‘There’s our cottage.’ Jack pointed with his good hand. ‘Don’t tell me mum that I was wagging, sir. She ain’t well and neither is me dad.’

Nick drew his horse to a halt outside the house. ‘I’ll be tactful, but only if you promise to attend school regularly, when your arm is healed. A bright boy like you could go far, providing he’s had a good education.’

‘I promise, sir.’

Daisy climbed down and stood aside while Nick lifted Jack gently in his arms.

‘Would you be kind enough to bring my medical bag, Daisy?’

‘Yes, of course.’ Daisy reached into the foot well and picked up the bag, which looked as though it must have belonged to Nick’s father, judging by the well-worn leather. She followed them into the cottage, and she had to wait for a moment or two for her eyes to adjust to the darkness indoors. The rancid smell of tallow mingled with the pervading odour of damp, and a desultory fire burned in the small black-leaded range. As her eyes grew accustomed to the dim light Daisy could see that the coal scuttle was filled with pine cones and furze, and the temperature indoors was barely higher than that outside. She had always been aware that people lived in poverty, but this was the first time she had seen it first hand, and it came as something of a shock.

The sound of coughing from upstairs echoed round the small room and a man, whom Daisy assumed must be Jack’s father, rose from a chair by the range. He was tall and gaunt with several days’ growth of beard masking his features.

‘What’s happened?’ he demanded hoarsely.

‘Jack had an accident, Lemuel. I need to take a look at his arm and make sure he has no other injuries.’

‘I fell out of a tree, Dad,’ Jack said warily. ‘The branch broke.’

A bout of coughing prevented Lemuel from replying, but he pointed to a truckle bed placed beneath the stairs, and Nick laid Jack gently on the straw-filled palliasse.

‘I’m just going to take a look, Jack. I’ll be as careful as I can.’ Nick kneeled down on the flagstone floor. ‘I need some light, Lemuel.’

Daisy looked round for a lamp or some candles, but there were only a couple of rush lights, which would account for the smell of burning animal fat. She could see that Lemuel Fox was embarrassed by the doctor’s request, and she felt a rush of pity for the man who was reduced to living in such straitened circumstances. It was easy to see why his daughters needed to work for low pay in order to provide even the basics to keep the family alive.

‘Would you open the door wider, please, Daisy?’ Nick said urgently. ‘I need more light.’

Daisy held the door and winter sun shone palely into the room. Nick worked quickly, soothing Jack with a few words as he dealt with the fracture. He set the bone with a deft movement and Jack cried out, but was silent while his arm was bandaged.