Dilly Court - The Christmas Wedding

As the train pulled out of Bishopsgate Station, Daisy’s last hope of seeing Julian evaporated like the great puffs of smoke and steam belching from the massive engine. Although she knew it was unlikely, she had thought he might have written to her. She had been tempted to return the ring, but she would not give him the satisfaction of acknowledging his cowardly behaviour. It was tucked away in her jewellery box, along with a few cheap trinkets and the rope of pearls that her mother had worn on her wedding day. Daisy sighed and settled down to gaze out of the window.

The train trundled through rural Essex, stopping at every station to disgorge people and livestock onto the platforms, and to pick up more passengers. Daisy stared out of the window at the countryside as it flashed past, but all that registered were the stark bare branches of the trees, stretching towards the grey sky like dead men’s fingers. Ploughed fields lay dormant, imprisoned by neatly trimmed hedgerows, and muddy rivers slithered like snakes, heading for the sea.

Daisy had seen little of Toby during the journey as he had joined a group of young men in another compartment and she could hear their raucous laughter above the clickety-clack of iron wheels as they crossed the points, and her uncle’s stertorous snores. Aunt Eleanora was supposed to be reading a novel, but she too kept nodding off, leaving Daisy alone with her thoughts.

When they arrived at Little Creek Station Daisy stepped out onto the platform, taking deep breaths of the ice-cold air, sharpened by the briny tang of the sea and the smell of brackish mud from the saltings.

‘Godforsaken place,’ Toby said as he hefted a couple of carpet bags onto the platform. ‘Are you sure you’re doing the right thing, Uncle?’

‘Take deep breaths, boy.’ Sidney inhaled deeply and exhaled with a satisfied smile. ‘That is fresh air. We’re going to enjoy a long and healthy retirement in the country. You ought to join us, Toby. Set up a practice in the village and live a long life.’

‘And die of boredom,’ Toby said, laughing. ‘No, thank you, Uncle.’

‘Find a cab to take us to the cottage, Sidney.’ Eleanora glanced up at the sky where clouds were forming rapidly, threatening even more snow.

Daisy looked round, liking what she saw, but feeling slightly nervous. Had she made the right choice? There was no way of telling. She followed her uncle as he strode along the platform to speak to the stationmaster.

‘Ho, there, my man. Where will we find a conveyance to take us to Creek Cottage?’

The stationmaster smiled wearily. ‘Begging your pardon, sir, but this ain’t a big city. We don’t have the luxury of hansom cabs and such like.’

‘But there must be someone who can transport us to our destination.’

‘It’s barely a mile to Creek Cottage.’ The stationmaster stared pointedly at the pile of luggage. ‘I dare say I can find someone to deliver your cases to you later this afternoon.’

‘Are you saying we’ll have to walk to the cottage?’ Daisy cast an anxious glance at her aunt, who was dressed for the city in her best gown and high-heeled boots, totally unsuitable for traipsing along country lanes.

‘Yes, miss. Unless you want to wait around on the off chance of someone turning up with a farm cart.’

Sidney turned to Daisy with a worried frown. ‘You’d better warn your aunt. I told her to dress suitably, but you know how she is.’

Daisy knew only too well. It was hard to imagine fashionable Eleanora Marshall rolling up her sleeves and tending to livestock, or baking bread, although that would not be necessary now, for Hattie had decided to join them in their move to the country, and she had gone on ahead to make the cottage ready.

‘I’m afraid there is no transport,’ Daisy said breathlessly as she hurried back to where her aunt was waiting with Toby. ‘We’ll have to walk to the cottage.’

‘Out of the question.’ Eleanora folded her arms across her bosom. ‘Last time we were here my cousin’s solicitor met us and transported us to our destination.’

Daisy and Toby exchanged wary glances. ‘I’m afraid that’s not going to happen today, Aunt,’ Daisy said gently. ‘You could always sit in the waiting room and hope that someone comes along with a farm cart, although it might be filled with straw and animal droppings.’

Eleanora tossed her head. ‘Out of the question. I’ll walk, but if it rains I’ll be very angry. Thank goodness I sent Hattie on ahead. I told her to light fires in all the rooms, so at least the house will be warm.’ She marched off to join her husband and the stationmaster.

‘This should be fun, Daisy,’ Toby said, chuckling. ‘I can see that life in the country will suit Aunt Eleanora down to the ground.’

‘I’m glad you find it amusing.’ Daisy suppressed a giggle with difficulty. She doubted whether her aunt and uncle would see the funny side to their predicament, and she did not want to make matters worse when they were obviously in a state of distress. She hurried over to them. ‘Perhaps if Toby and I were to walk to the village we might find someone to help.’

‘Yes, yes, whatever you wish,’ Sidney said irritably. ‘For heaven’s sake go and sit in the waiting room, Eleanora. I’ll stay with you while the youngsters look for a suitable conveyance.’

The stationmaster was about to walk away when he paused, cocking his head on one side. ‘Someone is coming, so you might be in luck, ladies and gentlemen.’ He hurried off in the direction of the ticket office.

‘I can hear the rumble of carriage wheels,’ Daisy said eagerly. ‘Toby and I will go and see what we can do.’ She followed the stationmaster with Toby striding along at her side.

‘I’m glad I came, if only for the show.’ Toby was first through the gate, but he came to a sudden halt. ‘Well, I’ll be blowed, look who it is.’ He rushed over to the man who leaped off the box, handing the reins to the messenger boy who had been loitering by the ticket office.

‘It’s you,’ Daisy said dazedly. ‘What a strange coincidence.’

Toby released his friend, turning to Daisy with raised eyebrows. ‘Do you two know each other?’

Nick Neville smiled and bowed. ‘Miss Marshall, delighted to meet you again, although I’m astonished to find you and Toby here in Little Creek.’

‘We bumped into each other outside Uncle’s shop when I arrived home before Christmas,’ Daisy said by way of explanation. ‘I meant to tell you, Toby, but with the move and everything I forgot to mention it.’

‘Instantly forgettable, that’s me,’ Nick said, chuckling.

‘But what are you doing here, old boy?’ Toby demanded, grinning. ‘I thought you said you were going home to sort out some family matters.’

‘And that’s what I’m doing. My father died a couple of months ago, leaving Creek Hall to me. I’ve been down here since before Christmas, trying to get things straight, but it’s an uphill task.’

‘I knew your pa was a doctor in rural Essex, but I thought it was Colchester or thereabouts.’ Toby gazed at his friend in amazement.

‘I used to tell people it was Colchester because no one had ever heard of Little Creek, and it saved a lot of explaining. I’m not ashamed of my roots; I suppose it was just laziness.’ Nick smiled ruefully. ‘Anyway, I might set up a practice in Little Creek. The people in the village seem to rely on an ageing midwife, or else they have to travel the eleven miles to Maldon.’

‘But you’d hardly scrape a living, old boy.’

Daisy nudged her brother in the ribs. ‘It’s none of your business, Toby.’

‘But it is, Daisy. There’s no money working in an out-of-the-way place like this, and Nick was the top student in our year.’