Aggie’s thin cheeks flushed pink. ‘Yes, miss. I forgot me place. Don’t tell the mistress.’

‘Of course we won’t,’ Daisy said hastily. ‘It was my fault for asking questions.’

‘Ta, miss.’ Aggie bobbed a curtsey and rushed from the room.

Daisy pushed her plate away. ‘I really can’t face this. It’s awful.’

‘But it’s filling, and it comes with the price of the room. You’ll get used to it, Daisy.’ Minnie licked her spoon and dropped it back in the empty bowl. She reached for a slice of bread. ‘If you’ve got any sense you’ll fill up on this and then you can get by until the evening.’

‘But you don’t have supper here.’

‘The school mistresses are the only ones who eat in at night. I think they must be used to dreadful food at the private school for young ladies, but I’d rather exist on watercress and boiled eggs from Old Joe’s stall than risk eating Cook’s evening meals. You’ll do the same if you’ve got any sense.’

‘Do we get meals provided at the hospital when we’re on duty?’

‘Yes, but I doubt if they’re any better than Cook’s offerings. At least, that’s what I’ve been told by some of the more senior probationers. Maybe you ought to have asked your nice doctor friend to take you out to luncheon instead of a walk in the park, or whatever he has in mind.’ Minnie put her head on one side, giving Daisy a knowing look. ‘You’re blushing.’

Daisy pushed her plate away and stood up. ‘I am not. It’s the steam from the porridge that’s made my cheeks flush. Nick is just a friend.’

‘I believe you,’ Minnie said, giggling.

‘I’m going to be too busy to think about romance.’ Daisy picked up her cup and drank the tea down to the dregs.

Chapter Fourteen

‘So why did you decide to return to London?’ Nick held the umbrella tilted to protect Daisy’s bonnet from the sudden shower. ‘Toby was very vague about it when I asked him that question.’

‘It seemed like the right thing to do,’ Daisy said evasively.

‘But I thought you were happy living with your aunt and uncle in Little Creek.’

‘And I was, but they aren’t so well off now, and I need to earn my own living.’ She shot him a sideways glance. ‘If I were a man I’d train to be a doctor, but I realise it’s virtually impossible for a woman to get qualified.’

‘Things are changing slowly. One day I’m sure we’ll have women doctors or even surgeons.’

‘In the meantime I have to start somewhere.’

‘So you’re serious about becoming a probationer at the London?’

‘Does that surprise you?’

‘No, not at all. I think you would do well whichever path you took.’

‘Actually it was pure chance that led me to walk into the waiting area of the hospital when the interviews were taking place. I was looking for Toby, but the nurse thought I was applying for a position as probationer.’