Nick rose to his feet. ‘I don’t suppose there’s much point in telling you to rest, Jack, but take things easy – no tree climbing for the foreseeable future.’

‘Yes, Doctor.’ Jack turned his head away, but not before Daisy had seen tears running down his cheeks. He was a little older than Timothy Carrington, who always tried hard to be a brave little soldier, and her heart went out to the boy. She put her hand in her skirt pocket and took out a poke of peppermint humbugs, a treat she had been saving for Hattie, who had a passion for the sweets. But Jack’s need was the greater and Daisy pressed the paper package into his good hand.

‘I’m sure the doctor would prescribe these to be taken freely, Jack. I believe they are very good for sore limbs.’

Jack’s eyes lit up and he crammed a sweet into his mouth. ‘Ta, miss. Ta, ever so.’

‘Don’t speak with your mouth full, boy,’ Lemuel said crossly. ‘You shouldn’t spoil him, miss. Jack wouldn’t have injured himself if he’d been in school. It’s God’s way of punishing him.’

Nick hesitated as he was about to close his medical bag. ‘It was an accident, Lemuel. I think Jack has learned his lesson, and he won’t be doing much climbing for a while.’ He gave Lemuel a searching look. ‘How long have you had that cough?’

‘It’s nothing, Doctor. Just the usual winter ailment, same as the missis upstairs, only she’s took to her bed.’

Nick took a small brown bottle from his bag and laid it on the kitchen table. ‘You might find this helps. The instructions for taking it are on the label.’

‘I don’t want it, Doctor. I can’t pay.’

‘It’s a commercial traveller’s sample; it cost me nothing, so it’s just taking up space in my bag.’ Nick snapped the locks together and made for the doorway. ‘I’ll call again tomorrow. Make sure you behave yourself, young Fox.’ He placed his hat on his head as he stepped outside into the cold, clear morning air.

Daisy followed him to the cart. ‘That wasn’t a free sample, was it?’

‘It will give Lemuel and his wife a little ease from the chest complaint.’

‘Consumption?’

‘That would be the worst diagnosis, but it could be simply inflammation of the lungs caused by the damp conditions and poor food. It’s what happens to people who live in poverty, and I’ve seen it all too often at the London.’

‘Is there nothing you can do for them?’

Nick handed her onto the driver’s seat and climbed up to sit next to her. ‘I wish there were, but all I can do is to hand out laudanum and advice as to their diet, which I know they cannot follow on such a limited income.’

‘You’ve employed Dove and you sent Linnet to us,’ Daisy said gently. ‘At least the girls are looked after, but what will happen to Jack?’

‘The boy will have to leave school and look for work. He has an elder brother, but Jay fell foul of the law and came to no good, according to Mrs Bee, who loves to fill me in with all the village gossip.’ Nick flicked the reins. ‘Walk on.’