Rob gave her a sideways glance. ‘You haven’t been here since the fire?’

She shook her head. ‘No. There seemed little point. All my memories of living here had quite literally gone up in smoke. It would have broken my heart.’

‘You really mean that, don’t you?’

‘Yes, I do. I was only nine years old when Daisy brought me and my family to Little Creek, and I thought that the old house was a palace. It really was when compared to the hovel we occupied in Green Dragon Yard. I was overwhelmed at first, but Cook was kind to me and so were the rest of the servants. I’d say I had a very happy childhood, especially when I was allowed to study with Jack. Then everything changed and not for the good.’

‘But you survived and took over the Crooked Billet, building it into a thriving business. That takes courage, Judy.’

‘It was dire necessity, Rob. Courage didn’t come into it.’ She turned her head to look at him. ‘You could have claimed your inheritance when the old squire died. Why didn’t you come forward then?’

‘My mother passed away when I was very young, and it wasn’t until I reached sixteen that Aunt Adeline told me the truth about my father. Until that time I thought I was a Dorning, and I was content to leave it that way. Then I inherited a fortune from a distant relative, so I didn’t need the money.’

‘What changed your mind?’ Judy asked gently.

‘It was only when I realised that Jay would have been as bad a master and landlord as our father that I knew I had to shoulder my responsibilities. It was then that I set about obtaining the documents to back up my claim.’

‘The old house might still be standing if you’d stepped in sooner,’ Judy said thoughtfully. ‘Things would have been so different.’

‘Maybe the curse of Creek Manor went up in flames.’ Rob smiled ruefully. ‘This is a fresh start, Judy. A whole new chapter in the history of the estate.’

‘Will you live here when the house is built?’

‘Of course, and I have a plan for the estate that I think you will like.’

‘Really? What is it?’

‘Ah! That would be telling. It’s to be a surprise.’

Chapter Twenty-Three

Rob’s enthusiastic description of his future home made Judy smile, but she could not share his passion for the project. Despite being asked for her opinion on various aspects of the formal rooms, she felt oddly deflated. After all, the new Creek Manor had nothing to do with her. It was not as if she and her family were going to be living there as they had in the old days. The former manor house had been her home for more than half her life, and now it was gone.

‘Of course, it’s difficult to imagine how it will look when the walls go up,’ Rob said guardedly. ‘But I’m thinking of hiring more workmen in order to get the main wing erected before the end of the summer.’