‘I hope you didn’t send him away.’ Daisy pushed past her and flew across the hall to wrench the door open. ‘Toby!’ She could have cried with relief when she saw him standing on the pavement. His look of bafflement was replaced by a broad grin.

‘What’s going on, Daisy? I had the door slammed in my face.’

‘Mrs Wood doesn’t allow gentlemen callers, so I can’t ask you in.’

‘Never mind that. Have you eaten? Because I’m starving and I was going to the pie and eel shop when I suddenly thought of you.’

‘I’m not sure how to take that,’ Daisy said, giggling. ‘Just give me a minute and I’ll fetch my cape. I’ve only just arrived back from Little Creek.’ She closed the door and when she opened it again she was dressed for outdoors.

Toby proffered his arm. ‘I wondered why I didn’t see you on the wards. What possessed you to take time off to go home? Is anyone ill or dying?’

‘Let’s eat first. I didn’t realise how hungry I was until you mentioned eel pie.’

‘I know just the place.’

Later, replete after eating eel pie and mash, served with the tasty liquor, Daisy related the latest events to take place at Little Creek. Toby listened in silence, shaking his head when she came to the way the squire had treated her.

‘He’s a tyrant, Daisy. Well done for standing up to him.’ He gave her a speculative look. ‘But what about Jay? Are you in love with the fellow?’

‘I don’t know. Honestly, Toby, my feelings are so confused. When he’s away I can be rational and sensible, but when I’m with him it’s quite different.’

‘Best avoided then, if you ask me.’ Toby leaned back against the steamy wall. ‘I always thought you and Nick might make a go of it.’

She smiled. ‘Did you now? I didn’t think you were interested in anything unless it concerned you personally.’

‘I’m hurt, Daisy. You know I love you, even if I don’t always show my feelings.’

‘Of course I do, and the feeling is mutual. But one thing has become clear to me, and that is I need to prove to myself that I can do something worthwhile. I’d become used to the idea that the only future for me was as someone’s wife. Julian put paid to that when he decided that marriage wasn’t for him, at least not with me.’

‘I’m sorry.’ Toby reached out to lay his hand on her arm. ‘But he wasn’t worthy of you. I never liked the chap.’

‘It seems like another life,’ Daisy said, sighing. ‘But one thing is for certain, Toby. I am going to concentrate on learning everything I can about nursing.’

‘It’s a pity that women like you aren’t allowed to study medicine. You’d make a good doctor. If I’ve managed to qualify you most certainly could.’

‘I have to prove to Sister Johnson that I’m capable of qualifying as a nurse, and I’ll have to work twice as hard to make up for taking time off, but it was important to get Hilda’s children settled into a caring home.’