They were escorted by a matron to outside a ward where Becket was sitting with his head in his hands.

‘How is she?’ demanded Lady Polly.

‘I’m waiting to find out, my lady,’ said Becket, getting to his feet.

‘We will have her removed to a private room as soon as possible,’ said the earl.

They waited in silence. Becket was too upset, too shy of them at the same time, to make any attempt at conversation.

At last a doctor approached them. ‘Mr Becket,’ he said, ‘your wife is going to be all right, but I’m afraid Mrs Becket has lost her baby.’

‘We are the Earl and Countess of Hadshire,’ said Lady Polly grandly. ‘We feel Mrs Becket should be moved to a private room.’

‘We will do that as soon as she comes out of the operating theatre.’

‘May I see her?’ pleaded Becket.

‘It won’t be long now. My lord, my lady, we have a more comfortable room for you to wait in. Follow me.’

* * *

They had been waiting for half an hour when Rose arrived. ‘What on earth has happened to Daisy?’ she asked.

Becket told her about the visit to the shop and then said in a stifled voice, ‘Daisy has lost the baby.’

‘How dreadful. How is she?’

‘I don’t know. They say they will let me see her soon.’

‘Where is Captain Cathcart?’

‘He was guarding the villain when I left. When I get my Daisy out of here, I never want her to do any detecting again.’

‘And that goes for you, too, Rose,’ said Lady Polly angrily.

A doctor came in, a different one, and said, ‘Mr Becket, you can have a few words with your wife now. She has had a bad concussion and lost a lot of blood.’

They all got to their feet. ‘I think perhaps Mr Becket should see her alone,’ he said.

Becket went off. Then Matthew Jarvis arrived. ‘I came, my lord, to see if I could be of any help.’

‘Good man. Go and see whoever you have to and get the billing for a private room for Mrs Becket. She has lost her baby. Find out the best consultants in Harley Street for her and tell them to examine her as soon as possible. Make arrangements for proper food and strengthening wine to be delivered to her room.’

‘Very good, my lord.’

The doctor came back. ‘I think you can spend a few minutes with Mrs Becket. Follow me.’

Daisy looked a small forlorn figure lying in the hospital bed. Her head was bandaged. Tears ran down Rose’s face. She sat down by the bedside and took Daisy’s hand.

Becket was on the other side of the bed, his face white with misery. ‘Do you know what they are saying, Rose?’ whispered Daisy. ‘They say I may have lost the baby anyway. It was not a strong pregnancy.’

‘Shhh, dear. You must get strong and well again.’

‘Country air is what you need once you are out of here,’ said Lady Polly bracingly. ‘We will make arrangements to have you removed to Stacey Court, you and your husband, that is.’