‘Is your dad still outside?’ Daisy struggled to contain a feeling of anger that roiled in her stomach. If the children’s father had enough money to get himself so drunk, he could have spent it on necessities for his family.

‘Yes, miss. I left him there, the drunken old bastard.’

‘I’d better go and take a look at him.’ It was not something Daisy wanted to do, and it would serve him right if she left him to freeze, but her conscience would not let her rest until she was satisfied that the children’s father would live to support them.

‘Wait a minute,’ Alfie said hastily. ‘It’s pitch-dark outside. There should be just enough oil left in the lamp to light the way.’ He picked up an ancient lantern and struck a match on the hearth. There was not much of the wick left, but it gave out sufficient glow to light their way in the tiny back yard. As Alfie had said, his father lay prostrate on the ground with frost forming all around him. Daisy bent down to feel the pulse in his neck, as Toby had once shown her how to do.

‘What’s his name, Alfie?’

‘It’s Joe.’ Danny prodded his father’s side with the toe of his boot. ‘Wake up, Dad.’

Daisy used all her strength to turn Joe onto his back. She slapped his cheeks. ‘Open your eyes, Joe.’

He groaned and curled up in a ball, muttering something unintelligible.

Daisy took the lantern from Alfie and held it high enough to cast its beam around the tiny yard. ‘We need some water. Where is the pump?’

‘It’s in the back lane, miss. We share it with the rest of the cottages.’

‘Fetch some water.’ Daisy handed him the lamp. ‘I’ll stay here and try to wake him up.’

Alfie hurried off and she watched the lantern bobbing up and down as he walked. She shook Joe and slapped his cheeks, calling his name, but he was very drunk and unresponsive. She waited until Alfie returned with the bucket of ice-cold water.

‘Give it to me and stand back, Alfie.’

His eyes gleamed in the lamplight. ‘Let me do it, miss.’

‘No, you’d only get into trouble when he sobers up. I’m going to enjoy this.’ Daisy took the heavy bucket and tipped the contents over Joe’s head.

He coughed and, swearing loudly, he struggled to a sitting position.

She dropped the bucket and stood arms akimbo, glaring at him as he tried to stand. ‘You have a baby daughter, Mr Green. Mother and baby are fine, no thanks to you.’

Joe scrambled to his feet and stood there, swaying and cursing as he shook the water from his hair. Daisy turned her back on him and returned to the house. Her stomach heaved at the stench from the candle and a pile of rotting vegetable peelings in the tiny scullery, but she managed a smile for Alfie.

‘Go to bed now. You’ve done more than enough tonight.’