For a moment the ice-cold water took her breath away and she fought her way to the surface, coughing and spluttering. Almost immediately Nurse Keen put her hand on her head and forced it below the water again. Each time she fought her way up they shoved her back down again, until she began to feel light-headed. Suddenly her limbs felt heavy and the fight went out of her. She knew she was going to die, yet strangely she didn’t care anymore.

And then just as she was welcoming death she was grasped viciously beneath her arms, hauled out of the bath and thrown roughly onto the cold floor. Gasping for breath, she began to heave up the vast amounts of water she had swallowed while Nurse Keen watched with her thick arms folded across her chest and a look of satisfaction on her face.

Finally the nurse threw her shift at her. ‘Now get that on an’ per’aps you’ll know to be’ave better from now on, eh?’

For now there was no fight left in her, but somehow she managed to get to her feet and yank the shift down over her head. She was cold and shivering and had never felt so ill in her life as the nurse hauled her along the corridor.

Once back in her cell she curled up on the bed and pulled the thin grey blanket over her head and finally she slept from sheer exhaustion.

The next time the door opened Ruby opened her eyes and stared blearily at the door, relieved to see that it was Nurse Downes.

‘Ruby, it’s supper time. Do you feel well enough to come along to the dining room?’ Her voice was soft and the kind words brought tears to Ruby’s eyes again. She wanted to tell her that she wasn’t hungry but then as she thought back to the way she had been forcibly fed she changed her mind and reluctantly swung her legs over the side of the bed.

‘That’s good.’

She made to rise, but her legs threatened to give way beneath her and the kindly nurse hurried forward and put her arm about her waist.

‘Lean on me,’ she urged, and as they started along the corridor she whispered, ‘Just try to do as you’re told and don’t make a fuss and they’ll leave you alone.’

‘B-but I shouldn’t even be here,’ Ruby said with a catch in her voice. ‘I truly haven’t done anything wrong.’