She sat up as the door opened to admit Adeline.

‘I have to get home urgently, Miss Dorning. Is there anyone who could take me back to Little Creek today?’

‘I very much doubt it. The only people who have their own vehicles are those who live on outlying farms.’ Adeline placed the tea tray on a stool beside the sofa. ‘This is my very best china, Judy. I save it for special occasions.’

Judy sipped the tea. ‘Thank you, Miss Dorning, but it is important that I let my family know where I am.’

‘You’re obviously in some kind of trouble, Judy. Have something to eat and then you can tell me all about it.’

Judy bit into the bread and honey and savoured the delicate sweetness. ‘This is so delicious.’

‘My bees feed on clover all summer. Honey has great healing properties, you know.’

‘You don’t understand, Miss Dorning. It’s Rob who might be in trouble now. I must get word to him.’

‘This must be something to do with that cursed place. I told Rob that no good would come from purchasing Creek Manor. That house was cursed from the moment it was built.’

‘You do know that it was razed to the ground in a fire?’

‘Rob told me last time he was here. He also told me that he was having trouble with his half-brother. I’ve never met the fellow, but if he’s anything like the old squire, he’s best avoided.’

‘Jay Tattersall is the reason why I’ve ended up here, Miss Dorning. It’s a long story.’

‘My dear, I have all the time in the world to sit here and listen, but first perhaps you’d better write a note to your mother and I’ll get Walter to take it to her, although it might cost me a few more cakes.’ Adeline took out a sheet of paper, pen and ink from a small writing desk in the corner of the room.

Later that evening, Judy and Adeline were seated by the fire in the parlour. Judy had regained her appetite, and enjoyed a supper of fish caught fresh that day by another member of the Dorning family, and potatoes that Adeline had grown and stored for use in the winter months. Walter had returned from Little Creek with a note from Hilda, saying that all was well now that they knew Judy was safe, and she was trying to arrange transport to bring her home. There was no mention of either Jay or Rob, which left Judy feeling even more anxious.

Adeline put her sewing down, giving Judy a sympathetic smile. ‘Fretting won’t make matters better. After everything that’s happened to you in the last twenty-four hours, you need to rest and relax. There’s nothing you can do tonight, so try not to worry.’

‘I know you’re right, but I believe Jay could be dangerous. He and Rob might be half-brothers, but they are totally different.’

‘Rob is more like his mother,’ Adeline said, sighing. ‘Miriam was a sweet and beautiful girl, but she and I were Dornings. We were tarred with the same brush as the men in our family.’