‘I don’t know about that, miss. I haven’t got any medical knowledge. Not like you.’

‘I’ll go and see your mother, if it would help, but I think Jack should stay here until the danger is past.’

‘I agree.’ Linnet stared down at her tightly clasped hands. ‘Ma wants to see Jay, but after the last set-to with our dad, Jay swore he’d never cross the threshold again.’

‘He isn’t in trouble with the law now, is he?’

‘No. At least, I don’t think so. He might have been a bit wild as a youth, but he was never guilty of serious crime. The squire sent him to prison supposedly as a warning to others, but if you believe that you’ll believe anything.’

‘I find it hard to understand how that man could treat his own flesh and blood in such a way.’ Daisy shot an anxious glance in Linnet’s direction. ‘I hope I haven’t said the wrong thing.’

‘Ma told me what happened to her when she was a young girl in the squire’s service, but I don’t know why that man is set on ruining our family. You’d think he’d done enough damage already, and if anything he’d want to make amends.’

‘I agree, but the only person who could answer that is the squire himself,’ Daisy said slowly. ‘But perhaps Jay will come home when he finds out that his mother needs him.’

‘I’ll ask the local fishermen if they know where he might be found, and I’ll try to get a message to him.’

‘I think that’s the best thing to do.’

‘Is there anything I can get for you, miss? I was going to turn in early, if you don’t need me again.’

‘You go and get some rest, Linnet. I’ll be going to bed soon anyway. It’s been a very tiring day, and I’ve a feeling tomorrow is going to be even busier.’

Linnet hesitated in the doorway. ‘You’re not going to leave us again, are you, miss?’

‘Not while this disease is rife. Dr Neville can’t do it all on his own.’ Daisy settled down to write a letter to Minnie, explaining that she was going to remain in Little Creek until the cholera outbreak was over. She penned another more formal letter to Nurse Johnson, explaining her situation and then another, much briefer note to Toby, asking him to pay her half of the rent on Minnie’s room until such time as she was able to return to London. She left the correspondence on the salver in the hall with the money for postage. That done she went to bed, her conscience appeased.

Next day there were more cases and the most notable were Charity and Patience Harker, the daughters of Colonel Harker from Four Winds, a large property on the edge of the village. The colonel and his lady were stationed in Poona, although expected home very soon, but Mrs Jones, their housekeeper, was apparently distraught. She sent a message with the coachman, begging Nick to visit the sick girls.