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 will lift all our spirits.’ Daisy left the kitchen before Hattie had a chance to argue.
‘They’ve arrived,’ Daisy said, peering from the
