‘You’re going to be sorry for this,’ she whimpered as she tried to cover her breasts with her arms. ‘How dare you treat me like this!’

‘Ooh, just hark at her. She’s a right little lady, ain’t she.’

Nurse Keen dragged her towards the bath and before Ruby could stop her, she shoved her hard in the back and Ruby tumbled into the water with a loud splash. It was ice-cold and she came up coughing and spluttering as the nurse tossed her a bar of carbolic soap.

‘Now get yerself washed wi’ that or do I have to do that for yer an’ all!’ she ordered.

Too terrified to do any other, Ruby obeyed, although she could hardly see what she was doing for the tears that were spurting from her eyes.

‘Yer wouldn’t think butter would melt in her mouth to look at her, would yer?’ Nurse Keen commented. ‘An’ yet she’s a right one fer the men an’ has no morals at all accordin’ to the doctor’s report. She’s already had one baby an’ God knows how long it would ’ave been before she was carryin’ another. She steals an all. An’ she’s got the deluded idea that her mother is here!’ Her eyes settled on the ring on Ruby’s finger and pouncing on her she grabbed her hand and dragged it off. ‘You won’t be needin’ that in ’ere, dearie. I’ll keep it safe for yer.’

Ruby was incensed. The ring that Hermione had had specially made for her was her most prized possession and she couldn’t bear to see it on Nurse Keen’s little finger.

‘Give that back immediately,’ she cried.

The woman just stared at her stonily. ‘I reckon it’s time we let this little lady see who’s in charge.’ She nodded to the nurse behind her and the next instant Ruby felt strong hands force her face beneath the water. She kicked and struggled for all she was worth but her strength was no match for theirs and as the greasy, icy water filled her lungs she felt herself going light-headed.

I’m going to die, she thought, but suddenly she felt someone take a handful of her hair and she was yanked out of the bath and dumped on the floor. Her scalp felt as if it was on fire and she was coughing up water as the women chuckled.

‘P-please tell me what’s going on,’ she whimpered when she was able to catch her breath again.

Nurse Keen crossed her meaty arms across her enormous chest as she stared down at her. ‘You want to know, do you? Then I’ll tell yer. You’ve been committed, dearie. Do yer know what that means?’

‘I-I’m not sure!’