Devastated, Judy is nonetheless determined to make the best of her life. Resolving to forget about Jack, she battles to keep her family from poverty’s door and her mother from the hands of her violent husband.
I was introduced to Dilly Court with the first in this wonderful series "The Christmas Wedding", following everyone from the beginning. And as with all trilogies this third book THE COUNTRY BRIDE brings the series to an end. I shall miss the characters, both new and old, as I grew rather fond of them...even the quirky ones. Daisy was primary focus in the first two but it is Judy Begg, whose family Daisy had saved in the first book, that takes centre stage here...bringing with it a different tale that is not so dissimilar to those of the past.
Little Creek, 1879: It's been over a decade since Daisy Marshall, now Walters, saved Judy Begg and her family from a fate worse than death after the tragic death of their father and disablement of their mother Hilda. Daisy thought nothing of bringing them to Little Creek and giving them refuge in the Creek Hall Hospital while their mother Hilda recuperated before she gave them a more permanent residence and work at Creek Manor upon her marriage to Jay Tattersall, squire and Lord of the manor.
Now ten years later, with Jay long since escaping to Australia after two bigamous marriages (with Daisy being one of them), Judy has grown up at Creek Manor from childhood to young woman. Jay's mother Mary relies heavily on Judy in the hope that she will take over from Mrs Ralston when she retires but Judy wants more for her life than to be a housekeeper. Now 20 years old, she has grown up alongside Jay's younger brother Jack Fox with the two childhood sweethearts hoping to marry one day. But as much as Mary loves Judy, she sees no future for the couple as Jack is Lord of Creek Manor in his half brother's absence and he must marry a wealthy heiress with a sizable dowry. Judy sees the sense in what Mary says but still it breaks her heart. Jack, however, would not be swayed and declares that he will marry Judy as they are meant to be together.
Confused by her own feelings and knowing what's right, Judy flees to London to begin a new life away from Jack. She takes an attic room from the old lodging house in which Daisy had lived when working as a probationary nurse at the London Hospital, and finds work at the same hospital as a ward cleaner. However, on her first day, she receives word that Jack has taken a terrible fall whilst out riding and is asking for her. Judy collects her belongings and hurries home to be at his side. Even his mother sees her way clear for Judy to tend to her son as it is obvious how much she means to him. Jack is miserable confined to his bed "like a cripple" without any feeling in his legs whatsoever. The doctors tending him cannot say whether he will walk again or not, but Jack is sure he will remain a cripple...putting paid to his plans to marry Judy.
And then out of the blue, Jay returns. His reason? He has come to sell Creek Manor to fund his fortune in Australia. And everyone has exactly one month to vacate the estate before it is sold. The village is in shock as are the servants who have been loyal employees for most of their lives. Jay Tattersall is nothing but bad news and no good shall ever come of anything to do with him. Only one person is thrilled by his arrival and excited by the prospects he offers. Jack. He plans to return to Australia with his (half) brother and he wants Judy to come with them. But after much soul searching, Judy refuses. Her life is here in Little Creek with her family. And they need her now more than ever.
Jack leaves with Jay suddenly without so much as a goodbye to the girl that was meant to be his bride. Judy soon realised that she was to be nothing but a glorified nursemaid to Jack and discarded once she was no longer needed. Soon after they departed for Australia and every last tenant and servant had left the estate, Creek Manor was burnt to the ground. And now a pile of ashes, the new owner soon sold it off again, no longer interested in the cremated remains.
However, Judy is nothing if not determined. She refuses to let Jack's departure get to her and resolves to find somewhere for her family to live, after she was tossed out of the home she shared with her mother and her new brute of a husband, Wilfred Faulkner, when he tried it on with her. When she comes across an abandoned inn, the Crooked Billet, she forms a plan and seeks to learn of its ownership. When she hits a dead end in finding out who actually owns the old inn, Judy and her mother Hilda move in and clean the place from top to bottom and open its doors to receive custom once again.
Then a good looking stranger arrives to book a room indefinitely, revealing that he is the new owner of the Creek Manor estate. Rob Dorning seems to be the answer to all of Little Creek's problems, despite the Dorning name going down in infamy in these parts for smuggling and the like. But Rob appears to be nothing like his predecessors and promises to rebuild Creek Manor into something grand with modern amenities such as indoor privies and bathrooms. Even a water pump inside so one doesn't have to traipse out into the cold. He also intends on bringing custom to the Crooked Billet when building begins as the workers will be in need of a place to stay and to eat. But are his plans too good to be true? Is he who he says he is? And is he all that he appears?
Rob has certainly taken a liking to Judy as the two cross swords on occasion but, slowly succumbing, Rob soon grows on her. His presence at the Crooked Billet does prove to be an advantage for when Hilda's estranged husband comes looking for her, demanding she return home where she belongs. Faulkner takes one look at Rob seated by the fire and pales as if he had seen a ghost, turning and running out of the inn as if his life depended on it.
But their relief is shortlived when Jay returns once again...this time to buy back Creek Manor as an inheritance for his son back in Australia. However, he is shocked and angered to discover that the estate had already been sold and Rob Dorning was the new owner. Jay is livid, having counted on buying his inheritance back for a reduced price. What then ensues is a battle of wills between Jay and Rob, both of whom claim rightful ownership. And unfortunately for Judy, she gets caught in the middle.
This final installment to the Village Secrets trilogy is a thoroughly engaging and entertaining read. We meet some lovely and not-so-lovely characters. We also meet some new and some old acquaintances from the previous books and return to Little Creek which is, of course, refreshing to revisit. Although Daisy takes more of a backseat in this book, she does still feature prominently at times as Judy defers to her for guidance on several occasions.
THE COUNTRY BRIDE brings this series to an end though it could easily continue should the author choose to. But it, however, a satisfying end to the trilogy. Although, having said that, after everything they had been through at the hands of Jay the way that was resolved felt a little out of left field...almost like it was thrown in as an afterthought. It didn't ring true and I kept expecting something else to come of it.
My biggest gripe is with the chapters. I have said it before and I feel it needs saying again. While I have read longer chapters than those in Dilly's books, I still felt they were unnecessarily long with plenty of opportunity to break them down into smaller chapters. Particularly where there is a change of scene in the story mid-chapter...to me, that is worthy of a whole new chapter. I don't see the point in chapters being separated into "parts", unless it is specifically under the narrative of a particular character, which Dilly's are not. Therefore shorter chapters I feel would be much better.
Still, a wonderful book and compelling end to the trilogy, THE COUNTRY BRIDE is a must for all Dilly fans. Or for anyone who enjoys Catherine Cookson, Rosie Goodwin, Katie Flynn, Elvi Rhodes and Iris Gower.
I would like to thank #DillyCourt, #NetGalley and #HarperCollinsUK for an ARC of #TheCountryBride in exchange for an honest review.
MEET THE AUTHOR:
Dilly Court grew up in North-east London and began her career in television, writing scripts for commercials. She is married with two grown-up children and four grandchildren, and now lives in Dorset on the beautiful Jurassic Coast with her husband. She is the author of eighteen novels and also writes under the name of Lily Baxter.
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