The Christmas Wedding

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 will 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.’

Daisy was about to follow them into the parlour, but her aunt forestalled her. ‘No, Daisy. I’ll take this opportunity to get to know our young guest. You have the advantage over me there, so I suggest your take Dr Neville to the kitchen and see that he has some refreshment to keep out the damp.’ She closed the door firmly.

‘There,’ Nick said, chuckling. ‘You’ve been put in your place, Daisy.’

‘I know. It’s always like this. Aunt Eleanora can’t get used to the idea that I’m a no longer a child.’

‘She seems to have taken to young Fox.’

‘She said that he reminds her of my brother. Toby can wrap Aunt Eleanora round his little finger. Anyway, perhaps you’d like to come to the kitchen and meet Hattie. She thinks she runs the household, and she’s not far wrong. My aunt relies on her completely, so it’s good that she has Linnet to help out.’

‘With the two girls living in and earning money, even if it’s not a high wage, the Fox family should be able to survive the winter. They aren’t alone in their struggles either. There are others in the village, the squire’s tenants in particular, who suffer equally.’

‘You really care about the people of Little Creek, don’t you?’ Daisy said softly. ‘I don’t think you’d have the heart to walk away.’

‘That’s my dilemma, Daisy. My head tells me to sell up and move on, but my heart wants to continue the work begun by my father. It’s not an easy decision to make.’

‘I know you’ll do what’s right.’ Daisy led the way to the kitchen, where the aroma of hot cocoa mingled with the savoury smell of the mutton stew simmering on the range.

‘So you’re the famous Dr Neville,’ Hattie said without giving Daisy a chance to make introductions. ‘This young girl speaks very high of you, sir.’ She nodded in Linnet’s direction. ‘But she says you’re going back to London.’

Nick held out his hand. ‘You must be Hattie. I’ve heard so much about you from Miss Marshall. How do you do?’

Hattie’s thin cheeks flushed scarlet and she shook his hand before bobbing a curtsey. ‘Very well, thank you, Doctor.’

‘Perhaps you’d like some tea or cocoa, Nick?’ Daisy said hastily.

‘Tea would be nice, if it’s no trouble.’

Hattie bustled over to the range, pushing Linnet out of the way. ‘Of course, Doctor. I’ll make a fresh pot now and Linnet will bring it to you in the front parlour.’

‘My aunt is getting to know Jack,’ Daisy said, keeping a straight face with difficulty. It was obvious that Hattie wanted to make a good impression on the doctor. ‘We’d best use the dining room.’

‘There’s no fire lit,’ Hattie argued. ‘The missis said to be economical with the coal and logs and only light the fire half an hour before dinner.’

‘I could see to the fire for you, Doctor,’ Linnet volunteered eagerly.

‘Thank you, we’ll manage.’ Daisy backed towards the doorway. ‘Tea for two in the dining room, please.’ She ushered Nick out of the kitchen and closed the door. ‘They’re trying to kill you with kindness,’ she added, giggling. ‘I’ve never known Hattie to be so eager to please.’

‘It’s the profession, not me personally. The people of Little Creek had great respect for my father, which was well-earned because he worked tirelessly for their benefit.’

‘He must have been a great man.’

‘He was, and I know he wanted me to continue his work, but I really don’t think it’s going to be possible.’