‘I had to get the deeds from my solicitor in Chelmsford, or I would have claimed my birthright sooner.’ Jay’s urbane smile faded. ‘I’m serious, Judy. I want you all out of here by six o’clock and no excuses. That goes for your gentleman friend also. I’m the legal owner of this establishment and you and your family are squatters.’ He strode towards the door, pausing by Eli. ‘And you are barred from this pub as of this evening. Show your dirty face here again and I’ll take great pleasure in throwing you out.’ He left the building, slamming the door behind him.

Eli looked up, scowling. ‘That ’un will come to no good, miss. I’ll tell you that for nothing.’

‘Maybe, but for now he has the upper hand. I need to speak to Ma urgently. Call me if anyone comes in, please, Eli.’ Judy left the bar and hurried to the kitchen where she found her mother and Nate enjoying a cup of tea and a chat. ‘Ma, you’d better pack your things. You, too, Nate.’

Hilda looked up, frowning. ‘Why? What’s the matter, Judy? You’re white as a sheet.’

‘Jay Tattersall has just shown me the deeds of the Crooked Billet. He owns it, Ma. It belonged to the old squire and it wasn’t included in the sale. Jay has given us until six o’clock this afternoon to get out.’

‘But it’s Christmas Eve,’ Nate protested. ‘He can’t do that.’

‘I’m afraid he can,’ Judy said miserably. ‘We are here illegally. I should have gone into it properly, but I was so glad to have somewhere for us to live that I let things slide.’

‘It’s not your fault, dear.’ Hilda pushed her cup and saucer away and rose to her feet. ‘Where is he now? Maybe I could persuade him to give us a few days’ grace. We won’t find anywhere on Christmas Eve.’

‘He walked out, and anyway, he wasn’t prepared to listen. We’ll have to leave, although I don’t know where we’ll go or who could take us in at such short notice.’

‘This wouldn’t have happened if Mary was still here. She’d have a fit if she knew what her son was doing to us.’

‘Then there’s Rob,’ Judy said miserably. ‘He doesn’t know yet. He’ll have to find somewhere to go, too.’

‘He’s got money, my love. He can afford to stay at a hotel or another wayside inn. We haven’t enough to last us more than a night or two at the most. We are in trouble, Judy. Big trouble.’

‘We must be practical,’ Judy said urgently. ‘I intend to clear the shelves in the bar. We’ve paid for all that drink and we’re not leaving anything for Jay. If he wants to run a pub he can buy in his own stock. We’ll take the keg of ale, too.’

‘What can I do?’ Nate jumped to his feet. ‘I’ll stand up to Jay Tattersall. I ain’t afraid of him.’

Judy smiled despite the turmoil inside her brain. ‘That won’t be necessary. Ma and I will pack all our belongings, including the bedding and anything we can fit into the cart. Then I want you to drive to Colneyhurst. I know Marius won’t mind if we store our things in one of the empty stables, and you can stay with Pip until we find somewhere more permanent.’