‘My ankle only hurts if I try to put weight on it.’

‘Well, if you’re sure, dear. Although I think you ought to stay here for another day or two in order to build up your strength.’

‘We’ll take care of her, Miss Dorning,’ Molly said with a sweet smile. ‘You’ve been so kind. I can’t thank you enough.’

When Judy arrived home she was met by her mother, who was furious when she learned the full extent of Judy’s suffering at Jay’s hands.

‘You might have died from lung fever or been set upon by gypsies,’ she said angrily. ‘You’re lucky that all you suffered is a sprained ankle, but you should be resting it.’ She poured tea into a cup and handed it to Judy. ‘You are a stubborn girl.’

Judy smiled. ‘I wonder where I get that from, Ma.’

‘Don’t be cheeky. Just because you’ve had a bad experience doesn’t give you the right to talk back to your mother.’ Hilda’s words were stern, but her eyes were twinkling. ‘It’s good to have you home, dear, but if Jay Tattersall comes near this pub I won’t be held responsible for my actions.’

‘I don’t think he will, Ma. Jack thinks now that Jay’s gone to London to find a lawyer who will take his case. He intends to fight Rob through the courts for a share in the estate, although I doubt if he stands a chance of success. I certainly hope not.’

‘If by some mischance he should succeed he won’t find himself very popular in Little Creek. The people here have taken Rob to their hearts, but Jay is too much like his late father for anyone to trust him.’

‘Jack isn’t like him, thank goodness.’ Judy sipped her tea, eyeing her mother over the rim of the cup. ‘Molly seems to be very taken with him, and he with her.’

‘I always thought that you and Jack would make a match of it.’ Hilda punched the bread dough she was kneading. ‘It seems a bit sudden to me, but then I suppose they’ve known each other for most of their lives.’

‘Sometimes it happens like that, Ma.’

‘Well, if you’re not upset by his change of heart, who am I to say anything? Molly will do as she pleases anyway.’

‘She could do a lot worse than Jack. I’m still very fond of him, but we were never meant to be together. I realise that now.’

Molly chose that moment to waltz into the kitchen. She came to a halt, looking from one to the other. ‘Have I missed something? Were you talking about me?’

‘I was telling your sister that she should have gone to bed and rested that injured ankle,’ Hilda said firmly. ‘But then neither of you young ladies pays any attention to me now. I don’t know why I waste my breath.’

Judy and Molly exchanged amused glances. ‘Of course we pay heed to what you say, Ma.’

‘Yes, we do,’ Molly said, nodding. ‘Anyway, I came to see if the soup is ready. Eli is hungry. He says his wife hasn’t given him his midday meal because he stayed here late last evening and went home tipsy. He’s in disgrace.’