A Village Scandal

Daisy made her way downstairs and out into the bright sunshine. She dusted off her riding habit and untied her horse, mounting with the aid of a tree stump, and she set off for home.

She dismounted at the foot of the manor-house steps, and handed the reins to Jack, who had come running from the stables where he had chosen to train under the aegis of Faulkner, the head groom.

‘Is it true, Daisy? Is Jay lost at sea?’

She gave him a hug. ‘I’m sure I’d know if he was, Jack. The truth is we don’t know what happened to him, but Guppy and the others were picked up by another vessel. We can only hope that Jay might have been as lucky.’

Jack wiped his eyes on his sleeve. ‘They told me he was drowned.’

‘We don’t believe that, do we?’

He shook his head. ‘No, we don’t.’

‘That’s a good chap. Take Cinders to the stables for me, please. You’ll be the first to know if I get any news.’

He nodded and walked off, leading the horse. Daisy stood for a moment, gazing up at the timbered building that had been her home for a few short months, although it felt like much longer. She had grown fond of the old house, with its narrow corridors and beamed ceilings, but Creek Manor was about to enter a new phase in its four-hundred-year history. A new, if temporary, lady of the manor would be greeting her guests and presiding over dinner parties in an attempt to further her husband’s career, as well as finding husbands for her two daughters. Daisy suspected that she herself would be expected to carry out a great many more duties than Marjorie Harker had suggested, and her position in the household would be something akin to that when she was governess to the Carringtons’ younger son. She would no longer be mistress of the household and that would be hard to take, but she braced her shoulders and mounted the steps to the front door. First of all she had to convince Mary and Hilda to go along with Marjorie Harker’s wishes. It was not going to be easy.

Having spent an hour or two using all her powers of persuasion on those closest to her, Daisy was exhausted, and she knew that the hardest was yet to come. Mary had been adamant that they would have to move out of the manor house, which was self-evident, and Hilda had then been riddled with guilt for allowing Daisy to support her and her children after the accident. She talked about the workhouse as if it was the only way out and it took a supreme effort from Daisy to convince Hilda that she needed her support as well as her friendship. In an effort to convince both Hilda and Mary, Daisy took them to look at the cottage, but that only made matters worse. Mary was now talking about moving back into her old cottage in the village, because it was more familiar and in only a slightly worse condition. It was only when Daisy promised to have all the available ground staff working to renovate the little house that Mary and Hilda finally agreed to consider a move.

That night Daisy fell into bed exhausted and slept until dawn.

She awakened next morning ready to face the inevitable. She had been putting off a visit to her aunt and uncle, knowing that they would try to dissuade her from moving out of her home, but it was important to get to them before the gossips had broadcast the news.

Eleanora listened patiently enough, although judging by her prune-like pursed lips and raised eyebrows, Daisy had a feeling that her aunt had already got wind of her change of circumstances.

‘Have you been listening to village gossip, Aunt?’ Daisy tried not to sound impatient but she realised that she was getting nowhere. The atmosphere in the parlour was tense and Eleanora was clearly not going to be easily mollified.

‘It’s a sorry day when Mr Keyes in the village shop knows more about one’s family than oneself.’

‘It all happened very quickly,’ Daisy said hastily. ‘You don’t understand, Aunt.’

Eleanora sniffed and turned away. ‘I might have understood had you deigned to tell me of your decision to move into a derelict cottage. Your uncle is very upset and so am I.’

Daisy reached out to clutch her aunt’s hand. ‘Listen to me, Auntie. I find myself in a very difficult situation. Jay has disappeared, although I refuse to believe he’s dead, but he had made no financial provision for me to manage in such an emergency.’

‘You could have come to us, Daisy. Your uncle and I are not wealthy, but we would have helped out.’

‘I doubt if you could cover the sum needed to pay the servants’ quarterly wages and the bills from the tradesmen for the wedding breakfast. Inheriting somewhere like the manor house comes at a price, Aunt.’

‘But surely there must be money in the bank, my dear.’

‘Possibly, but I cannot draw on it. The Lazy Jane is the only asset over which I have any control, and I’m hoping to go into business, even if it’s in a small way at first.’

‘And what about Jay? Have you forgotten him already?’

Daisy jumped to her feet. ‘That’s cruel. Of course I haven’t forgotten him, but there’s very little I can do, and I have people depending on me. I can’t just curl up and die, even if I feel like it sometimes.’

Eleanora’s eyes opened wide. ‘Don’t say things like that, Daisy.’

‘I’m just trying to put your mind at rest, Auntie. The agreement with Mrs Harker is only for a year, and during that time I hope to be able to build up a business with the ship.’

‘What will your brother say? He won’t approve of you moving into that dreadful cottage.’

‘You haven’t seen it, Aunt. It’s a roof over our heads and there just isn’t room for us in the servants’ quarters.’

‘Servants’ quarters?’ Eleanora’s cheeks reddened and her eyes watered. ‘What have you come to, Daisy?’

‘It’s no worse than being governess to Timothy Carrington. At least I have the respect of the servants and they’ll understand that I’m doing this to save the manor house.’

‘Well, if you put it like that I suppose I’ll have to suffer the disgrace.’ Eleanora wiped her eyes and stuffed her lace-trimmed hanky up her sleeve. ‘Will you stay for luncheon, Daisy? Hattie will want to see you before you go.’

‘I’ll stay to eat with you, but then I have other errands to run, so I hope that Uncle Sidney decides to join us.’

‘He loves you, dear, but unless you develop fins and a tail I doubt if he’ll notice that you’re missing.’

After an emotional time spent comforting Hattie, while attempting to impress upon her that leaving the manor house was only a temporary measure and not a total disaster, Daisy was relieved when Linnet returned from shopping in the village. Hattie was clearly put out to discover that Linnet had been told of the coming upheaval by her mother.

‘Why am I the last to know about this?’

‘Daisy and I are sisters-in-law, Hattie,’ Linnet said cheerfully. ‘Ma tells us everything.’

Hattie tossed her head. ‘At least Creek Cottage is bought and paid for. No one is going to put us out on the street. You’d better be careful, young lady. Don’t get ideas above your station just because Daisy married your brother.’

Linnet’s pale skin flushed scarlet. ‘You know I didn’t mean it like that, Hattie.’

Daisy put her arm around Linnet’s thin shoulders. ‘I’m proud to have you and Dove as my in-laws, and young Jack, too, although we don’t see so much of him now that he’s working in the stables. He seems happy enough there and Mrs Harker is going to keep all the servants on.’

‘Jack always loved animals,’ Linnet said, smiling. ‘He’s a good boy, but he could have gone the other way if you and Mrs Marshall hadn’t taken him in hand, Hattie.’

‘Oh, well, we do what we have to do.’ Hattie puffed out her chest and ladled soup into a tureen. ‘Lay up the table in the dining room, if you please, Linnet. Daisy is staying for luncheon.’

‘I’ll give you a hand, Linnet.’ Daisy followed her to the dining room. ‘I’m going to see Nick after luncheon.’

After a rather tense meal with her aunt, who kept reverting to the subject of Daisy being forced out of her home, Daisy was glad to escape and ride the short distance to Creek Hall. She went straight to the kitchen where she hoped she would find Mrs Boynton, Nick’s housekeeper, and sure enough she was there, seated at the deal table, drinking a cup of tea. She put the cup down and rose to her feet.

‘Mrs Tattersall, this is a lovely surprise.’

‘I’m still Daisy to you, Mrs Bee. How are you?’

‘I’m fine, dear.’ Mrs Bee sank down again, eyeing Daisy warily. ‘But how are you? I heard what happened.’

Daisy pulled up a chair and sat opposite her. ‘I’m coping as best I can, Mrs Bee, but it’s not easy.’

‘I know it must be hard, but it’s only temporary. You won’t be living in the cottage for ever, and of course I was sorry to hear that Jay might have – well, you know what I’m saying, dear.’

Daisy smiled and shrugged. ‘All I can do is to hope for the best, and we’ll manage somehow. Anyway, is the doctor at home? I was hoping to catch him in between his rounds and surgery.’

‘Yes, he is. We’ve only got two in-patients and he’s seeing to their needs.’

‘Is Dove here?’

‘I used to hope that you and Master Nick would get together. You seemed so well suited.’ Mrs Bee sighed, shaking her head. ‘Then those Fox girls came onto the scene and it seems that they can’t decide which man they want. I can’t keep up with them and their airy-fairy ways.’

‘So Dove is staying on here?’

‘Well, so it seems. I don’t think Master Nick knows quite what’s happening, although to be fair I think Dove is far more suited to be a country doctor’s wife than her flighty sister.’

‘I must speak to Nick.’

‘I’m losing patience with them all. We didn’t behave like that in my day.’

‘I don’t know what’s got into young people nowadays,’ Daisy said, chuckling.

‘You may laugh, Daisy, but this will all end in tears – mark my words.’

Leaving Mrs Bee to finish her tea and brood over the failings of the younger generation, Daisy made her way through the familiar passageways of the old house where she had once thought she might become mistress. She went upstairs and met Nick as he left one of the rooms set aside for in-patients.

‘Daisy, this is a pleasant surprise.’

‘Nick, I have something to tell you.’

Chapter Five

‘Are you sure this is the right thing for you?’ Nick ushered Daisy into the small bedroom that had been turned into an office. ‘You’re still in a state of shock after losing your husband.’

‘He has a name, Nick. I know you didn’t approve of my marriage to Jay, but I love him and I refuse to believe that he’s dead.’

Nick pulled up a chair for her and he went to sit behind his desk. ‘It’s all round the village that the Dorning gang were involved in his disappearance. Don’t you think you’d have heard from him by now if he had been rescued?’

‘Not necessarily. He might have been picked up by another vessel and taken to a foreign port. I’d know in my heart if anything dreadful had happened to him.’

Nick shook his head. ‘But giving up your home for a year isn’t going to solve anything.’

‘What do you suggest? I can’t touch the money in Jay’s bank account and I can’t run the estate on air. I’ve got tradesmen dunning me at the gates and the only asset I have is the Lazy Jane.’

‘But you don’t seriously think you can make your fortune as a ship owner, do you? You have no business experience, and no one to help and guide you.’

‘By letting out the manor house I can pay off my creditors and keep the staff employed. If I don’t take control of the Lazy Jane the Dornings will almost certainly use her for their own purposes. I can’t afford to pay the crew to idle about doing nothing.’

‘Yes, I see that, but do you have to move into that tumbledown cottage? I know the one you mean because the shepherd who once lived there was one of my father’s patients.’

‘There isn’t room for us at the manor house and it would be difficult living there with Marjorie Harker as mistress instead of myself. I’ve given it a lot of thought and I’m sure this is the only way forward, Nick.’

‘It seems that you’re set on this, so you obviously don’t need any advice from me.’

‘I just didn’t want you to hear about it second-hand. We’re old friends, aren’t we?’

‘I thought we were more than that.’

‘At one time, maybe, but you have someone else close to you now.’

‘Yes, I’m very fond of Dove and she’s a good nurse – untrained, of course, but I prefer that. I like to do things my way and not be dictated to by a domineering matron.’

‘I hope you’ll be good to her, Nick. Just remember she’s my sister-in-law now. I have a wider family to consider.’

Nick gave her a searching look. ‘You’re not speaking for yourself, are you?’

‘No. Sadly I’m not in the family way. It might have been easier had that been so, and at least I would have had something of Jay’s to build my life around. As it is, I have to go on the best I can, and I’d like to think that my friends are with me.’

A reluctant smile creased his lean features. ‘You can always rely on me, Daisy. If all else fails I’ll take you on as matron here. You’re a very good nurse.’

‘Thank you,’ she said, smiling. ‘I might have to take you up on that one day.’

‘There’s just one thing, Daisy. Does Toby know about this move of yours?’

‘He knows that Jay is missing, of course, but I haven’t told him that Marjorie is taking over the manor house. I’ll write to him tonight, but there’s nothing he can do. There’s nothing that anyone can do.’

‘I wish I had enough money to pay your debts for you.’ Nick took her hand in his. ‘You know where I am if you need me, Daisy.’

Marjorie Harker and her daughters were due to move in at the end of the following week, leaving Daisy very little time to make the cottage habitable. She left the packing to Mary and Hilda, and while she was still in charge she put the outdoor servants to work on renovations to the small dwelling that would be her home. The domestics were sent to sweep, scrub and clean every part of the building, and the handyman fixed the damaged woodwork and mended the broken windows. The gardeners were set to dig over the vegetable bed and plant seedlings grown in the greenhouses on the estate, and Mrs Ralston organised a search of the Manor attics to find oddments of furniture and rugs that were no longer required in the main house. Hilda altered discarded curtains to fit the windows and Cook raided the pantry, sorting out jars of jam, jellies and pickles to stock the small pantry.

Daisy wrote to her brother, explaining why she had taken such a drastic course of action, but knowing Toby’s lackadaisical attitude to everything other than his profession, she did not expect to receive a reply.

Considering her duty done, she left Hilda to supervise the preparations at the cottage while she rode to Maldon in search of a legitimate cargo for the Lazy Jane. Guppy had kept her up to date with his efforts to find a crew and the ship was now ready to sail. Daisy was afraid that if she did not find a cargo quickly, Guppy and Ramsden might take it into their heads to follow their old illegal trade, and that was something she wanted to avoid at all costs.

Having left early in the morning, Daisy arrived in Maldon soon after midday, and the moment she started making enquiries at the various shipping offices she realised that it was not going to be easy to break into a business dominated entirely by men. The reception she received at her first encounter with an agent was one of polite disdain, and she was made to feel so uncomfortable that she left the premises minutes after entering. She received similar treatment from the next one and the next, and walking along the quay proved to be such hostile territory that she was beginning to wish that she had brought Guppy or Ramsden with her. It was a warm day and she was hot and thirsty. She had not eaten since breakfast, and then she had only nibbled a slice of toast. She decided to venture into a respectable-looking inn, but the landlord was not welcoming.

‘We don’t serve your sort in here.’

Daisy stared at him in dismay. Abel Perkins, the landlord of the local pub in Little Creek, was always polite to the extent of being obsequious, especially since she had become mistress of Creek Manor. ‘I just want a glass of cider,’ she protested. ‘And a pie or anything you have to eat.’

‘I don’t serve women on their own. It’s against the law and you ain’t welcome here, missis.’

‘This lady is with me.’

Daisy spun round to see who had spoken in such a confident manner. The man met her surprised gaze with a humorous smile.

‘I believe you asked for a glass of cider, isn’t that so, my dear?’

Daisy nodded mutely, too shocked to argue.

‘And my lady requires sustenance, landlord. What have you to offer?’

The man behind the bar smiled and nodded. ‘Why, Mr Walters, the lady only had to mention your name and she would have been shown into my private parlour.’

‘I dare say, but you haven’t answered my question. We are both hungry. What is on the menu?’

‘My wife makes a very tasty beef stew, sir. With her freshly baked bread it’s a great favourite, followed by her apple pie and cream.’

‘Then that’s what we’ll have, and two glasses of cider. I take it that’s acceptable to you, my dear?’ His dark eyes twinkled with amusement as he met Daisy’s stunned gaze.

‘Er, yes, thank you,’ she said vaguely.

‘Of course, sir. Will you come this way?’ The landlord lifted the hatch in the bar counter and led them through the taproom to a private parlour. ‘Make yourselves comfortable. Your order will be brought to you.’

The door closed behind him and Daisy turned to face her champion. He was obviously a gentleman, judging by his expensively cut jacket, breeches and riding boots, and his voice was cultured with a hint of merriment, as if he were ready to laugh at any moment. She eyed him warily.

‘Who are you?’

‘You’ll pardon the liberty, Mrs Tattersall, but I saw the way you were treated in the shipping agent’s office, and the appalling rudeness of the landlord, so I had to step in.’

‘You were in the agent’s office?’

‘My name is Marius Walters and I am a merchant.’

‘A merchant?’

‘I trade with foreign countries and I gather from what I overheard that you have a ship for charter.’

‘Yes, I do.’

‘Then we might be able to do business, but I suggest we eat first, and get to know each other a little better.’

‘I’m not sure I ought to be here.’ Daisy glanced round anxiously. They were alone in the private parlour, and even though this man seemed genuine, and instantly likeable, she was nervous. ‘I know nothing about you, and you don’t know me.’

He drew up a chair and held it for her. ‘Then shall we start with your name, or must I continue to call you Mrs Tattersall?’

‘I’m Daisy Tattersall from Creek Manor.’ She paused, frowning. ‘Or rather, I own Creek Manor, but I’m living temporarily in a cottage on the estate.’

He pulled up another chair and sat down beside her. ‘How fascinating. I assume there must be a good reason for this?’

Daisy hesitated as a young barmaid entered the room bringing their drinks, which she laid on the table. ‘Grub’s coming in a minute,’ she said brusquely as she retreated, leaving the door to close of its own accord.

‘Appalling service, but excellent food,’ Marius said, smiling. ‘I always eat here when I’m in Maldon.’

‘So where do you come from?’ Daisy raised her glass to her lips and drank thirstily. The cider was refreshing, but on an empty stomach it proved quite potent and she hoped the food would arrive soon.

‘Here and there, Daisy. I may call you Daisy?’

‘I don’t see why not, since we’re breaking all the rules.’

‘Rules are there to be broken.’ He sat back, eyeing her curiously. ‘Why did you come all the way to Maldon, on your own, knowing nothing about the shipping industry?’

She felt the blood rush to her cheeks. ‘That’s my business.’

Marius’s smile faded. ‘I am sorry. I seem to have upset you quite unintentionally.’

‘I’m recently widowed,’ Daisy said, looking away. ‘It’s not easy to talk about it.’

‘Again, I apologise for my clumsy remark. Have you no one to handle business matters for you?’

She turned to give him a straight look. ‘I’m perfectly capable of managing my own affairs, and quite frankly it has nothing to do with you, Mr Walters. I’m very grateful to you for trying to help, but perhaps I’d better go now. I think this is a mistake.’ She was about to rise but he caught her by the sleeve.

‘Don’t go. It would be a shame to waste the stew, which I’m sure will prove to be delicious.’

The humorous gleam in his dark eyes was hard to resist and brought a reluctant smile to Daisy’s lips. ‘Well, I am hungry.’

‘Then you’ll stay?’

‘I will.’ She sat down again. ‘But then I must try to find an agent. I can’t allow the ship to lie idle.’

‘Let’s enjoy our meal,’ he said as the door opened and the barmaid staggered in with two large bowls filled with savoury-smelling stew. She left and returned moments later with a basket of hot rolls and a large pat of butter. She took cutlery from the pocket in her apron and laid it on the table.

‘Eat up,’ she said cheerfully. ‘There’s folks who would kill for Mrs Tompkins’ beef stew.’

Daisy and Marius exchanged amused glances.

‘Thank you.’ Marius slipped a coin into the girl’s outstretched hand and she grinned appreciatively.

‘Ta, mister.’ She left the parlour, closing the door carefully this time.

The food was delicious and they ate largely in silence, pausing only to make favourable comments. They finished the meal with apple pie smothered with a generous helping of cream, followed by coffee.

‘That really was delightful,’ Daisy said earnestly. ‘But I think you must be extremely interested in the Lazy Jane, or you wouldn’t have gone to all this trouble for a complete stranger.’

He laughed. ‘You’re not a stranger now, Daisy. I know your name and a little about you, but what I do know is that you’re a very brave woman. It must have taken a lot of courage to come here on your own, let alone attempting to enter a business about which you obviously know nothing.’

‘I have little choice. The ship is the only asset I have at present.’

‘I won’t press you for more details. I can see that it’s difficult for you to talk about your situation, but might I make a suggestion?’

She met his serious gaze with a straight look. ‘Please do.’

‘Allow someone to help you.’

‘By that I assume you mean yourself.’

‘Precisely. I’m not making any promises, but I would like to see the Lazy Jane, and then I can judge whether or not she’s suitable for my purposes.’

‘Might I ask what type of goods you trade in?’

‘Anything and everything, from coal and iron to corn. I’ve recently parted company from my shipping agent, and I was thinking about chartering a ship purely for my own use. Your vessel sounds promising.’

‘When would you like to see her?’

‘I’m free now. Are you planning on returning to Little Creek … did you say that’s where she’s at anchor?’

‘I don’t think I mentioned it, but yes, she’s anchored in one of the creeks. Perhaps we could ride together. I didn’t enjoy riding here on my own.’

He chuckled. ‘I can imagine the locals’ faces when they saw a young lady travelling without a groom or a chaperone. It was a bold move, Daisy, but not without risks.’

‘I thought the days of highwaymen were ended.’

‘Maybe, but you would have been in difficulties if you were thrown from your horse. They can be temperamental creatures if something scares them.’ He held up his hands in a gesture of surrender. ‘All right, Mrs Tattersall, I know you’re perfectly capable of handling even the friskiest of animals. Shall we go?’