Hardy character promoted by business when making coddle (6)
I believe the answer is:
cosset
'coddle' is the definition.
(I know that coddle can be written as cosset)
'hardy character promoted by business' is the wordplay.
'hardy character' becomes 'tess' (in Tess of the d'Urbervilles, Thomas Hardy novel).
'promoted' says the letters should be written backwards (going up, in a down clue).
'by' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'business' becomes 'co' (short for company).
'tess' in reverse letter order is 'sset'.
'sset' after 'co' is 'COSSET'.
'when making' acts as a link.
This may not be right. Some or all of it may be part of another bit of the clue.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for cosset that I've seen before include "Fondle" , "Pamper, mollycoddle" , "Pamper, coddle (6)" , "Care for and protect" , "Indulge - pamper" .)