Having locked the front door and made sure that all the windows were securely fastened, she went to the kitchen.

‘Ma, you can put everything back in the cupboard. We’re not leaving – at least not yet.’

Hilda gazed at her with a puzzled frown. ‘What do you mean? I thought you said that he wanted us out of here by six o’clock.’

‘That’s what he said, but we’re not going. If he wants to get us out he can get a court order and that won’t happen until after Christmas. It gives us a few days to think about what we’re going to do and where we might go.’

‘But he could fetch the police.’

‘Do you seriously think that Constable Fowler will oblige him on Christmas Eve?’

‘But Jay is the old squire’s legal heir.’

‘I know, he showed me the deeds. Let him go to court and prove he owns this place, which would take time. That gives us breathing space, Ma. Put the kettle on and make us a nice hot cup of tea. I’m going to the stable to catch Nate before he leaves for Colneyhurst.’

Judy snatched her shawl from its peg and wrapped it around her head and shoulders as she braved the bitter cold. The stable was only a few yards from the back door and walking on the packed snow made the going difficult, but she reached it without mishap and went inside.

‘We’re not leaving,’ she said breathlessly. ‘At least not yet. I’m not going to allow Jay Tattersall to throw us out today.’

Nate leaped down from the cart. ‘I’m with you, Judy. I wasn’t looking forward to taking poor old Major on the icy roads, to tell the truth.’

‘Which makes it even more unlikely that Jay can actually do anything to get us out. He’s very unpopular in the village, so I don’t imagine he’ll get any help there. I’m calling his bluff.’

‘Just tell me what to do.’

‘Bring anything you value into the house. Leave the horse with plenty of food and water in case we can’t get out for a day or two.’ Judy did not wait for a response. She had hoped that Nate would enter into the spirit of the thing, and would enjoy the drama of the situation, but this was no game. She knew enough about Jay Tattersall to realise that he meant what he said. He was intent on getting back what he considered to be rightfully his, and there would be no stopping him.

Braving the icy winds again, she left the stable and returned to the warmth of the kitchen where her mother had just put the last saucepan back on the shelf.

‘What will we do about our customers?’ Hilda asked wearily. ‘Heaven knows, we don’t get too many, but do we simply keep the doors locked?’

‘We’ll have to, at least for the time being. I’ll put a sign up in the window saying we’re closed for business. I just hope that Rob doesn’t return tonight.’