Pip was delighted to see her. ‘You’re in luck, Judy. Mr McArthur is in the tack room – I mean he’s in his office. He trusts me to do his errands, so I know exactly what’s going on.’

Judy smiled indulgently. It was good to see her younger brother so involved and enthusiastic about his job. ‘That is fortunate. I was afraid I’d have difficulty finding him.’

‘Go and knock on the door,’ Pip said importantly. ‘He’s not a bad chap, just so long as you keep on the right side of him.’

‘Thank you. I’ll bear that in mind.’ Judy handed the reins to her brother and she set off across the cobbled yard. She knocked and entered without waiting for his response. ‘Good morning, Mr McArthur.’ She held out her hand. ‘I’m Judy Begg, we met a few days ago.’

He rose hastily to his feet. When she had seen him in the distance she had been impressed by his smart clothes and his tall stature, but without the benefit of his top hat he seemed to be much smaller, and a shiny bald pate made him look like a middle-aged baby. She stifled a sudden urge to giggle.

‘What can I do for you, Miss Begg?’

‘Mr Dorning asked me to choose the furnishings for the gatehouse, and I believe you hold the funds, sir.’

His stern expression relaxed into an attempt at a smile. ‘Ah, yes. He did mention it.’

‘Do you know when he’ll return?’

‘No, miss, I’m afraid I don’t, although I’m not expecting him soon. I believe he had business in London that might take some time.’

‘Then I’d better get started. May I have the key so that I can have a better idea of what’s needed?’

‘Of course, miss. Would you like me to accompany you?’

‘I grew up in the old manor house, Mr McArthur. There isn’t an inch of the estate that I don’t know, but thank you anyway.’ Judy waited while he fished around in a drawer to find the right keys.

‘One for the front door and one for the back door.’

‘Thank you. By the way, how shall I manage when it comes to payment? Shall I set up an account at the shops in question?’

‘That would be the best way. Mr Dorning didn’t put a limit on spending, so I leave it to your good judgement.’

Judy smiled. ‘Thank you, Mr McArthur. I’ll bear that in mind.’

Judy set about the task methodically. Using a yardstick borrowed from the office, she noted down the dimensions of the rooms in a notebook that McArthur had given her. She spent so much time working from room to room that everything else went out of her mind, and it was late afternoon by the time she arrived back at the Crooked Billet.

Molly and Hilda exchanged meaningful glances when Judy told them where she had been and what she was doing at Creek Manor, but she ignored their none-too-subtle attempts to make her admit that her feelings for Rob had undergone any change. She spent the evening drawing diagrams of each room and writing lists of what was needed to obtain a modicum of comfort. Hilda brought her a cup of cocoa and said ‘Good night’, but Judy was immersed in her task and by the time she raised the cup to her lips, the cocoa was cold.