‘Why was that, Miss Dorning?’

‘Adeline, please. Everyone in the county knew that our family had been involved in free trading for over a century, and the chances of Miriam or myself marrying out of our class were unlikely, to say the least. When the squire showed an interest in her the poor girl succumbed to his charm, even though we all warned her against the match.’

‘But it didn’t work out well.’

‘No, it wasn’t a happy union. Shortly after she conceived Rob, the squire was up to his old tricks. He couldn’t stay faithful to one woman, or so it seemed. Then he met a wealthy heiress and married her, even though he was still legally wed to Miriam. I think the shock and the disgrace were largely to blame for my sister’s early demise. She took sick and died, and I raised Rob like my own child.’

‘You never married?’

‘No, dear. Like I said, when you’re a Dorning the family’s reputation goes ahead of you.’

‘I’m sorry.’

‘Don’t be. I like being on my own, but I worry about Rob. He’s a good man, but he bears the tainted Dorning name, even though he’s legally a Tattersall.’

‘Perhaps the name Dorning is more acceptable to him than that of his father. The squire was hated locally, and Jay seems to have inherited his father’s bad traits.’

‘I kept Rob away from Creek Manor for as long as I could. I didn’t want my boy corrupted by Esmond Tattersall. Heaven knows, Rob was disadvantaged enough by being born into the Dorning family, without adding his father’s dreadful reputation to his name.’

‘Do you see Rob often, Adeline?’

‘He usually visits me regularly, but I haven’t seen him for a week or two. He’s very good to me,’ Adeline said, smiling tenderly. ‘He keeps me in comfort, and I don’t have to worry about money.’

‘But you live here all alone,’ Judy said slowly. ‘This is a tiny cottage.’

‘It’s my home, Judy. I don’t wish to live in a grand house.’

Judy smiled. ‘You might not have a choice. I have a feeling that Rob will insist that you move into his mansion when it’s built.’

Adeline gave her a searching look. ‘You don’t seem very keen on Rob’s plans for the new Creek Manor.’

‘It’s not that,’ Judy said hastily. ‘There was a plan to build a new hospital on the site, but it fell through when Rob outbid the would-be purchaser.’

‘It sounds like a very ambitious plan, Judy.’

‘It was. The doctor whose idea it was mismanaged the scheme, and he’s landed himself in debt.’

‘Have you talked this over with Rob?’

‘Not really. He does know about Dr Godfrey, but it isn’t his problem.’

‘You might be surprised. He’s very public-spirited, and I’m sure he would think a new hospital was an excellent idea. People in these parts rely on someone like me. I have a limited knowledge of traditional cures that I use to treat their ailments, but a modern hospital with fully trained medical staff would be wonderful.’