The Christmas Wedding

by Dilly Court

  ‘Yes, I want to see him, too,’ Jack added excitedly. ‘He mended my arm, Jay. I can use it a bit now.’ He shot a sideways glance at Daisy. ‘But I’m not well enough to go back to school.’

  ‘We’ll see about that,’ Daisy said, making an effort to look stern.

  ‘He’s in the stable, saddling up.’ Jay jerked his head in the direction of the outbuildings at the rear of the house, and Jack raced off. ‘You’re not going to join them then, Miss Marshall?’

  Daisy chose to ignore the inference that she had come to see Nick. ‘You look as if you’re fully recovered. Have you remembered what happened and how you came to be in such a state?’

  He picked up the axe. ‘Not entirely. It’s a bit of a blur, but I’m recovered now.’

  ‘I expect your parents will be pleased to see you.’

  ‘They know I’m here. Nick called in to make sure they were all right and he told them.’ He raised the axe and brought it down on the log, splitting it in two. ‘I plan to go there today.’

  Daisy glanced over his shoulder and saw Nick hurrying towards them with Jack close on his heels. The smile froze on her lips when she met his troubled gaze. ‘Is anything wrong?’

  He came to a halt. ‘It’s good to see you, Daisy, but I can’t stop.’

  ‘Where are you going?’ Jay demanded, throwing down the axe. ‘What’s the matter?’

  ‘I’ve just received a letter from Squire Tattersall’s solicitor. It’s not good news, Jay.’ Nick turned to Daisy with an apologetic smile. ‘I’m sorry, Daisy. I have to leave right away.’

  Jay laid his hand on Nick’s arm. ‘Why? What’s so urgent?’

  ‘I intend to have it out with the squire, face to face. That man is determined to get his hands on Creek Hall, no matter what, but he’s reckoned without me.’ Nick tossed a crumpled sheet of writing paper at Jay and it fluttered to the ground at Daisy’s feet.

  ‘Is there anything I can do to help?’ She bent down to retrieve it but Jay snatched it from her as Nick strode back towards the stables.

  Jay smoothed the paper and studied it for a long moment. ‘The bastard,’ he said angrily. He shot her a sideways glance. ‘I suppose I should apologise for using such language in front of a lady, but I’m no gentleman, as you’ll discover when you get to know me better.’

  ‘What does it say?’

  ‘That man should be shot.’ He handed her the letter. ‘Read this and see if you don’t agree.’

  Chapter Eight

  Daisy studied the formal language used by the lawyer and she shook her head. ‘I don’t understand. What gives Squire Tattersall the right to send this sort of letter?’

  ‘You’re new here,’ Jay said slowly. ‘If you’d been born and bred in the village you’d know that the squire owns most of the land on both sides of the creek. The missing piece is Creek Hall and what’s left of the estate, which isn’t much. The old doctor was forced to sell it off piece by piece, so Nick told me last evening at dinner. The squire put up rents and refused to make any improvements on the properties, no doubt hoping that the tenants would move on.’

  ‘But where would they go?’

  ‘That’s the point! The villagers have no choice. They either stay in damp, dilapidated housing or they’re out on the streets, or in the workhouse. The squire doesn’t care – he just wants the land and power.’

  ‘And now he’s demanding payment of this exorbitant sum or he’ll send the bailiffs in and foreclose on a loan he made to Nick’s father.’ Daisy folded the piece of paper and handed it back to him. ‘That’s terrible.’

  ‘I’m going with him. I’ve had many a run-in with the squire and I know how to handle him.’ Jay ruffled Jack’s hair. ‘You stay with Miss Daisy and see her safely home.’ He hurried after Nick and Jack followed him.

  ‘Wait for me.’ Daisy picked up her skirts and ran. She caught up with them in the stable yard where Nick was about to mount his horse.

  ‘You can’t do this on your own, Nick,’ Jay protested. ‘The squire will have you thrown out before you have a chance to put your case.’

  ‘Jay’s right,’ Daisy said breathlessly. ‘You might make matters worse.’

  ‘The squire is determined to have Creek Hall and what’s left of the estate,’ Nick said angrily. ‘How much worse can it be?’

  Nick’s distress was plain to see and Daisy laid her hand on his arm. ‘Couldn’t your aunt help?’

  ‘Yes, but as you can see from the letter, which I assume you’ve both read, the squire has added interest on to the original loan. If only my father had confided in me I’d have left medical school and found work.’

  ‘The old doctor must have been desperate,’ Jay said, frowning thoughtfully. ‘But Daisy is right, you can’t go in there all guns blazing. That’s something I might do, but it’s not how you would normally act, Nick.’

  ‘I have an idea.’ Daisy stroked the horse’s muzzle. ‘I’ve listened to business talk amongst Mr Carrington’s friends and acquaintances. They speak freely in front of a governess. I might as well have been invisible.’

  Nick eyed her warily. ‘What have you in mind?’

  ‘Let’s go indoors. I’m sure Jack wants to see his sister and Mrs Bee. We can talk over a cup of tea.’

  ‘I appreciate your concern, but I have to go right away.’

  ‘Listen to her, Nick,’ Jay said urgently. ‘You can’t afford to make a mistake now – not with the fate of Creek Hall at stake.’

  ‘Fifteen minutes,’ Nick said grudgingly. ‘I’ll listen to what you have to say, Daisy, but time is short. According to this letter I have only days to come up with the extra money, and it’s just not possible.’ He beckoned to the stable boy. ‘Hold the reins. I won’t be long.’

  Jay clapped him on the back. ‘That’s the ticket.’

  Jack ran on ahead as they crossed the stable yard and entered the house through the scullery. Mrs Bee was in the middle of preparing the midday meal, but her face lit up when she saw them and she stopped what she was doing. ‘Well, this is a surprise.’

  Dove gave her brother a warm hug. ‘Why aren’t you in school, young man,’ she said, smiling. ‘What will Dad say when he finds out you’ve bunked off?’

  ‘Mr Massey knows.’ Jack turned to Daisy for confirmation and she nodded. ‘Daisy is teaching me at home while my arm is bad, and Mr Massey comes to check on me, but I think he really comes to see Daisy. I think he’s sweet on her.’

  Daisy shook her head. ‘Don’t be silly, Jack. Mr Massey is very conscientious and he thinks you could go far, if you apply yourself to your books.’

  ‘It looks to me as if you’re ready to go back to classes,’ Dove said primly. ‘I’m sure Mr Massey has better things to do than to run round after you, Jack.’

  Mrs Bee glanced anxiously at Nick. ‘Is everything all right, Doctor? You look worried.’

  ‘Everything is fine, Mrs Bee. We’ve got a few business things to talk about. Might we have some tea in the parlour?’

  ‘Of course, Doctor.’ Mrs Bee stared pointedly at Dove. ‘I’ll leave that to you.’

  ‘Yes, Mrs Bee.’ Dove turned to her brother with a stern look. ‘You’d best sit at the table, Jack, and I’ll give you a cup of milk and a biscuit.’

  ‘Can I have a piece of cake?’

  Daisy hesitated as she was about to follow the others from the room. ‘May I have a piece of cake, Jack. Remember what Mr Massey says.’ She did not stop to hear him repeat his request, but Dove’s reaction to the mention of the schoolmaster’s name had struck a chord. Perhaps Dove had feelings for Elliot Massey? Maybe the dull, over-zealous teacher had charms that she herself had not seen. Daisy hurried after Nick and Jay as they made their way to the parlour.

  Nick waited until Daisy and Jay were seated and he went to stand with his back to the fire. ‘I could lose all this before the week is out,’ he said, gazing round the shabby, but comfortably furnished room.

  Daisy followed his gaze, taking in the silver trophies on the
mantelshelf, and the framed daguerreotypes of people she assumed must be Nick’s parents, and of Nick himself as a child and a schoolboy. In one corner a cricket bat and stumps had been left and probably forgotten, half-hidden by a pile of medical books, the overspill from a crowded bookcase. The walls were barely visible beneath watercolours of the flat Essex countryside and oil paintings, mainly of dogs and horses. A portrait hanging above the fireplace caught Daisy’s eye and Nick followed her gaze. The subject, a dark-haired young woman wearing a pale green gown, gazed down at them with a gentle smile in her hazel eyes.

  ‘That’s my mother when she was young,’ Nick said proudly.

  ‘She was beautiful.’

  ‘Yes, and she loved Creek Hall. I owe it to my parents to keep the house in the family, and that’s what I intend to do.’

  ‘You won’t get anywhere with the squire with polite talk,’ Jay said thoughtfully. ‘I could round up some of my crew and scare the old tyrant rigid.’

  ‘Has your memory come back?’ Daisy turned to give Jay a searching look. ‘You said you didn’t know how you came to be in such a state when we found you. Do you remember now?’

  ‘We’re not talking about me. We’re supposed to be helping Nick.’

  Nick gazed up at his mother’s portrait. ‘I’m not going to let that man take Creek Hall from me. Unless either of you has a better idea, I’m going to ride over to Creek Manor and demand to have it out with him, face to face.’

  ‘Why do you think he wants to ruin your family, Nick?’ Daisy said gently. ‘Your father did so much good for the local people, and I suspect you would continue his work, given half a chance.’

  ‘My maternal grandfather was rector here before Mr Peabody, and my mother was his only child. She kept house for him after her mother died and the squire paid court to her, but she rejected him in favour of my father. I don’t think the squire ever got over it and I’m quite certain that’s the reason why he’s gone out of his way to ruin my family.’

  ‘That’s awful,’ Daisy said earnestly. ‘But if that’s the case he’s unlikely to accept any offer you might make.’

  ‘She’s right.’ Jay fisted his hands. ‘There’s only one thing a man like him understands.’

  ‘Violence isn’t the answer,’ Nick said hastily. ‘And you’d end up in court. I don’t know what shady business you’ve been involved in, Jay, but I don’t want you taking risks on my behalf.’

  Daisy held up her hand. ‘Might I speak? I have an idea, but it means that you have to trust me, and you won’t be riding over to Creek Manor today.’

  Daisy was up half the night preparing her story so that the squire could not catch her out on even the smallest detail. It had been difficult to persuade Nick that her plan would work, and even harder to convince Jay, who was against it from the start. Next morning Daisy put on her green velvet travelling gown, a cast-off of Mrs Carrington’s, who had taken a dislike to the outfit when her husband had told her she looked like a peapod about to burst. Wrapped in Aunt Eleanora’s fur-lined cape, Daisy waited anxiously for her transport to arrive. She felt a little bit like Cinderella about to attend the ball that would change her life for ever, only it was Nick’s future that depended upon her plan taking shape.

  Linnet rushed into the front parlour, her cheeks pink with excitement. ‘He’s here, miss. We’re really going to do this.’

  ‘Yes,’ Daisy said firmly. ‘We’re going to teach the squire a lesson and save Creek Hall for the doctor.’

  ‘I hope you know what you’re doing.’ Eleanora followed them into the hall. ‘You shouldn’t get involved in other people’s problems, Daisy. From what I’ve heard, the squire is not a man to trifle with.’

  ‘I know exactly what I’m doing, Aunt. Don’t worry.’ Daisy stepped outside into bright sunshine. The pale wintry sky was a celestial blue and Daisy was filled with hope as she climbed into the carriage.

  Jay grinned at her from the driver’s seat. ‘Luckily the blacksmith is an old mate of mine. He’s finished his work on this vehicle, but the owner isn’t expecting it back until tomorrow.’

  Linnet took her seat beside Daisy. ‘This is the first time I’ve travelled in such style.’

  Daisy smiled, remembering outings with Julian when they had taken Timothy to the Zoological Gardens or one of the London parks in the Carringtons’ barouche. She glanced at her left hand and through the soft leather of her glove she could see the outline of the ring that Julian had given her. It was a bitter-sweet moment tinged with regret, but it was part of her plan.

  ‘Drive on, Fox,’ Daisy said, leaning back with a sigh. ‘I could get used to this.’

  ‘Let’s hope my brother doesn’t overturn the carriage.’ Linnet tucked the travelling rug over Daisy’s knees as well as her own. ‘This is the most exciting thing that’s ever happened in Little Creek.’

  ‘If it works,’ Daisy said grimly. ‘I might be making a huge mistake, but it would be terrible if the doctor lost his home.’

  ‘You like him, don’t you, miss?’

  ‘Hold on, ladies.’ Jay flicked the whip over the horses’ ears. ‘Off we go.’ He glanced over his shoulder. ‘This is the first time I’ve ever driven a carriage, but I’m getting the hang of it.’

  Daisy and Linnet exchanged worried looks as they clung to the sides.

  Although the manor house was just across the water from the village they had to travel a couple of miles to the nearest bridge and it was close to midday when they finally arrived. Jay drew the horses to a halt. He tipped his hat so that the brim almost touched his nose and he pulled up his collar.

  ‘I’m known here, so it’s best that Molesworth doesn’t recognise me.’ He climbed down from the box to open the carriage door, and proffered his hand in such a professional manner that Daisy was tempted to giggle, although it was mostly nerves. Now they were here her scheme seemed hare-brained and even less likely to succeed. She was tempted to remain seated and instruct Jay to take them home, but Nick, unwilling as he had been to agree to her plan, was depending on her. Anyway, they had been seen. The heavy oak door opened and a footman appeared, followed by Molesworth, the stern-looking butler.

  Daisy alighted with Jay’s help and he winked at her. ‘Don’t let the old devil browbeat you. He’ll try his best.’

  ‘I’ll bear that in mind.’ Daisy held her head high as she walked up the steps with Linnet close behind.

  ‘I was passing and I decided to call upon the squire. Is he at home?’ Daisy said boldly. She took a gilt-edged visiting card from her reticule and handed it to the butler. It was one of Mrs Carrington’s that Daisy had used when ordering items for her employer, and she waited, hardly daring to breathe.

  ‘If you would care to wait, I’ll see if the master is at home.’ Molesworth ushered them into the entrance hall and the footman stood to attention while his superior walked off at a stately pace.

  Daisy wondered if anyone ever hurried in the countryside. Inwardly she was quaking, but she managed to maintain an outward show of unconcern. Linnet was pale but she waited demurely at Daisy’s side, saying nothing. There was a distinct chill in the air, which was not entirely due to the weather and Daisy could feel the figures in the portraits gazing down from their gilt frames. She could imagine their disapproval even though they had been dead and buried for a couple of centuries. A suit of armour at the far end of the hall looked even more menacing and she dared not look at the footman, who was eyeing her suspiciously. If the Carringtons’ servants were anything to go by, those who worked below stairs had an uncanny knack of detecting a parvenu. She made a determined effort to remain calm and eventually Molesworth reappeared.

  ‘Would you come this way, Mrs Carrington?’ He glared at Linnet, who was about to follow Daisy. ‘Wait there, if you please.’

  ‘And what if I don’t please?’ Linnet said angrily. ‘I’m here to look after my mistress.’

  ‘It’s all right.’ Daisy gave her a reassuring smile. ‘I won’t be long.’ She braced herse
lf to follow the butler through a maze of gloomy oak-panelled corridors, and he ushered her into a room overlooking the rear of the building. The book-lined walls and leather-covered armchairs would not have been out of place in a gentlemen’s club, and a large mahogany desk placed centrally was the dominant feature. A tall, well-built man dressed in tweeds rose from behind his desk.

  ‘Will there be anything else, sir?’

  ‘No, I’ll ring when I need you, Molesworth.’ Esmond Tattersall looked Daisy up and down as if she were an entry in a cattle show.

  ‘Very good, sir.’ The butler bowed out as if in the presence of royalty.

  ‘Mrs Carrington?’ The squire’s weather-beaten features were set in a frown as he turned his attention to the deckle-edged card. ‘Do I know you, ma’am?’

  ‘I have to confess that I’m not Mrs Carrington,’ Daisy said, smiling. ‘But I hope to have that title very soon.’ She peeled off her gloves and held out her left hand, displaying the diamond ring that Julian had given her as a pledge of his love. ‘My fiancé is Julian Carrington, who is at present in Paris, having just taken up a post in the diplomatic corps.’

  ‘I’m intrigued, but baffled. Take a seat, Miss, er …’

  ‘Miss Marshall.’ Daisy had thought long and hard before deciding to use her own name. She had been tempted to take on an alias, but it was probably safer to stick as near to the truth as possible. She sank down on the nearest chair, her knees giving way beneath her. ‘What a delightful house you have, Squire.’

  ‘Thank you, but I’m sure you didn’t drop in to tell me that.’

  Daisy smiled archly. ‘No, of course not. I’ve been making enquiries in the district. My fiancé and I are looking for a country house, near the coast, where we can settle and bring up a family.’ She turned her head away coyly, giving him a surreptitious glance beneath her lashes.

  ‘And what has this to do with me, Miss Marshall?’

  ‘I’ve heard that you are the biggest and most important landowner in the area, and also a magistrate. You see, sir, I have done my research thoroughly. I’m hoping you might know of a suitable property that is up for sale, or likely to be so in the near future.’