The only person who was not excited about the coming nuptials was Jack, who was able to sit up in bed, but had not regained any feeling in his legs. Dr Neville gave him exercises to perform in an attempt to strengthen his muscles, but Jack was not a good patient, and he expected miracles. Judy suggested that he might feel more cheerful if James or one of the grooms were to carry him downstairs to the drawing room, but Jack refused on the grounds that it would be humiliating. Judy had done her utmost to humour him, but even she was beginning to lose patience. In the end she turned to Nick Neville after one of his regular visits to see Jack.

‘I’ve been thinking,’ she said cautiously. ‘I saw people being pushed along in chairs with wheels. They weren’t the old-fashioned Bath chair, but something much more practical.’

‘I know what you mean, Judy. They’re quite a modern invention, and probably expensive, but maybe we could get a second-hand one. I’ll contact Dr Marshall and see if he can help.’

‘Oh, would you? I’d be so grateful. Jack is trying everyone’s patience, and I’m at my wits’ end to know what else to do for him.’

Dr Neville patted her on the shoulder. ‘I understand. Leave it to me.’

Three weeks later the wheelchair arrived in the back of Farmer Johnson’s cart. When unloaded and brought into the great hall it looked a bit dilapidated and dusty, which was explained by the fact that it had been left in an outbuilding after the previous owner had passed away. Judy decided that there was nothing that a lot of beeswax polish and elbow grease could not solve, and she set about cleaning it up, working all afternoon on the chair until it gleamed like new.

Daisy had called in to see Jack, bringing her youngest son with her as Timmy was not yet old enough to join his older brothers in the schoolroom, but his eyes lit up when he spotted the wheelchair, and he demanded a ride. Judy pushed him round the great hall while his mother went upstairs to see Jack, and Timmy had to be physically prised from the chair when his mother came downstairs to take him home.

‘At least I know it works,’ Judy said, smiling. ‘I just hope Jack approves of it as much as young Timmy.’

‘No, Timmy. You can’t ride home in the wheelchair.’ Daisy restrained her young son by seizing him round the waist and lifting him off his feet. ‘If you misbehave I won’t bring you here again, and I most certainly won’t ask Nate to take you for a pony ride.’

Timmy subsided at once, and was set free. ‘I’m sorry, Mama.’

‘What a good boy.’ Judy ruffled his curly hair. ‘Next time your mama brings you here, I’ll make sure that one of my brothers is free to take you for a ride.’

Timmy’s face lit up with a huge grin and he gave Judy a hug.