‘I’m afraid I can’t help you there. I don’t know many people in London. I suppose it would be easier if you were at home in Essex.’

Daisy laced her stays as tightly as possible and slipped her dress over her head. ‘I think you might have the solution there, Minnie,’ she said thoughtfully. ‘But I would have to take them to Little Creek and I don’t know if I could get time off.’

‘You could try asking Sister Tutor.’ Minnie checked her appearance in the tiny mirror placed on the top of the chest of drawers. ‘I’m going down to breakfast. I can’t go a whole morning without eating, even though I had a splendid dinner last night. Giles is very generous. He insisted on paying for everything. I think I have a rich beau, Daisy. Isn’t that splendid?’

‘Yes, splendid indeed.’ Daisy scraped her hair into a tight knot at the nape of her neck and secured it with half a dozen pins as if daring a single lock to escape.

‘Come on. Hurry up.’ Minnie held the door open. ‘I hate cold porridge.’

‘I’m coming.’ Daisy followed her downstairs to the dining room, but even before she had reached the door she had made her mind up. The children would be safe in Little Creek and she knew exactly where to take them. Mrs Bee and Dove would take care of them and Dove would make sure that Judy attended school. She had always suspected that Dove had a soft spot for Elliot Massey, and that it was mutual. Even if she hadn’t taken up the position of his assistant teacher at the school, this would give them the opportunity of seeing more of each other. But first Daisy would have to get permission from Hilda, and then she would have to face Sister Johnson. It was going to be a busy morning.

Hilda was tearful but in the end she acknowledged that the welfare of her children was the most important thing, and her convalescence was likely to be a long one. ‘Are you sure that these people will be kind to my little ones, Nurse?’

‘I wouldn’t have suggested it if I didn’t know them personally, and Creek Hall is an ideal place for children. They’ll get fresh air and good food, and the village school is excellent. Besides which, Mrs Boynton is one of the kindest people you could wish to meet.’

‘But the gent who owns the house might not be happy to have my nippers foisted on him.’

‘Dr Neville is a friend of mine and I know he’d agree with me. In fact, I’ll go and see him first to get his permission, but I know he won’t object.’

Hilda dashed tears from her eyes. ‘Why would you do this for me? We were strangers before the accident.’

‘You’re someone in need of help. That’s what nursing is all about, Hilda. The surgeons can fix your bones, but a broken heart is another matter. If your children were taken into the workhouse it would be the worst thing that could happen, apart of course from losing your husband.’