Not only did Judy have the arrangements for the double wedding to organise, but she also had the enjoyable task of getting the gatehouse ready for occupation. Rob admitted that he had hoped that it would be their first home when he asked Judy to furnish it for him, adding hastily that it was only until the construction of the main house was completed. Judy was delighted: she had put so much of herself into choosing the furniture, fabrics and the little touches that turned a house into a home.

The pub was busy these days, mainly with the builders, who liked to relax in the evenings over a pint of ale. Daytime trade had picked up, due to Hilda’s reputation as a good home cook having spread by word of mouth. Altogether the days flew by, but when things became too hectic at home, Judy asked Nate to tack up the chestnut mare that Rob had bought for her. The ride to Creek Manor was delightful at this time of year, and Judy was able to spend an hour or two putting up pictures or rearranging the furniture. At other times she rode to Crouch, where Adeline was always delighted to see her. Sometimes Rob accompanied her to his aunt’s cottage, although, quite often, he had to attend meetings in London to finalise the plans for the new hospital, and on these occasions he stayed with Toby in Harley Street. Minnie and the children had moved into a rented house on the edge of Little Creek, and Toby planned to buy a property as soon as a suitable place came on the market.

The afternoons Judy spent in Adeline’s cosy parlour provided a welcome relief from the demands of working and trying to organise a large double wedding. Adeline did not need much encouragement to tell Judy of Rob’s exploits as a mischievous child, and an adventurous adolescent. Judy treasured these quiet afternoons in the cottage, and she found it easy to understand why there was such a deep bond between Rob and his aunt.

Altogether it was an exciting time and the bad experiences in the past were fading into a vague memory. Judy was looking to the future with confidence, and for the first time in her life she knew she had found her place in the world. She was marrying the man she loved, but more than that, they were to be equal partners in making decisions regarding the estate, and ensuring the smooth running of the new hospital. Rob had been elected senior medical officer, working with Ben Godfrey and Nick Neville. Toby would be the visiting physician, and other specialists were being recruited. Plans for the new hospital had been drawn up and finalised, and it was a question now of finding enough workmen to start building.

Then there was the eternal question of finance. Judy was only too well aware that she did not have the experience or the contacts when it came to fund-raising, and she formed a committee with Minnie, Dove, Daisy and Eleanora Marshall, with occasional support from Grace Peabody and Marjorie Harker. United, they were an indomitable group of women, each with her own ideas on how to raise money for the new hospital. However, as the weeks went by there was one topic uppermost in their minds – the summer wedding. Little Creek had never seen anything like it, and invitations had gone out to everyone who lived in the village and the surrounding farms.