The Christmas Wedding. Dilly Court
on, Toby. The two of us will make light work of it.’ Nick looped the reins over the horse’s head and handed them to Daisy. ‘Would you mind holding on to Hero? He’s old and docile, so he won’t give you any trouble. I’ll be as quick as I can.’
Daisy took the reins, eyeing the animal warily. ‘Are you sure he won’t make a sudden bolt for home? I’m not used to horses.’
‘Have you ever ridden one?’
‘No. I was brought up in Whitechapel. There are plenty of cabs and omnibuses to take you wherever you wish to go.’
‘You’ll find it very different here,’ Nick said, chuckling.
‘Please hurry,’ Eleanora called over her shoulder as she retreated into the house. ‘Sidney is stuck halfway up the stairs and Hattie is struggling with the kitchen range. I think there might be a bird’s nest in the chimney.’
‘I think I might get the train back to London,’ Toby said grimly. ‘Life in the countryside is far too hectic for my taste. Give me peasoupers and smoky taverns any day of the week.’
Nick shooed him over the threshold. ‘Stop grumbling and do something useful.’ He glanced over his shoulder, giving Daisy an apologetic smile. ‘I won’t be long.’
‘Don’t worry about me.’ She stroked the horse’s velvety muzzle. ‘I’m new at this, Hero,’ she said softly. ‘Please be a good creature and don’t bolt or do anything silly.’
Hero rolled his eyes and nodded, as if complying with her request. She sighed with relief. Perhaps she could get used to being this close to such a large creature, although she hoped that Nick would return quickly. She cocked her head on one side, listening to the rushing sound of the water and the cawing of crows. The countryside seemed almost too quiet after the constant din of traffic and the babble of voices in the city. Here there was nothing but the gentle whispering of the wind in the trees and the sounds of nature …
The idyll was shattered by the sound of her aunt’s voice raised to a shriek and a loud thud emanating from the cottage. Forgetting her charge, Daisy dropped the reins and ran towards the house.
‘Are you all right, Aunt Eleanora?’ As she reached the doorway Daisy saw Nick and Toby lifting Uncle Sidney from beneath the wood-bound leather travelling trunk. ‘Oh, my goodness, is he hurt?’
Aunt Eleanora clutched her hands to her bosom. ‘Is anything broken? Are you all right, Sidney, my love?’
Sidney struggled to his feet, aided by Toby and Nick. ‘Stop fussing, woman. Of course I’m all right. I’m not a fragile flower.’ He stomped off. ‘I’ll be in the parlour. Tell Hattie to bring me a glass of brandy – for medicinal purposes, of course.’
Eleanora turned on Toby. ‘You’re a doctor. Go and look after your uncle.’
‘He’s fine, Aunt. What do you want us to do with this?’ He poked the trunk with the toe of his boot.
‘Leave it there. The removal men should be here soon. They’re trained to heft boxes and heavy objects. I can’t be doing with any more falls. I’m going to the kitchen to see how Hattie is getting on with the range or we won’t have anything to eat today.’
Daisy glanced anxiously out of the door, but Hero had his head down and was munching the grass. ‘I’m sorry, Nick,’ she said hastily. ‘I should have stayed with the animal.’
‘Don’t worry, he’s not coming to any harm.’ Nick turned to Toby. ‘I’ll go now and leave you to settle in.’
Toby leaned over to brush his aunt’s flushed cheek with a kiss. ‘I’ll get out of your way, dear aunt. I’m not much use when it comes to unpacking and that sort of thing.’ He turned to Nick. ‘How about I come with you now?’
‘That’s fine with me, if your aunt and uncle don’t need you?’
‘No, take him away,’ Eleanora said crossly. ‘Toby might be a good doctor, but he’s useless around the house.’
‘Will you be all right, Daisy?’ Toby asked anxiously. ‘I mean, I could stay, but …’
Torn between annoyance and amusement, Daisy gave him a gentle shove towards the door. ‘Go, for heaven’s sake. We’ll do better without you.’
‘I’ll bring him back after supper, but perhaps you would like to come to the Hall some time, Daisy.’ Nick hesitated, frowning. ‘Not tomorrow, of course, because I won’t be there, but maybe the day after?’
Daisy smiled and nodded. ‘Thank you. That would be lovely.’
‘Come on, Nick,’ Toby hurried outside, glancing up at the lowering clouds. ‘I think it’s going to snow again. Let’s get going. I’ll see you later, Daisy.’
‘Yes,’ she said as she watched them climb into the trap. ‘You’ll come home when all the work is done. Nothing changes.’
‘Daisy, will you go and help Hattie in the kitchen?’ Eleanora said anxiously. ‘If there’s a nest in the chimney there might be a trapped bird and they make me nervous. I’ll go and make sure your uncle is all right.’ She bustled into the parlour without waiting for an answer.
Daisy sighed and shook her head as she made her way to the kitchen where she could hear Hattie shouting and crashing about. A gust of smoke enveloped her as she opened the door.
‘I’ll never get used to this brute,’ Hattie said, flicking a cleaning cloth at the stove. ‘Maybe there’s a nest on top of the chimney pot. Whatever it is, I can’t get the fire to draw properly.’ She wiped her face with the back of her hand, leaving a streak of soot on her cheek.
Daisy looked round the large kitchen and spotted a besom propped up against the back door. ‘Maybe I can clear the blockage,’ she said hopefully.
‘You’re never going to push that broom up the chimney, are you?’ Hattie demanded anxiously. ‘You’ll bring a fall of soot.’
She spoke too late. Daisy had snatched up the besom and was poking it up the chimney. A shower of soot, dried leaves and bits of twig covered everything, including Daisy. She stood for a moment, coughing and gasping for air.
‘I told you so.’ Hattie threw up her hands. ‘Look at the mess you’ve made. Well, I ain’t cleaning it up. I warned you, but would you listen? No, you would not, and everything is covered in soot. I’m going to tell the mistress.’ She stomped out of the room.
Left to clean up, Daisy stared down at her once clean travelling gown, which was now ruined. Soot was still settling on every surface and she could only be thankful for the fact that most of their china, pots and pans had yet to be unpacked. She was wondering what to do when someone knocked on the back door.
‘Come in.’
The door opened and a pale-faced young woman stepped inside. She was muffled against the cold and her fair hair hung limply from beneath her bonnet. ‘You’ve had a bit of a mishap, miss,’ she said calmly.
‘The chimney was blocked.’ Daisy eyed her curiously. ‘Can I help you?’
‘It looks like I can help you.’ The stranger took off her bonnet and shawl and hung them on a row of pegs. ‘I was on my way home when the young doctor stopped to enquire about my mum – she’s been took sick these last few days. I told him that she was getting better, thanks to the medicine he gave her.’
‘That must have been Dr Neville, but why have you come here?’
‘You’re Miss Marshall, aren’t you?’
Daisy gazed down at her sooty clothes and smiled ruefully. ‘Yes, although I doubt if my friends would recognise me now.’