Later, when she was allowed to take a break for lunch, Daisy retrieved the flowers and took them to Hilda, who seemed to have been improving slowly, but Daisy was concerned to find her lying down with her face to the wall.

‘What’s the matter? Are you in pain?’ Daisy placed the violets on the bedside locker.

Hilda turned a tear-stained face to her. ‘They say I got to have me leg amputated. It’s not healing properly.’

Chapter Nineteen

Daisy clutched Hilda’s hand. ‘I’m so sorry, Hilda, but if the doctors say that, you know it must be for the best, hard as it might seem.’

‘But how will I earn me living? I’ll be a cripple and me and the nippers will have no choice but to go to the workhouse.’

‘I won’t allow that to happen,’ Daisy said firmly. ‘The children are safe and happy in the country, and when you’re well enough to travel I’m sure we can arrange for you to join them.’

Hilda shook her head, tears spilling down her cheeks. ‘But what then? Who’s going to support us, and what work can a one-legged woman do?’

‘Please don’t upset yourself, Hilda.’ Daisy leaned over to brush a lock of hair from Hilda’s damp forehead. ‘Everything will be all right, I promise you that. We’ll find a way somehow.’

She looked round to see Minnie approaching followed by a more senior nurse.

‘Good afternoon, Mrs Begg. I’ve come to give you something to calm your nerves,’ Minnie said with a bright smile. She shot a wary look at her superior.

‘Help the patient to a sitting position, Nurse. You can’t pour the medication down her throat while she’s supine.’ The senior nurse’s fingers twitched impatiently.

‘I’ll help you, Nurse Cole,’ Daisy said hastily, and together they managed to get Hilda propped up on the pillow and able to drink the mixture.

She pulled a face. ‘That tastes blooming horrible.’

‘We’ll be taking you to theatre in a few minutes,’ Minnie said gently. ‘You mustn’t worry, Hilda, you’re in good hands.’

‘There’s no time to chat, Nurse Cole.’

The senior nurse marched off with Minnie following at a slower pace, and Daisy stayed with Hilda until the medicine took effect and her eyes closed.

‘I’ll try to be here when you come round,’ Daisy whispered. ‘It will be all right, Hilda. I promise.’ But as Daisy left the ward she knew that life for Hilda would be far from easy.

She managed to snatch a brief conversation with Minnie at their afternoon break, and she learned that Hilda’s operation had been successful – her right leg having been amputated below the knee. Daisy forgot about food and hurried back to Hilda’s ward. She reached her bedside just as Hilda opened her eyes.

‘You’re going to be fine,’ Daisy said gently. ‘The operation went well.’

‘I can still feel me toes.’ Hilda focused her eyes on Daisy’s face. ‘Did they save me leg?’

‘Don’t worry about that now.’ Daisy looked up as a senior nurse appeared at her side. ‘I’m just going, Sister.’