

Rob kicked the broken shaft out of the way. ‘You’re right. Who would imagine that a falling tree could cause so much damage?’ He looked round. ‘What are you doing here, Judy?’

‘I came to retrieve the presents I bought yesterday. Unless someone has taken them.’

Seth chuckled. ‘Look at the road, miss. Not a sign of cart tracks or footprints. It would have to be a big bird that flew in to pinch your things.’