‘Merry Christmas, Miss Begg,’ Wilby said, grinning. ‘The colonel’s compliments of the season and he says there was one too many birds made ready for the table, so perhaps you might have a use for this.’ He unwrapped the brown paper, exposing a fine goose already prepared for the oven.

Judy accepted it with a delighted smile. ‘This is so generous and quite unexpected. Please thank the colonel.’

Wilby tipped his cap. ‘And the colonel says if you need any assistance he is ready to send troops.’

‘That’s most kind, and greatly appreciated.’ Judy stood in the doorway watching as he walked off towards the waiting dog cart and clambered onto the driver’s seat. ‘Merry Christmas, Mr Wilby.’ She closed the door and carried the offering to the kitchen where she laid it on the table.

Nate looked up from his empty bowl and licked the spoon. ‘Where did that come from?’

‘Colonel Catchpole’s gardener just delivered it. I think Eli must have spread the word that Jay was causing trouble.’

‘Who cares?’ Nate said gleefully. ‘We’ll have a splendid Christmas dinner after all. We just need someone to send a plum pudding and some mince pies and we’ll have everything we need.’

As the morning progressed there were more visitors, despite the freezing temperatures. Hepzibah Egerton’s sister, Hannah, arrived at the back door with a Christmas pudding, again claiming that it was surplus to their needs. Half an hour later George Keyes, the village shopkeeper, knocked on the door and presented Judy with a basket containing a dozen mince pies, and close behind him came Clem Guppy, bringing a rush basket filled with eggs.

‘We heard about your problems, Judy,’ he said grimly. ‘If you need me you know where I live. I don’t hold with bullying women, nor do I think it right to turn people out of their homes, especially on Christmas Day.’

Judy managed a smile although the kindness of the villagers brought tears to her eyes. ‘Thank you, Clem. I really appreciate that, and the eggs are most welcome.’

He tipped his cap. ‘Better get back to the family, but don’t be afraid to ask for help if you need it.’ He backed away and Judy closed the door quickly, just in case Jay happened to be hiding round the corner. She took the basket to the kitchen where her mother was about to place the goose in the oven.

Flushed and smiling, Hilda closed the heavy iron door. ‘We’ll have the best Christmas dinner ever. What have you got there, Judy?’

‘Eggs from Clem Guppy. I can’t believe how generous people have been.’

‘It just shows that we are part of the village. I can’t quite believe that they see us as anything other than newcomers, but it does seem as though they care about us.’ Hilda’s smile faded. ‘What will we do if Jay returns? He might break the door down.’

‘Let’s try and forget Jay for now. Maybe his family will dissuade him from doing anything today, but I think we’ll have to face the fact that he does own the property, and we will have to find somewhere else to live quite quickly.’