‘I do,’ Ben said earnestly. ‘I mean I’d be prepared for that sort of reaction. If I could turn this situation round and something good came out of it, I would be more than happy.’

‘I know that when Daisy was in financial difficulties and she had to let Creek Manor out to Mrs Harker, it ended up with that lady raising funds to support Dr Neville’s hospital in Little Creek. I’m sure it could be done here.’ Judy turned to Minnie with a persuasive smile. ‘What do you say? Would your well-off friends want to help?’

‘I’ll certainly do what I can,’ Minnie said enthusiastically.

‘I’ll put a good word in with the powers that be,’ Toby added. ‘When we move into the house in Harley Street I’ll be in a better position to spread the word. Maybe turning the business proposition into a charity is the answer. Good luck to you, Ben.’

Judy had intended to return home the following day, but she was so touched by the scenes she had witnessed that she decided to stay on for a few more days. There was little she could do other than to give Ben moral support when he went to visit the investors who had put money into the Creek Manor scheme, and she spent most of her time in Limehouse, helping Sarah to the best of her ability.

At night, when she retired to bed exhausted but found sleep evaded her, she recalled happier days. She had tried to forget Jack, but he was rarely from her thoughts. If something amused her, she imagined him laughing with her. She could not blame him for deserting her. She knew that in his crippled state he considered himself only half a man, and although that was untrue, she realised that it was not good enough for Jack – he was a perfectionist. The only cure for heartache was hard work, and a worthwhile project to occupy her mind.

On the fourth day after their arrival in London, Ben returned home with good news. One of his largest investors had been persuaded to back the new charity hospital in Limehouse, and at least two others were considering his proposition. Judy was relieved and delighted. It was a thoroughly worthy cause, even though it meant that Little Creek would lose its new hospital. Minnie invited her to stay on, insisting that she would be an invaluable help when they moved house. Judy was tempted to accept, but anything could have happened at home, and it was there that she was needed most. In the end there was no choice: she missed her family and Little Creek was her home.

Judy had not expected to be met when the train chugged into Little Creek Station, but to her surprise she saw Rob Dorning standing on the platform. At first she thought that he must be waiting to board the train, but he held out his hand to take her valise.

She hesitated. ‘Did you come to meet me? Or is this just a coincidence?’