The doctor fell to his knees, heedless of the fact that the floor was awash with water, and flipping Ruby onto her side he began to pummel her back. When this had no effect, he rolled her onto her back and began to press on her chest and finally, just as he was beginning to fear that she had gone from them, she coughed and a stream of water shot out of her mouth.

‘Thank God,’ he muttered, sweat standing out on his brow.

Dilys, who had grabbed a towel to wrap around herself, began to shiver and sob with relief and Nurse Downes put a comforting arm around her as Nurse Keen and the other nurses stood back, scowling at the doctor.

Now that the panic was over, the doctor was frowning as they stared down at Ruby with a concerned expression. She had not yet attempted to open her eyes, but at least she was breathing. The girl was painfully thin and someone had hacked her hair off, but for all that there was something about her that was vaguely familiar.

As he watched her carefully, Ruby opened her eyes and stared up at the doctor vacantly as she gasped for breath. But then, as his face swam into focus, a smile lit her face. ‘G-George!’ It was George Chatsworth, the London jeweller’s son.

‘Ruby!’ It came to him like a bolt of lightning as he gathered her frail naked body into his arms and she began to sob with relief. ‘My God! But whatever are you doing here?’ And then seeing that she was still too weak to say much he bellowed at the nurse standing by the door. ‘Get me something to wrap her in now! Someone’s head is going to roll for this, you just mark my words! I’ve never before witnessed such barbaric cruelty!’

Just then, the matron, who had been informed of the ruckus going on upstairs, stormed in, her face livid with indignation. ‘Just what is going on here, doctor?’ she barked.

‘That’s exactly what I was going to ask you, Matron.’ His voice was icy cold and even from where he was kneeling with Ruby held protectively against him, he could smell the alcoholic fumes issuing from the woman. ‘Would you care to tell me why this girl is in here and who signed the committal papers.’

‘I, er . . . well, it’s all quite above board, I assure you,’ she blustered. ‘She was admitted some time ago for treatment with strict instructions that she was to stay here until further notice.’

‘Hm, I see.’ His voice was heavy with sarcasm. ‘And would she happen to be one your private inmates by any chance?’