The Christmas Wedding

by Dilly Court

  ‘You are helping by giving Linnet a job, and you could call on Jack each day to see how he’s getting on. His mother and father are obviously too sick to look after him properly.’

  Daisy stared ahead into the swirling snow. ‘I wonder if they would allow me to take him to Creek Cottage. He’s not ill, he just needs someone to make sure he gets proper food and rest until his arm heals. I could help him with his lessons, if the schoolmaster would allow such a thing.’

  ‘I think that’s an excellent idea. You’d have Linnet to help you, and I could put a word in with Lemuel, if you wish. Again, I’ve known him since I was a boy, and he trusts me.’

  ‘I’ll have to ask my aunt and uncle, but I’m sure they’d agree. There’s plenty of room in the cottage, and it would give me something to do. I’m not the sort of person who enjoys being idle.’ Daisy huddled beneath the travelling rug, holding the umbrella so that it shielded Nick as well as herself from the driving snow. They lapsed into silence as the horse plodded along the now familiar road with the wood on one side and the creek on the other. The water gleamed silkily in the cold light reflected off the snow, and the trees in the wood stood out dark and mysterious against a silvery background. The cold was intense and soon Daisy had lost all the feeling in her toes and fingertips.

  It was a relief when the lights from Creek Cottage beamed at them like a welcoming smile. Nick climbed down to help her to the ground and they stood for a moment, so close that she could feel the warmth of his breath on her cheek.

  ‘Thank you for supper and for bringing me home.’ Daisy moved away as the front door opened and they were caught in a beam of light from the lantern Eleanora held in her hand.

  ‘Is that you, Daisy? I was beginning to worry.’

  ‘I brought her home safe, Mrs Marshall,’ Nick said cheerfully. ‘You must excuse me if I don’t linger, but I want to get back before the snow gets any deeper.’

  ‘I wish we’d never come to this godforsaken place.’ Eleanora reached out to grab Daisy by the hand. ‘Good night, Doctor.’

  ‘It isn’t always like this, Mrs Marshall.’ Nick tipped his hat, sending a shower of soft snow into the air. ‘Spring can’t be far off and it’s really beautiful here in the summer.’

  ‘I doubt if we’ll be here much longer if this dreadful snow persists.’ Eleanora dragged Daisy into the cottage and slammed the door. ‘I didn’t mean to be rude, but it’s too cold to stand there and discuss the weather.’

  ‘I still have his umbrella.’ Daisy opened the door in time to see the chaise disappearing into the darkness.

  ‘It will probably be pelting with rain tomorrow,’ Eleanora said grimly. ‘Give it back to him when the weather improves. Anyway, your uncle has gone to bed and I’m about to follow him. I was just waiting up for you, Daisy.’

  ‘But it can’t be much later than nine o’clock, Aunt.’

  ‘It feels much later.’ She put the lantern on the hall table and lit a candle. She headed for the stairs, holding the chamber candlestick in one hand and clutching the banister rail with the other. ‘Good night, Daisy.’

  ‘Good night, Aunt.’ Daisy watched her aunt as she marched up the stairs, accompanied by the shadow cast by her candle. She had made her feelings about living in the country quite clear, and Daisy decided that this was not the right time to ask if Jack could stay with them while his broken bone mended.

  She shivered and flexed her fingers, which were tingling painfully. A cup of hot cocoa would be just the thing to settle her for the night and she made her way to the kitchen, but as she entered the room she was aware of soft, even breathing. She held the lantern higher and she could just make out Linnet’s sleeping form, curled up like a kitten in front of the range.

  ‘Linnet, are you all right?’

  Linnet stretched and opened her eyes. She scrambled to her feet. ‘I’m sorry, miss. I didn’t know you wanted anything.’

  ‘I didn’t mean to disturb you,’ Daisy said hastily, ‘but you shouldn’t sleep on the floor. You’ll be stiff and aching in the morning.’

  ‘It won’t be the first time, miss. At home I used to sleep on a mattress top to toe with my sister, with Jack snoring away in the truckle bed.’

  ‘I thought you went home every night.’

  ‘The missis said I could stay because of the snow.’

  ‘Then at least she should have made sure you had a proper bed to sleep on.’

  Linnet scrambled to her feet. ‘No, miss. Please, it’s all right. I don’t want to make a fuss or I’ll lose my job.’

  Daisy placed the lantern on the table. ‘I understand, but we can’t have you lying on the floor like an animal. I’ll fetch some bedding and I think we both could do with a cup of cocoa. Do you know how to make it?’

  ‘It’s our Christmas morning treat, miss. I made it this year, so I know what to do.’

  ‘Lots of sugar,’ Daisy said, smiling. ‘You do that and I’ll see what I can find to make you more comfortable.’ She hesitated in the doorway. ‘You heard about Jack’s injury, I suppose?’

  ‘Hattie told me, miss. She said that you and the doctor had looked after him. He’s a young limb if ever there was one, always in trouble, but he’s a good boy at heart.’

  ‘I believe that, Linnet. He was very brave when Dr Neville set his arm.’

  Daisy left Linnet to make the cocoa while she went upstairs to take the coverlet and a pillow from Toby’s room. It was unlikely that he would come to stay in the foreseeable future, but she did not want to offend her aunt by allowing a servant to sleep in his bed. There were a couple of small attic rooms beneath the eaves on the top floor. Hattie had one and with a little effort the second could be made habitable for Linnet. It would be up for discussion tomorrow, when, she hoped, Aunt Eleanora would be in a happier mood, and Daisy would bring up the subject of taking care of young Jack. It would make life a lot easier if his sister were to live in – Daisy smiled to herself. With luck all the pieces would fall into place, and just maybe her aunt would feel more settled in the country. It would be a shame to return to London too soon. There were people who needed her help, Dr Neville being one of them.

  Chapter Six

  Daisy was up early next morning, but she was not the first down to breakfast. She entered the small dining room to find her uncle had finished his meal of eggs and bacon and was about to leave the table.

  ‘I didn’t expect to see you up so early, Uncle.’

  Sidney wiped his lips on a clean white napkin. ‘Ah, but I have a purpose for getting up from my bed this morning.’

  Daisy sat down opposite him. ‘That sounds interesting.’

  ‘The landlord of the village pub has fishing tackle he wants to sell. I’m going to take a look at it and make him an offer.’

  ‘Do you know anything about fishing, Uncle?’

  ‘Not a thing, but I’m eager to learn. It would give me something to do and put food on the table. We have to be careful with the pennies now that I’ve retired from the business.’ He stood up and stretched. ‘That was an excellent breakfast. Everyone should have a good start to the day.’ He headed for the door. ‘If your aunt says anything, tell her I had to leave early or I might not get what I want.’

  Daisy smiled and nodded as he left the room. She had never seen her uncle so enthusiastic about anything.

  The door had hardly closed when it opened again to admit her aunt.

  ‘Really, he’s like an excited child,’ Eleanora said crossly. ‘He’ll spend money on a fishing rod and it will be thrilling for five minutes. He’ll change his mind when he spends hours on the river-bank and catches nothing other than a cold.’

  ‘He might enjoy it, Aunt. And Hattie can cook the fish he brings home.’

  Eleanora went to the sideboard and filled a bowl with porridge. ‘I have so little appetite these days,’ she said as she took her seat and reached for the sugar bowl. ‘Pass the cream, please, Daisy.’

  Daisy did as she asked and sat back, nibbling a slice of
buttered toast as she watched her aunt spoon porridge laced with cream and sugar into her mouth.

  ‘Thank goodness Hattie came with us,’ Eleanora said, scraping the last morsels from the bowl. She licked the spoon with obvious enjoyment. ‘She is such a good cook.’

  ‘It was kind of you to take Linnet on. She’s a bright girl and eager to learn.’ Daisy eyed her aunt warily. So far so good. ‘Do you intend to make her position permanent?’

  ‘We have certain standards to keep up, and I can hardly expect Hattie to do all the work. She’d pack up and return to London in a blink of an eye.’

  Encouraged, Daisy leaned forward, giving her aunt a persuasive smile. ‘Then perhaps Linnet ought to be given a room of her own. There’s a small one in the attic, next to Hattie’s.’

  Eleanora reached for a small brass bell and rang it. ‘If you say so, dear. I haven’t been up there myself, but it does make sense to have the girl living in, and it will take some of the burden from Hattie.’

  ‘That’s a yes, then?’

  ‘I said so, didn’t I?’ Eleanora was about to ring the bell again when Linnet burst into the room.

  ‘You rang, missis?’

  ‘You are supposed to knock,’ Eleanora said firmly. ‘And you address me as Mrs Marshall or ma’am.’

  ‘Yes, ma’am.’ Linnet placed a plate of crisp bacon and two fried eggs in front of Eleanora. ‘Is there anything else, ma’am?’

  ‘Yes, Linnet. My niece tells me that you will be happy to live in. There’s a room next to Hattie’s that you may use. Daisy will help you to make it comfortable.’

  Linnet’s cheeks flushed and her eyes shone with delight. ‘Ta, ever so, missis. I mean, thank you, ma’am.’

  ‘That’s all. You may go.’

  ‘Yes, ma’am.’ Linnet gave Daisy a radiant smile as she hurried past her and almost ran from the room.

  ‘She’ll have to learn a few manners, but she’ll do. One can’t expect town polish in a backwater like Little Creek.’ Eleanora picked up her knife and fork and began to attack the bacon with a determined look on her face.

  ‘I was wondering …’ Daisy began tentatively.

  ‘What, dear? Don’t start a sentence and let it hang in the air.’

  ‘Well, I know how kind-hearted you are, and Linnet’s younger brother had an accident yesterday. Dr Neville and I happened to be passing and we took him home. Jack had broken his arm and he was very brave when Dr Neville was treating him.’ Warming to her subject Daisy leaned across the table. ‘The family are so poor, Aunt. You can’t imagine how they live. Their cottage is damp and in a dreadful state of disrepair. Mr and Mrs Fox are both ill with chest complaints and they have barely enough to feed them, let alone a sick child.’

  Eleanora looked up from her plate, frowning. ‘It’s sad, but that’s how the lower orders live, Daisy. There are plenty of poor people in London who are living in even worse conditions. We can’t look after them all.’

  ‘No, of course, not,’ Daisy said hastily. ‘But I was wondering if Jack might stay here for a week or two, just until his bones mend. Dr Neville thinks it would be a very good thing.’

  ‘Does he indeed? Then perhaps Dr Neville ought to take the boy into his house and look after him. Hattie tells me that Creek Hall is huge. She had it from someone she met in the village whose sister used to work for the old doctor.’

  ‘Nick can’t afford the upkeep of the hall, Aunt. He thinks he might have to return to London, or find a practice elsewhere. He might even have to sell his old home.’

  ‘That is a pity, but there’s nothing we can do about it, dear.’ Eleanora reached for a slice of toast, broke off a shard and dipped it in the egg yolk. She ate it with relish. ‘You ought to have a cooked breakfast, Daisy. You’re all skin and bone as it is, and in this weather you need a bit of flesh on your bones.’

  ‘I had a big meal at Creek Hall last evening, Aunt. Mrs Bee is an excellent cook.’

  ‘I’m sure Hattie is the better of the two.’

  ‘Oh, undoubtedly,’ Daisy said tactfully. ‘But what about young Jack? I can imagine Toby might have been like him when he was younger.’

  Eleanora hesitated with the toast halfway to her lips, and Daisy knew she had scored a point in Jack’s favour. Toby was her aunt’s favourite – she had always known that, but it had never bothered her. Toby had a way with him that women of all ages found irresistible.

  ‘How old is the boy?’ Eleanora popped the toast into her mouth.

  ‘He’s about nine or maybe ten. I didn’t ask, but all he needs is a comfortable bed and good food. He’s very undernourished. I would hate to think of Toby suffering like that.’

  ‘Your uncle and I have given our lives to rearing you and your brother. Never let it be said that I turned my back on a child in need. You may bring him here and he can stay until his broken bones knit together, but then he must return to his family. I want that clear from the start.’

  ‘Yes, absolutely, Aunt. If it’s all right with you I’ll go and tell Dr Neville the good news and I’ll leave it to him to persuade Mr and Mrs Fox that it’s the best thing for their son.’

  Eleanora eyed her speculatively. ‘I suppose a doctor could earn a comfortable living, in the right place. It’s a respectable profession.’

  ‘Yes, Aunt.’ Daisy knew better than to argue. She rose from the table. ‘I’ll set off for the hall. It’s stopped snowing and the sun is shining. Perhaps a thaw has set in.’

  ‘One can but hope.’ Eleanora buttered another slice of toast. ‘I must persuade your uncle to buy a pony and trap. Life would be much more pleasant if one could drive out once a week or so. I miss the shops and the bustle of London, and I doubt if I’ll ever get used to living in the country.’

  Daisy had no answer to this and she hurried from the room. She went to the kitchen where she found Hattie seated at the table, enjoying a cup of tea and a slice of toast, while Linnet washed the dishes in the stone sink.

  ‘My aunt says that Linnet may have the small room next to yours, Hattie. I’ll help her to get it ready, so it won’t cause you any extra work.’

  ‘I think it’s a good idea. Linnet’s a good worker and I’m not as young as I used to be.’

  ‘Excellent.’ Daisy tried not to sound too relieved. Hattie was a dear, but she could be awkward and vinegary when she chose. ‘And the other thing is that my aunt has agreed to have your younger brother here until his arm heals, Linnet. Do you think your parents would agree?’

  Linnet’s plain face was transformed by a smile. ‘Oh, miss, that would be too good to be true. Mum and Dad get sick every winter and it’s Jack who suffers the most. Us older ones can look after ourselves, but Jack is only a nipper. But …’ she hesitated, frowning, ‘they wouldn’t want charity from no one.’

  ‘I guessed as much,’ Daisy said quickly. ‘That’s why I’m going to walk to Creek Hall and ask Dr Neville to speak for me. I think your parents might listen to him.’

  ‘Yes, they would. They respected the old doctor – we all did. The village won’t be the same if Dr Neville goes away for good.’

  ‘Who told you that, Linnet?’

  ‘I’m sorry, miss. It’s common knowledge that the old doctor was in trouble moneywise. Stands to reason that Dr Neville will be, too.’

  ‘Is nothing private in Little Creek?’

  Linnet chuckled and turned back to washing the dishes. ‘No, miss. Not a thing.’

  ‘Well then, perhaps you’d be good enough to take a message to Creek Hall when you’ve finished what you’re doing? I’ll write a note to the doctor, asking him to persuade your parents that it would be in everyone’s best interests if Jack stayed with us, for a while at least. You could look after him and he’d feel quite at home with you living here as well.’

  ‘It ain’t right to take a child from his ma and pa,’ Hattie said grimly. ‘You shouldn’t interfere in other folks’ business, Miss Daisy.’

  ‘Don’t be such a wet blanket, Hattie. Having Jack here wi
ll lift all our spirits.’ Daisy left the kitchen before Hattie had a chance to argue.

  ‘They’ve arrived,’ Daisy said, peering from the parlour window. ‘Dr Neville has brought Jack.’

  Eleanora rose from the chair by the fire, smoothing her skirts. ‘I don’t know why I agreed to this.’ She followed Daisy into the hall and stood behind her as she opened the door. ‘And I can’t think why I allowed you to persuade me that the boy ought to have Toby’s room.’

  ‘We won’t see much of my brother for the foreseeable future, and Jack will only be with us until his arm heals.’ Daisy looked out into steadily falling rain. With the usual vagaries of the British climate, the temperature had risen and rain was falling steadily, turning the snow into slush.

  ‘You’ll drop the child,’ Eleanora cried anxiously. ‘Do be careful, Doctor.’

  ‘Put me down, Doctor. I can walk,’ Jack protested. ‘I ain’t a baby.’

  Eleanora wagged a finger at Jack. ‘You’ll do as you’re told, young man. We don’t allow boys to be cheeky in our house.’

  Daisy exchanged wry smiles with Nick as he stepped inside and put his wriggling burden down. ‘Welcome to Creek Cottage, Jack. There’s a fire in the front parlour, or would you rather go straight to your room and rest?’

  ‘I don’t want to go to bed,’ Jack said angrily. ‘If they’re going to mollycoddle me I’d rather go home, Doctor.’

  ‘Mrs Marshall is just thinking of your comfort, Jack.’ Nick rested his hands on the boy’s shoulders, turning him to face Daisy and her aunt. ‘I suggest you thank the ladies for taking you in and making you welcome.’

  Jack scowled, glaring at Eleanora with a sulky frown. ‘Ta ever so, missis.’

  Daisy held her breath, but to her surprise Eleanora’s lips began to quiver and she started to laugh. ‘You do remind me of my nephew. Toby hated being fussed over. You’ll do, young man, but you’ll remember your manners while you’re under my roof.’ She turned to Linnet, who was hovering in the background. ‘Bring your brother a cup of cocoa and a slice of Hattie’s seed cake. I’ve never known a small boy who didn’t have a large appetite.’