Ray didn’t feel too rotten, apart from the gap in his mouth that his tongue kept finding, the graze on his face and a few bruises. He wanted to go out to play but Ma insisted he stayed in bed for the shock. He wasn’t strong, she said, not like other boys.

He’d watched from the window as his cousins played football and hopscotch in the street. Damn that stupid horse for making him miss out on all the fun.

Now, the mere whiff of a horse could send him lightheaded. Imagine if he’d fainted while he was trying to help her Ladyship? No, he’d done the right thing, keeping well out of it.

He was helping Maggie in other ways. She’d been so disappointed when she found out her sister was billeted so far away. But he was about to put the smile back on her face.

‘Maggie!’ he called, stepping out of the barn and wiping his hands on an oily rag.

She turned and frowned at him. ‘Ray? Is that you? Have you been there the whole time?’

He swallowed. ‘Yes. No. Not exactly. I’ve been working … in the barn. Come and see.’

But she wasn’t going to be put off that easily.

‘Didn’t you hear us out here? Me and her Ladyship? We were having a right game. I was …’ She stopped to catch her breath. ‘I was almost killed!’

Ray started to laugh but he saw Maggie’s face and thought better of it. She looked pale and out of sorts. But he’d soon put the roses back in her cheeks. She was going to love this.

‘Come and see what I’ve found!’ he said, beckoning her closer.

She scowled and followed him reluctantly into the barn.

‘Now, stop there and close your eyes,’ he said.

She pulled a face but did as he asked.

Ray took hold of each of her wrists and, stepping backwards, pulled her gently towards him. He guided her carefully around a stack of hay bales. ‘Keep ’em closed!’ he said.

After a few more steps, he let go of her arms. ‘You can open them now.’

He’d found it at the back of the barn. Tonks the gardener had tipped him off. It had been here for years, apparently, gathering dust. It had belonged to Lord Ashford and his brother when they were boys.

‘Course, it would have been more impressive if he could have wheeled it forward but both the Dunlop tyres were flat and he hadn’t got as far as fixing those yet.’

Maggie opened her eyes, blinked a couple of times and then frowned. ‘What’s that?’

Ray grinned. ‘It’s a tandem, of course! The gears are clogged up and the chain’s completely rusted but I’ve been working on it since yesterday and it’s looking better. Surprising what you can do with a bit of wire wool.’