‘The Lazy Jane, miss. I’ve seen you before.’

Daisy glanced anxiously over her shoulder to see if anyone was listening. ‘Is the captain on board?’

‘He might be. It depends who’s asking.’

‘I must see him. I have some important news for him.’

‘He won’t come ashore, miss. I could pass on a message.’

‘No,’ Daisy said firmly. ‘I must tell him in person.’ She quelled the excitement rising within her. She must remain professional despite the temptation to do something rash. ‘Your shipmate is very ill. We’ll do what we can for him, but his burns are very serious.’

The man shook his head. ‘Poor Benny. He was always a clumsy devil, but he didn’t deserve to suffer like this.’

‘Can you tell me his full name, and if he has any family who need to be informed.’

‘He’s Benjamin Sykes and he supports his widowed mother. The old lady won’t be able to manage if he don’t send her money.’

‘We’ll do what we can for him and there’s always a glimmer of hope. Please tell the captain that, and ask him to come to the hospital. I’m on duty this evening until ten o’clock. If he asks for Probationer Nurse Marshall someone will tell him where to find me. I have something of great importance to tell him.’

‘I’ll pass the message on, miss. But we’re due to sail at midnight. And the captain won’t want to miss the tide.’

Daisy caught him by the arm as he was about to leave. ‘Why has he brought the Lazy Jane to London if he’s afraid to come ashore?’

‘I can’t tell you that.’ He hesitated. ‘I’m Guppy, in case we meet again, miss. Clem Guppy.’

Daisy smiled and nodded. ‘I trust we will see each other in happier circumstances should we meet again, Clem.’

He tipped his cap. ‘I’ll pass your message on to the captain, miss.’

She waited until he had left the building before hurrying back to the cubicle where Toby was doing his best to treat the severe burns.

‘You took your time, Daisy. Did you find anyone who knows this fellow?’

‘Yes, this poor chap is Benjamin Sykes and he comes from a ship moored in the Upper Pool. It’s sailing at midnight.’

‘Well, this is one crew member who won’t be going with them.’ Toby gave her a searching look. ‘You’re very flushed, Daisy. Are you all right?’

‘Yes, I’m perfectly fine. I should be used to seeing such terrible injuries but it’s always upsetting, especially in someone so young, and apparently he supports his widowed mother.’

‘That’s sad, but you can’t take on the woes of the world, Daisy. Go and get yourself a cup of tea and something to eat. I’ll manage here, although there’s very little I can do other than clean him up and give him large doses of laudanum.’

Daisy was on edge for the rest of the day, hoping that Jay would contact her, even if it was just a message passed on by Guppy. She was kept busy in the outpatient department and then on the female ward, where Toby found her late that evening. She was in the tiny kitchen washing the dregs of cocoa from the cups she had collected from the patients’ bedside lockers.