Nick leaped to his feet, gazing over the heads of the curious onlookers. ‘There’s been an accident. I’d better see if I can help. Stay here, Daisy.’ He put his hand in his pocket and left a pile of coins on a side plate before shrugging on his overcoat as he hurried into the street. Daisy had no intention of sitting there idly and she followed him outside to see if she could help. But the sight that met her eyes made her gasp with horror. A man and woman had been in collision with an omnibus. It looked as if they had both been trampled by the horses and the man was pinned beneath one of the wheels. The woman was screaming and crying, but the man was ominously silent. Nick was on his knees examining the woman while the driver tried to calm the frightened animals.

‘Stand back, everyone. Give the doctor space.’ Daisy was shocked to hear herself speak so authoritatively, and to her surprise the crowd obeyed her. ‘Somebody run to the hospital and get help.’ She went down on her knees beside the woman. ‘You’ll be all right. My friend is a doctor.’

‘Keep her as quiet and still as possible, Daisy,’ Nick said in a low voice. ‘I need to take a look at the other casualty.’

Daisy slipped her arm around the sobbing woman’s shoulders. She did not have to be a doctor to see that the poor creature’s right leg was broken and bleeding, and there was a nasty gash on her forehead. Daisy took her hanky from her pocket to staunch the head wound. ‘Try to keep still. We’ll get you to the hospital as quickly as possible.’

‘My husband,’ the woman gasped. ‘Is he all right?’

Daisy glance at Nick, who was bent over the inert male figure. ‘The doctor is looking after him now. I’m sure he’ll be fine.’

‘Is he dead? I can’t see him moving.’

‘He’s unconscious, but you mustn’t worry. He’s in good hands.’ Daisy tightened her hold on the woman’s trembling body. ‘Can you tell me your name?’

‘It’s Hilda. Hilda Begg and that’s my husband, Stanley. We was on our way home when it happened. Is he all right? We’ve got to get home to the children.’

‘You need to go to the hospital, Hilda,’ Daisy said gently.

‘But I left Judy in charge of the little ’uns. She’s only nine and she’s not very strong.’

‘Try not to worry.’ Daisy mopped a trickle of blood from Hilda’s forehead. ‘I’m sure we can get someone to look after your children until you’re well enough to go home.’

The bus driver had managed to quieten the frightened horses and he handed the reins to a passer-by. ‘She run in front of the bus, miss.’ He leaned over the casualty, pushing his cap to the back of his head. ‘You could have killed us all, you silly bitch.’

‘That’s enough of that,’ Daisy said severely. ‘This poor woman is badly hurt. It doesn’t matter whose fault it was. We must get her and her husband to hospital.’