‘I didn’t.’ Molly’s eyes brimmed yet again. ‘I couldn’t imagine anyone doing such a wicked thing to my sister.’

Jack reached out to grasp Molly’s hand, and the gesture was not lost on Judy. The expression on his face betrayed his feelings. Once upon a time he had looked at her in the same way and Judy experienced a brief pang of jealousy, but it went as quickly as it had come.

‘Neither Molly nor your mother suspected anything,’ Jack said firmly. ‘But I know my brother, and I felt sure that he was the culprit, although I had no idea where he might have taken you.’

‘Jay planned it all in an attempt to make Rob sell him the estate.’ Judy managed a weak smile. ‘He’s obsessed with the idea of regaining the land and the title. He confessed that he’d paid someone to burn the old house down in order to buy the estate back cheaply.’

‘The man must be deranged,’ Adeline said, shaking her head. ‘You’d best remain here, Judy. I’ll look after you until your ankle is healed.’

‘Begging your pardon, Miss Dorning,’ Molly’s voice shook with emotion, ‘I think that’s up to my sister. Daisy, I mean Mrs Walters, allowed us the use of her carriage, which is very comfortable, so that we could take Judy home.’

Adeline turned to Judy, eyebrows raised. ‘Is that what you want?’

‘I’m very grateful for your kindness, but I must go home.’

‘Very well. I’ll see if your clothes are dry. I hung them up in the kitchen overnight, so they should be aired by now.’ Adeline retreated to the kitchen, closing the door behind her.

‘I’m grateful to Daisy for allowing you to borrow her carriage,’ Judy said with a wry smile. ‘But is there anyone in Little Creek who doesn’t know my whereabouts?’

‘We did what we had to do, and Daisy won’t breathe a word to anyone. She’s been so kind to me.’

‘What about Rob?’ Judy asked anxiously. ‘Has he even noticed that I’m not at home?’

‘He was the first to realise that something was wrong,’ Molly said hastily. ‘He came into the taproom soon after I arrived, and he asked for you. I thought perhaps you were in your room, so I went upstairs to look. That’s when we started searching outside, in case you’d fallen and hurt yourself. He discovered the upturned coal scuttle and there were signs that someone had been dragged across the muddy courtyard. He said he was going to look for you and he rode off. We haven’t seen him since.’

‘I really need to speak to him,’ Judy said anxiously.

‘Then I suggest we leave as soon as you’re ready.’ Jack made a move towards the door. ‘Shall I tell the coachman we’re leaving in ten minutes or so?’

‘What do you say, Judy?’ Molly asked urgently. ‘Jack can carry you out to the carriage and we have a fur rug and a foot warmer, so you’ll be quite comfortable. Mother will be so relieved to see you.’