Judy could see that Nate was nervous but his gaze was fierce and resolute.

‘Yes, I do,’ Nate said angrily. ‘The gamekeeper at Colneyhurst taught me how to shoot so that I could kill rats in the barn, and I ain’t afraid to use it.’

Wilfred took a step towards him. ‘You haven’t got the nerve to pull the trigger, son.’

‘Don’t call me “son”. You ain’t my pa, and you ain’t good enough for Ma. I heard how you’ve been treating her.’

‘Put the gun down.’ Wilfred advanced purposefully.

‘Stop this at once.’ Judy flung herself between them. ‘You’re not welcome here, Wilfred Faulkner. I’m telling you to go.’

‘And so am I.’ Hilda marched into the taproom, head held high. ‘I’m not coming back to you, not ever. You pretended to be a good, kind man, when all the time you’re just a bully, and I’m not going to put up with it. Now do as Judy says and get out.’

Nate cocked the gun and pointed it at his stepfather, and this seemed to have the desired effect. Wilfred backed towards the doorway. ‘All right. I’m going, but this isn’t the last you’ll hear from me, Hilda. You’ll come running back to me when this place closes, and I’ll make sure that it does.’ He opened the door and stormed out of the taproom.

Judy sank down on a wooden settle by the inglenook. ‘Put the gun down, Nate. Where did you get such a dangerous weapon?’

‘Like I said, the gamekeeper loaned it to me so that I could keep the rats down. I reckon that Faulkner is a big rat.’ Nate made the gun safe and laid it on the nearest table. The colour left his cheeks and he collapsed onto a chair. ‘I really would have shot him, Ma. If he’d tried to hurt you I’d have pulled the trigger.’

Hilda hurried to his side and gave him a hug. ‘You shouldn’t have taken the shotgun, Nate. Don’t ever do something like that again.’

‘But I saved you, Ma.’

She hugged him again. ‘Yes, you did, and I’m proud of you, but please keep away from Wilfred. He’s a mean man when he’s crossed.’

Nate pulled a face. ‘I know that well enough. I had many a beating from him when I was at Creek Manor.’

‘You never said.’ Hilda stared at him in horror. ‘Why didn’t you tell me?’

‘We all got beaten by him or one of the other grooms. It’s part of the job, I suppose.’

‘Well, it shouldn’t be,’ Judy said angrily. ‘I think that’s awful, and if you’d told Mrs Tattersall she would have sorted those bullies out. She wouldn’t have stood by and seen you ill-treated.’

‘I don’t know about that,’ Nate said wearily. ‘Is there anything to eat? I’m blooming starving.’

‘Of course, there is, love.’ Hilda ruffled his curly hair. ‘I bought meat pies and there’s bread and cheese. Come through to the kitchen and I’ll put the kettle on.’ She glanced over her shoulder. ‘Are you coming, Judy?’