Dilly Court - The Christmas Wedding

‘Get away with you.’ Mrs Bee shook her head, but she was smiling as she sat down and picked up her pen. ‘Good day to you, Miss Marshall. I hope we’ll see more of you at Creek Hall.’

‘It was nice meeting you, Mrs Bee,’ Daisy said over her shoulder as she hurried after Nick, quickening her pace in an attempt to keep up with his long strides. ‘Do you really think you might lose Creek Hall?’

‘My father left considerable debts. He was a good doctor but a poor businessman, and he rarely charged any of his poorer patients. Unless I can find a way to pay all or even some of the money back to the creditors, it looks as though I’ll have to sell Creek Hall.’

‘That’s terrible. I can see how much it means to you.’

He came to a halt as they reached the entrance hall. ‘You don’t think I’m being overly sentimental?’

‘Heavens, no! Why would I think that? If I owned a property that had been in my family for so many years I’d do anything to hold on to it.’

A smile lit Nick’s hazel eyes. ‘I believe you would.’ He glanced at the grandfather clock as it chimed the hour. ‘I didn’t realise it was so late. I’m sorry but we’ll have to finish the tour another day. I have to leave for Maldon right away.’

‘I understand. Of course you must go, so don’t worry about me. I’ll go home with Toby.’

‘Explain to him for me, please.’

‘I will.’ She stood aside as he made a grab for his hat and riding crop. ‘Good luck.’

He smiled. ‘Thanks. I’ll need it. Tell Toby I’ll call round this evening and let him know how I got on.’

Daisy nodded but he was already out of the door and she found herself alone in the hallway surrounded by echoes of the past. She could imagine the Neville ancestors pleading softly for someone to save their old home. If this house belonged to her family she would fight to the last to keep it.

‘The coffee is getting cold,’ Toby said crossly when she returned to the dining room. ‘What kept you so long?’

‘I met the redoubtable Mrs Bee.’ Daisy picked up the coffee pot and filled a cup, adding a dash of cream. She sat down beside her brother. ‘Nick had to leave, but he said he’d call round this evening and let you know how his meeting with the solicitor went. I do feel sorry for him.’

Toby shrugged and took another bite of toast. ‘He could sell this old pile of bricks and move on. That’s what I’d do if I were in his position.’

‘But this is the family home, Toby. One of Nick’s ancestors built it.’

‘It’s old and it’s crumbling. Besides which, who in their right mind would want to live in the wilds of Essex? It would be impossible to make a decent living round here.’

‘But the people need a doctor. Doesn’t that mean anything to you?’

‘Then they should move to the nearest town. I intend to do my stint at the London, and then I’m heading for Harley Street where I can make a fortune and retire early so that I can enjoy the fruits of my labours.’

She shook her head. ‘You have no soul, Toby Marshall.’

‘And you are all heart, Daisy.’ He leaned over to kiss her on the forehead. ‘Have you fallen in love with the house or with my friend Nick?’

She chuckled but, even so, she felt the blood rush to her cheeks. ‘The house, of course. I’m done with romance. It leads to heartbreak.’

He squeezed her fingers. ‘Only if you fall for the wrong man, little sister. If I ever meet that cad Julian Carrington I’ll give him what for.’

‘He’s not worth it, Toby. Forget about Julian – I have.’ Daisy drank the lukewarm coffee in two gulps and replaced the cup on its saucer. ‘We’d better go home.’

‘It’s not my home, Daisy. I’m going back to London tomorrow.’

‘So soon?’

‘There’s no point staying any longer. I have to find lodgings near the hospital and I take up my position on Monday.’

‘I’ll miss you.’

Toby eyed her speculatively. ‘Come with me, then. I’m sure we can find somewhere suitable for the two of us. You can keep house for me.’

The thought of being her brother’s housekeeper made her laugh. ‘I can’t imagine how that would work out, Toby. We’d argue all the time, and anyway, I want to do something for myself.’

‘Do you want to find another position like the last one?’

She shook her head. ‘No, never. I wasn’t cut out to be a governess, but there must be something I can do. There simply must.’

Toby caught the train to London next morning, once again offering to share his accommodation with Daisy should she change her mind. She was tempted, but she knew that if she were to leave now it would upset her aunt and uncle, and she put a brave face on it, waving goodbye to her brother as the train puffed out of the station. She set off to walk back to the cottage at a brisk pace and was approaching the village when she saw a group of small boys clustered around one of their friends, who was lying prostrate on the ground.

‘What happened?’ Daisy asked anxiously.

‘He were climbing the tree, miss. The branch broke and he fell.’ The boldest of the group wiped his runny nose on his sleeve. ‘Is he dead?’

Daisy went down on her knees beside the child. ‘What’s his name?’

‘Jack Fox, miss.’

‘Fox? Is he related to Linnet and Dove?’

The boy nodded. ‘He’s their brother.’

‘He’s killed hisself,’ cried a smaller boy. ‘Run and get help, Danny.’

Daisy laid her hand on Jack’s chest and she could feel his heart beating rhythmically. ‘He’s not dead.’ She could see that one arm was twisted beneath him and she lifted him gently, straightening the injured limb. ‘I think he’s broken his arm. We need to get him to the doctor.’

‘It’s too far to carry him,’ Danny said, sniffing.

Daisy glanced round in desperation. ‘Don’t just stand there, boys. Find me some straight sticks. I’ll make a splint for his arm while he’s unconscious and then we’ll see about moving him.’ She sat back while the boys scurried off to find the wood. ‘Jack, can you hear me?’ She brushed his dark hair back from his forehead to reveal a large egg-shaped bump that was rapidly turning blue. A head injury could be serious, but there was nothing she could do about that; the main thing was to get the boy home and send for the doctor. Daisy looked up as Danny returned carrying a bundle of twigs, some bigger and thicker than others.

‘How far is it to Jack’s home?’

‘About half a mile, miss.’

‘Is there anyone big and strong who could carry him? Or is there someone close by who owns a pony and trap?’

‘The vicar has one, miss,’ the smallest of the boys piped up eagerly. ‘I can run fast. Shall I go and fetch him?’

Danny grabbed him by the arm. ‘Don’t be stupid, Alfie. We’re supposed to be in school.’

‘I wouldn’t worry about that at the moment.’ Daisy took off her cape and laid it over Jack’s inert body. ‘The important thing is to get help. Run along, Alfie. See how quickly you can get to the vicarage.’

Alfie puffed out his chest. ‘I’m a fast runner.’ He pushed past the silent boys, and sped off.

‘Don’t look, boys,’ Daisy said firmly. ‘I’m going to tear a strip off my petticoat so that I can use it as a bandage. We’ll make Jack as comfortable as possible until help arrives.’ She lifted her skirt and ripped a long strip from the hem of her undergarment. She could see the boys peeping through their fingers, but this was not the time for modesty and the sight of a shapely ankle was not going to do them any harm.

‘He’s groaning, miss,’ Danny said importantly. ‘He’s coming round.’

Daisy worked quickly. She had read about the treatment of fractures in one of Toby’s medical books, although she had never imagined that one day such knowledge might come in useful. She immobilised the arm by making a splint from three of the stronger pieces of wood bound with the material from her petticoat. Jack was moaning and his eyes fluttered and opened. He attempted to sit up, but Daisy restrained him gently.