Molly looked in on her way to bed. ‘You’re not still doing that, are you?’

‘I’ve just about done all I can for this evening. Is the bar closed?’

‘Yes, it is, and Jack has already gone to his room. It’s past midnight.’

Judy rubbed her eyes and yawned. ‘I’m going to bed, but tomorrow I’m going to get the train to Colchester, and I intend to fill the gatehouse with furniture that he’ll love.’

‘I think you ought to choose things that you love, and he will love them too.’

‘How do you know that?’ Judy demanded, stifling a yawn.

‘Trust me, Judy. I think I know a bit more about men than you do. If it comes to that, I have excellent taste. Daisy taught me how a lady should live and so I ought to come with you, if only to make sure that you don’t waste Rob’s money.’

‘That’s rich, coming from you, Molly. Jack will have his work cut out to keep you in the style you became accustomed to at Colneyhurst, even if you were a servant there.’

Molly tossed her head. ‘I was more a paid companion to Daisy, as well as looking after the little ones. She gave me nice clothes and even little pieces of jewellery.’

‘That’s what I mean,’ Judy said tiredly. ‘But come tomorrow if you want to. I could do with a second opinion.’

For the next three weeks Judy spent most of her time visiting furnishing warehouses or attending the local sale room, accompanied by Molly. McArthur has taken pity on them and had given them the loan of a much more reliable horse, and a chaise that had been left in the coach house. Judy was used to handling the reins by now, and it was a pleasure for her to have the freedom of the road, with the spring sunshine turning the countryside green again. If the seller could not deliver, it was Pip who collected the items in the old farm cart, and Judy spent many hours arranging furniture and laying down carpet squares and brightly coloured rugs.

Gradually and almost imperceptibly the house became a welcoming home. Miss Creedy had been put in charge of making the curtains, and the ground-floor rooms were almost completely furnished. There had been some delay in waiting for beds to be delivered by the carter, but eventually they came, and the gatehouse was ready for occupation. Judy had taken Molly’s advice and had furnished it to her taste. There were some old chairs and tables, purchased at sales, but these fitted in well with the newer pieces bought in Colchester. The fabric that Miss Creedy’s nimble fingers had made into curtains was Judy’s personal choice, but now it was all put together she was beginning to have her doubts. If Rob hated what she had done it would be a terrible disappointment, as well as a profligate waste of money. She had done her best to keep within a self-imposed budget, but she was unused to spending large sums, and she had had some sleepless nights when it came to adding up the total cost.