‘I’d feel safer if the boys would move in with us, although I don’t suppose they will.’ Hilda rose slowly to her feet. ‘But I think I could sleep on a washing line tonight – I’m so tired.’

Judy kissed her on the cheek. ‘We’ll do better tomorrow. I’m sure of it.’

Hilda limped off in the direction of the staircase and Judy went to lock and bolt the front door. If any weary traveller wanted a bed for the night they would have to go somewhere else. She was too exhausted to care one way or the other.

Next morning, after a surprisingly good night’s sleep, considering the storm that raged around the headland and the strange creaking sounds from the contracting timbers of the old building, Judy rose from her bed refreshed and ready for whatever the day might bring. Failure, as far as she was concerned, was not an option. She was going to succeed in bringing the inn back to life, there was no question about it, although when she sat down at the breakfast table and counted out yesterday’s takings it was not very encouraging. There was enough for another keg of ale and a few supplies, but no profit from their hard work. She nibbled a stale roll and washed it down with tea, although there was no milk. It was warm in the kitchen and the milk that was left in the jug had soured overnight. She was about to throw it down the stone sink when Hilda entered the kitchen.

‘What are you doing, Judy?’

‘The milk has gone off. I’m throwing it away.’

‘Don’t do that.’ Hilda crossed the floor with surprising speed. ‘It will make cream cheese. All you have to do is to mix it with some salt and place it in a piece of butter muslin, hang it over a bowl for the whey to drip out and tomorrow or the next day it will be delicious. We can’t afford to waste a thing.’

Judy stared at her in amazement. ‘I suppose I was used to working in the kitchens at Creek Manor where food was plentiful. I don’t remember doing this to sour milk.’

‘Well then, this is the start of being very careful with what we have. I was used to doing so when we lived in Green Dragon Yard, and even in the cottage on the estate I had to watch the pennies.’

‘Yes, of course you did, Ma.’ Judy eyed her mother thoughtfully. ‘I wonder if you’d like to take the cart to Maldon. It would be a day out for you, and you’d probably get far more for the little money we have than I would.’

Hilda’s eyes lit up with a delighted smile. ‘I’m not sure I could handle the reins for that long, but I could call at Colneyhurst and maybe Nate or Pip would drive me. It would be a trip out for both of us.’

It took both Judy and her mother to harness Major and get him between the shafts, but somehow they managed it and the old horse munched stoically on his nosebag, rolling his soft brown eyes occasionally when either of them made a mistake.