A Village Scandal Read online

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  Published by HarperCollinsPublishers Ltd

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  First published in Great Britain by HarperCollinsPublishers 2020

  Copyright © Dilly Court 2020

  Map Copyright © Liane Payne 2019

  Jacket Photographs: © Gordon Crabb/Alison Eldred (Girl); Claire Ward (building); Shutterstock.com (all other images)

  Cover design by Claire Ward © HarperCollinsPublishers Ltd 2020

  Dilly Court asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of this work.

  A catalogue copy of this book is available from the British Library.

  This novel is entirely a work of fiction. The names, characters and incidents portrayed in it are the work of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or localities is entirely coincidental.

  All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, down-loaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of HarperCollins.

  Source ISBN: 9780008287795

  Ebook Edition © March 2020 ISBN: 9780008287801

  Version: 2020-02-12

  Dedication

  For Nicky and Sarah, and the hardworking and devoted staff of Jelly Babies Day Nursery

  Map

  Contents

  Title Page

  Copyright

  Dedication

  Map

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  The Country Bride

  Keep Reading …

  About the Author

  Also by Dilly Court

  About the Publisher

  Chapter One

  Little Creek, Essex, April 1869

  Daisy stood at the top of the grand staircase, clutching her bridal bouquet. The old manor house was eerily silent, all the servants having left for the village church, with the exception of James, the footman, who was waiting to assist her into the carriage.

  ‘You look beautiful, Daisy.’ Sidney Marshall gazed up at his niece with misty eyes. ‘Jay’s a lucky fellow.’

  Slowly, mindful of her long train, Daisy made her way downstairs. Was it her imagination, or were the portraits of stern-faced dignitaries actually smiling down at her? She was blissfully happy, and yet at the back of her mind there was a niggling worry that she could not explain.

  ‘This is all so different from our rushed ceremony on Christmas Eve, Uncle.’

  ‘It’s nothing less than you deserve, my dear.’

  Daisy was still not convinced. ‘I hope people won’t think it’s too much.’

  Sidney proffered his arm. ‘Of course not. They’ll all be thrilled to share your happiness.’

  ‘I hope so.’ Daisy laid her hand on his arm. ‘We’d better leave now. I don’t want to keep Jay waiting.’

  The Saxon church was bathed in spring sunshine, and the dark shapes of the yew trees contrasted dramatically with the daffodils swaying gently in the breeze, their yellow trumpets creating bands of gold amongst the neatly kept graves. It was several degrees cooler inside the building, and the smell of musty hymnals contrasted sharply with the scent from the floral arrangements, and just a hint of mothballs emanating from the congregation. The whole village had turned out to celebrate the wedding, and everyone had dressed in their Sunday best. There was a low buzz of conversation, as if people were afraid to raise their voices in such a holy place.

  ‘I know that Daisy is your niece, Eleanora, but this isn’t what I’d call a proper wedding.’ Grace Peabody, the vicar’s wife, pursed her lips and turned her head to stare at the guests, who were rapidly filling the pews. ‘It should simply be a blessing of the marriage that took place at Christmas. Heaven alone knows why my husband has gone to all this trouble, but it’s typical of John – he would have been too soft-hearted to refuse. Personally, I don’t see the need for all this fuss and bother. It’s not as if Daisy and Jay are real gentry.’

  Eleanora Marshall gazed at Grace in dismay. ‘Jay insisted that Daisy should have her big day with all the family present. I think he felt that she had been cheated out of a proper wedding.’

  ‘That’s nonsense, Eleanora. Of course the ceremony on Christmas Eve was the real thing. Do you think my husband would have agreed to anything less?’ Grace gave her a quelling look. ‘It’s just a pity you weren’t there.’

  ‘It was the weather,’ Eleanora said apologetically. Somehow she always felt at a disadvantage when she was in Grace’s company, and compelled to explain the reason for their absence from Daisy’s wedding ceremony for the umpteenth time. ‘We couldn’t get back from London because of the snow. The roads were blocked and the trains had stopped running.’

  ‘You don’t have to remind me.’

  ‘I would have liked them to wait, but I wouldn’t wish the young couple to live together in …’ Eleanora lowered her voice to a whisper, ‘… you know what I mean, Grace. At least they were married in the eyes of God.’

  ‘Well, I suppose Daisy wanted a big reception and all that it entails.’

  ‘Oh, no. Daisy isn’t like that. It’s Jay who always wants to be the centre of attention.’

  ‘That doesn’t surprise me. He was always in the public eye as a young boy, and invariably for the wrong reasons.’ Grace turned her head yet again, squinting as a beam of sunlight danced through the stained-glass window, momentarily dazzling her. ‘I see that Daisy’s brother has arrived with his fiancée. How did he feel about his sister’s rushed nuptials to someone like Jay Fox? I suppose I should try to call him Jay Tattersall now, but it doesn’t trip easily off my tongue.’

  ‘Jay is entitled to use his real father’s name, Grace. As for Toby, he takes everything in his stride.’ Eleanora tossed her head, forgetting the precarious angle at which she had pinned her new straw hat. The ostrich feathers, which had looked so charming in the shop window, tickled her nose and threatened to make her sneeze.

  Ignoring Eleanora’s struggle with her fashionable headwear, Grace turned her attention to Jay and his best man, Dr Nick Neville, who were waiting patiently at the altar. She shook her head, oozing disapproval from every pore. ‘I see that Jay’s sister is seated in the front row, flaunting herself as if she was already married to the doctor.’

  ‘I believe they’re almost engaged,’ Eleanora said nervously.

  Grace rolled her eyes. ‘Not so long ago Dove Fox was keen on the schoolmaster, and her sister, Linnet, was making eyes at the doctor. Now they seem to have swapped partners, as if life was like some sort of country dance. Those girls are flighty, if you ask
me.’

  ‘Young people today aren’t bound by the strict rules that you and I had to abide by, Grace.’

  ‘It’s not that I disapprove of someone like Dr Neville courting one of his servants, but Dove ought to be more circumspect. That’s all I’m saying.’

  ‘She’s Daisy’s sister-in-law now, and that makes her part of our family,’ Eleanora protested, stung by this further attack on those close to her. ‘It’s perfectly proper for her to sit there with her mother and young Jack.’ Eleanora shifted uncomfortably in her seat. Hard wooden pews were no doubt designed to make sure that the congregation did not fall asleep during long sermons, but she wished she had a cushion. She shot a sideways glance at Grace, who, as the vicar’s wife, had set herself up as unofficial arbiter of manners and morals in Little Creek. Although it was not in Eleanora’s nature to be humble, she was a relative newcomer to the village and had been careful not to offend Grace, but she was a fair woman and she felt the need to stand up for Dove. ‘I’m sure she will make him a good wife,’ she added.

  ‘I disagree, Eleanora. Dr Neville could do better for himself. The Fox girls should know their place in society, that’s all I’m saying.’

  ‘I think you’re forgetting that their brother is now lord of the manor,’ Eleanora said mildly. ‘I’m sure that Jay will try to live up to the responsibilities that he’s inherited.’

  Grace raised her gloved hand to shield her mouth. ‘I remember when Mary Fox was married to that bully of a first husband, she wore rags and had to send her children out to work when they were barely out of petticoats.’

  ‘That’s all in the past,’ Eleanora protested.

  ‘Mary might have risen from being a skivvy by marrying the squire, even if it was on his deathbed, but you can’t make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear. A real lady would keep her servants in their place, and yet she’s brought the entire staff of the manor house with her. It simply isn’t the done thing.’

  Eleanora had finally had enough of Grace’s uncalled for malice, and she rose to her feet. ‘I can hear a commotion outside. The bridesmaids must have arrived, so I’d better go and see if I can do anything to help.’ She hurried down the aisle, nodding and smiling at friends and acquaintances.

  Toby Marshall reached out to catch Eleanora by the hand as she was about to walk past him. ‘Is anything wrong, Aunt?’

  ‘No, dear. I was just going to make sure that the little ones were behaving. Daisy should be here at any moment.’

  Toby glanced at Jay, who was standing before the altar with his best man. ‘The bridegroom looks nervous. I’d have thought this would be easier the second time around, although why he would want to put himself through this again is a mystery to me.’

  ‘Hush, Toby.’ Minnie clutched his arm, stifling a giggle. ‘Someone will hear you.’

  He turned to his fiancée with a broad grin. ‘Everyone knows they were married in a rush at Christmas, Minnie. It’s not as if Daisy’s in the family way.’

  ‘Really, Toby, I don’t appreciate your sense of humour,’ Eleanora said crossly. ‘This is the house of God; you should be more respectful, and that sort of idle chatter gives the gossips something to talk about.’

  ‘Sorry, Aunt.’ Toby sank back onto the pew. ‘I think you’d better go and see to the bridesmaids. It sounds as if they are getting impatient.’

  ‘Yes, I’d better help Hilda, but you must mind your manners, Toby. You’re not in London now.’ Eleanora hurried out of the church into the warm spring sunshine.

  Minnie nudged Toby in the ribs. ‘That wasn’t fair, Toby. You shouldn’t say things like that to your aunt.’

  ‘Well, all this palaver is a bit silly, considering that my sister and Jay have been happily married for months. Anyway, it will be our turn next. I’ll make certain that our wedding is twice as grand as this one.’

  Minnie smiled. ‘I think my parents will have something to say about that, darling. Papa will want to marry us in his church, and Mama will have the last word when it comes to the wedding breakfast.’

  Toby leaned over to brush Minnie’s cheek with a kiss. ‘Let’s run away to Gretna Green. I don’t think I could go through all this again.’

  She chuckled and squeezed his hand. ‘But you will, and I rather fancy being a summer bride rather than waiting until the autumn.’

  ‘As soon as I’ve found us somewhere to live we’ll get your father to post the banns.’

  Outside the church Hilda was rearranging her younger daughter’s tumbled curls after the carriage ride from the manor house.

  ‘You girls look splendid.’ Eleanora said, smiling at ten-year-old Judy, who was wearing a white muslin dress made for her by the village dressmaker, which exactly matched the one worn by seven-year-old Molly. ‘Did you leave the boys with Mrs Fuller, as I suggested, Hilda?’

  ‘Yes, Mrs Marshall. I wasn’t going to bring them anyway. They’re too young to know how to behave on such an occasion.’ Hilda clutched her daughters’ hands. ‘We have to wait here until Daisy and her uncle arrive, and then you walk very slowly up the aisle, scattering the contents of your baskets. You know what to do, Judy.’

  ‘So do I,’ Molly lisped. ‘We practised yesterday, didn’t we, Judy?’

  ‘Yes, Ma. Stop worrying.’ Judy tossed her head. ‘We’re very important because we scatter the herbs that will keep away evil spirits.’

  Eleanora stared at her aghast. ‘Who’s filling your head with that nonsense?’

  Judy eyed her warily. ‘Cook said so. She knows a lot of things.’

  ‘Well, dear, I don’t think you’ll find any evil spirits in the church. It’s a holy place, and you and Molly are going to make a pretty carpet of flowers and leaves for the bride to walk on.’

  Hilda nodded. ‘Yes, indeed. Listen to Mrs Marshall, girls.’ She turned her head at the sound of an approaching carriage. ‘Here comes Daisy now.’

  The Tattersalls’ landau had been taken out of the coach house, dusted off, cleaned and polished and decorated with swags of greenery and white ribbons. Daisy sat beside her uncle, who was beaming with pride as the carriage drew to a halt, and the footman leaped off the box to open the door and put down the steps.

  ‘Do be careful, Sidney,’ Eleanora said anxiously. ‘We don’t want any accidents on Daisy’s special day.’

  ‘Don’t fuss, my dear. I’m as agile as a man half my age.’ Sidney clambered to the ground, groaning as his arthritic knees took his weight, but he managed a weak grin. ‘You see.’

  ‘I see an old man pretending to be younger than his years.’ Eleanora took the children from their mother. ‘You can go and sit with Mrs Ralston, Hilda. I’ll keep an eye on the girls. Come along, my dears. We’ll wait in the porch.’

  Hilda frowned and opened her mouth as if to argue, but a stern look from Eleanora made her change her mind and she went to sit at the end of the pew where the Creek Manor servants were waiting expectantly.

  ‘Are you ready, Daisy?’ Eleanora asked as she was about to shepherd the bridesmaids into the church.

  Daisy alighted from the landau with the help of her uncle and the footman. She shook out the voluminous skirts of the ivory silk gown that Jay had insisted she had made for the occasion, although if she were honest she would have preferred to wear something less formal. Her veil was held in place by a simple wreath of white camellias, and she carried a matching bouquet.

  ‘You look beautiful, my love,’ Sidney said, wiping tears from his eyes. ‘You are so like your mother. I remember how lovely she was. It was no wonder that my poor brother fell hopelessly in love with her.’

  ‘Thank you, Uncle.’

  Daisy was suddenly nervous. Until now she had taken everything in her stride, but she could hear the buzz of conversation emanating from the church, and as she approached the porch on the arm of her uncle, she could see that every seat was taken. There were people standing at the back of the nave and a few late-comers were outside, hoping to squeeze in after the wedding party. This was simply
a blessing on her marriage to Jay, she had told herself during the drive from the manor house to the church, only this time there were many well-wishers. It was all so different from the actual ceremony last Christmas Eve, when she and Jay had tramped through the snow on their way to the church. The only guests then had been Guppy and Ramsden, two of the crew from Jay’s ship, the Lazy Jane, with Mrs Peabody and her maid to act as witnesses.

  ‘Are you ready, Daisy?’

  She glanced at her uncle and smiled. ‘Yes, I am.’

  ‘We’re coming, Eleanora.’

  ‘All right, Sidney. No need to shout.’ Eleanora shooed the young bridesmaids into the nave and stood aside. She watched anxiously as they processed slowly up the aisle, concentrating on their important task with set expressions, while Miss Creedy, the regular church organist, hammered out the ‘Bridal Chorus’ from Wagner’s Lohengrin, occasionally hitting the right note.

  With her hand resting on her uncle’s arm, Daisy followed them, fixing her gaze on Jay. He turned to look at her and his smile still had the power to make her heart beat faster. She could hear the music and the soft shuffling of the congregation as they rose to their feet and stood in respectful silence, but for Daisy it might have been Christmas Eve all over again. The only person she could see was the man she had married in the depths of winter. The last four months had been the happiest she had ever known, and now she could look forward to a lifetime together, with the added blessing of any children that might come from their blissful union. It had not happened yet, but she lived in hope.

  Nick Neville turned his head to give her an encouraging smile. It was odd, she thought dreamily, at one time she had been certain that Nick was the man for her, but then Jay had quite literally swept her off her feet and she knew now that he was the love of her life. They were already legally married, and this ceremony – merely the affirmation of the bond that they shared – was mainly for the benefit of others. Daisy herself would have been quite happy to continue as they had been since Christmas, making every effort to right the wrongs that Squire Tattersall had committed in his selfish lifetime, but the title of lord of the manor carried with it heavy responsibilities. The old squire had been neglectful and greedy, and now Jay was intent of making reparation for his father’s wrongdoings.