The sound of a horse’s hoofs and the clatter of wheels brought her abruptly back to the present and she saw Dr Neville’s chaise approaching the carriage sweep. It was with a huge feeling of relief that she ran to the door and wrenched it open. Dr Neville was the only person with whom she could speak openly about Jack’s problems. Mary became distressed if she suspected that Jack was not making progress and Hilda was too involved in her wedding plans to offer any words of encouragement. Judy stood on the top step and waited while Dr Neville climbed down from the vehicle, and to her delight he was followed by Dr Godfrey. Maybe Dr God could live up to his name and offer a treatment for Jack that would give him hope of recovery.

‘It’s good to see you again, Judy,’ Dr Godfrey said, smiling.

‘And you, Doctor. I’m so glad you’ve come. Jack is very downhearted at the moment.’

Dr Neville nodded. ‘It’s only to be expected. I remember Jack when he was a boy and he was always up to something. I treated him when he fell from a tree and broke his arm.’

‘Is it convenient for me to see him now?’ Dr Godfrey asked politely. ‘I take a particular interest in his injury, although I can’t promise a cure.’

‘If you could just give him some hope,’ Judy said quickly. ‘He thinks he’ll be like this for the rest of his life. He won’t, will he?’

‘I don’t know.’ Dr Godfrey shook his head. ‘I wish I could give you some hope, but I’ve done some research and it might be something the doctors are calling spinal shock. If that’s so, then he will recover, although it’s impossible to say how long it might take.’

‘And if not?’

‘Then he might spend the rest of his life as a cripple.’

‘Come along, Ben,’ Dr Neville said impatiently. ‘We won’t know if there’s been any improvement until we’ve seen the patient.’

‘Of course.’ Dr Godfrey gave Judy a rueful smile. ‘We’ll do everything we can for Jack.’ He followed his colleague up the grand staircase, leaving Judy staring after them. She wanted so much to believe that Jack would recover the use of his limbs, but she knew that she must prepare herself for the worst. No matter what the outcome she would always stand by Jack and support him in every way possible. She hurried to the drawing room to tell Mary that the doctors has arrived.

Mary had wanted to go upstairs to be with her son, but Judy had managed to dissuade her, and they settled down to wait. After half an hour Mary was becoming restive and she jumped to her feet. ‘I think I’d better go and see what’s keeping them.’

‘Jack won’t thank you for barging in, Mrs Tattersall. I’m sorry to be so blunt, but you know what he’s like.’

Mary subsided back onto her seat. ‘I suppose so. But he’s still my boy, no matter how old he is.’