‘They do normally, Doctor, but they’re wayward girls. It was a particularly hot day in the middle of last week and I warned them against paddling in the creek, but they ignored me. Soaked, they were, when they returned home. I wouldn’t be surprised to discover they’d been dousing themselves with the water. They’re saying in the village that it’s the miasma from the creek that’s causing the illness.’

‘Well, we won’t worry about that for now,’ Nick said hastily. ‘If you agree, I’ll have beds ready for the young ladies at Creek Hall, where they’ll have the best treatment we can offer.’

‘That will be a relief, Doctor. I’ll have the carriage ready to bring them to you as soon as I receive the word.’

‘Thank you, ma’am. I’m going home now to make the necessary arrangements.’

‘I’ll come with you, Nick,’ Daisy said as they ascended the sweeping staircase to the entrance hall. ‘I can help Dove to get their rooms ready.’

‘If you remain here to help fight the disease you’ll lose your place at the London. I can’t ask you to make such a sacrifice.’

Daisy caught hold of his arm as they reached the foot of the stairs. ‘This is more important. I know so many of the people in the village and I care what happens to them. You need help and I’m prepared to do what I can.’

A tired smile lit his eyes. ‘I can see that to argue would be futile.’

‘Yes, it would.’ She followed him outside onto the gravelled carriage sweep and the warm summer sunshine caressed her cheeks. The air was fresh and filled with the scent of flowers and the briny tang of the sea. On such a lovely day it seemed incredible that the threat of a dreaded disease was hanging over the village like a thunder cloud.

The Harkers’ groom had been walking Hero, but at the sight of the doctor he brought the trap round to the front door.

‘The head gardener’s two nippers are poorly, Doctor. Will you take a look at them afore you go?’

‘I’ll stop at their cottage on the way.’ Nick helped Daisy onto the driver’s seat and climbed up beside her. ‘Let’s hope it’s some childish ailment and not cholera. Walk on, Hero.’

‘I’ve been reading up on the disease,’ Daisy said, holding on to her bonnet as Hero lurched forward. ‘If we can keep people from passing it on through poor hygiene and ignorance, maybe we can prevent it from spreading.’

They stopped at the head gardener’s cottage, but Nick returned quickly and took the reins from Daisy.

‘There’s nothing wrong with those two that a dose of castor oil won’t cure. The little monkeys have been eating unripe fruit from the hothouse. They’ll survive, thank goodness. Walk on, Hero.’

Daisy and Dove worked hard to get a room ready for their first patients. They removed the Holland covers, and took the rugs downstairs to hang on the washing line, using wicker carpet beaters to send clouds of dust into the air. Despite the seriousness of the situation they turned the task into a competition to see who could finish first and ended up helpless with laughter at each other’s efforts. A word, accompanied by a disapproving frown, from Mrs Bee sent them hurrying back to the pleasant upstairs bedroom that overlooked the saltings, where they swept and polished the floor and changed the bed linen. The rugs were replaced and the room was ready just as the Harkers’ carriage drew up outside. Nick and the Harkers’ coachman carried the sick girls upstairs to their light and airy room, where Daisy and Dove attended to all their immediate needs and made them as comfortable as possible.