‘She’s better than them medical men,’ Walter said proudly. ‘Everyone comes to Aunt Adeline when they’re sick.’

‘Get along with you, Walter.’ Adeline took the sodden cloak and hung it over the back of a chair. ‘I can look after Judy now, but if you go into the kitchen there are some cakes cooling on the table. You can have two, but I know exactly how many there are, so I’ll know if you help yourself to more.’

Walter grinned and hurried off to claim his cakes.

‘I might have to cut the laces on your boot,’ Adeline said as she examined Judy’s injured limb. ‘The ankle is very swollen.’

‘Do you think it’s broken?’ Judy asked anxiously.

‘I’ll know more when I get your boot off.’ Adeline reached for a wooden sewing box and selected a pair of scissors, which she used to snip the laces. She eased the boot off and gently examined the ankle. ‘I think it’s just a bad sprain, but you must keep off it for a few days to give it a chance to heal.’

‘My mother will be frantic with worry. I need to go home.’

‘Where do you live, Judy?’

‘Little Creek, Miss Dorning. I live in the Crooked Billet with Ma and my brother Nate.’

‘I guessed who you were, my dear. Rob has told me so much about you that I recognised you from his description, and he wasn’t exaggerating.’

Judy felt herself blushing. ‘I could say the same of you, Miss Dorning. Rob speaks very fondly of you.’

‘He’s like a son to me.’ Adeline eyed Judy curiously. ‘But that doesn’t explain why you arrived here in such a state.’ She fingered the muddy hem on Judy’s damp gown. ‘I’ll find you some dry clothes.’

‘Thank you, but I really need to let my mother know that I’m safe and well.’

‘You can’t go anywhere with that ankle. I’ll have a message sent to your family, and you’re welcome to stay here until you’re fit to travel.’

‘But you don’t understand. I have to go back to Little Creek. It concerns Rob and it’s urgent.’

‘You can tell me all about it later, my dear. I’ll fetch you a cup of tea and maybe you could manage some porridge, or perhaps some bread and honey from my own beehive.’

Judy lay back, frustrated by the frailty of her own body, but hunger pangs reminded her that she needed food. ‘Bread and honey sounds lovely. Thank you.’

‘That’s a good girl.’ Adeline smiled benevolently. She left the room, returning moments later with a woollen robe, which she handed to Judy. ‘Take off your wet things, and put this on.’

Left on her own, Judy changed out of her damp gown and wrapped the robe around her. It was soft and smelled of lavender, and she lay back against the cushions. She relaxed as the warmth seeped into her chilled body, and she tried to ignore the pain in her ankle by focusing her attention on her surroundings. The cosy room, with its comfortable, well-worn furniture, must have been Rob’s childhood home. There was a window seat with a view over the small front garden and the village green beyond. Shelves on either side of the chimney breast were crammed with an assortment of books. In the place of honour, next to a brass clock on the mantelshelf, was a photograph of a young army officer, and he bore a striking resemblance to Rob. Judy rubbed her eyes and yawned. Maybe there was one respectable member of the notorious Dorning family. The scent from bowls filled with spring bulbs coming into flower wafted over Judy, and sunshine filtered through the small windowpanes. She fought against sleep – Rob must be warned that Jay was out to cause trouble.