Judy had little choice other than to rise from her chair and follow Lizzie from the room. She avoided looking at Dr Godfrey, although what he must think of her was anyone’s guess. Mary had not done it deliberately, Judy knew that, but she had been put firmly in her place. Judy Begg was nothing more than a servant, and as such she was expected to wait on Mary and her visitors.

‘I ain’t stupid,’ Lizzie said over her shoulder as she hurried towards the servants’ quarters. ‘I can put up a tea tray and cut some slices from a cake.’

‘Of course you can, but I expect Mrs Tattersall wants to talk to the doctors in private.’

Lizzie cast her a pitying glance. ‘You’re stuck then, aren’t you? I mean you’re not one of them, nor really one of us neither. It’s a shame because I like you, Judy.’

‘And I like you, Lizzie,’ Judy said, forcing a smile. ‘If you’ll see to the tray for the drawing room, I’ll take some tea and cake up to the master.’

Lizzie pulled a face. ‘He ain’t much of a master now, though. He’s a poor cripple what can’t leave his bedchamber, never mind anything else. We’re all very sorry for him, and you too. Cook says—’

‘Never mind that now,’ Judy said hastily. ‘Let’s get on with this, shall we?’ She hurried towards the kitchen with Lizzie clomping along behind her. Judy came to a halt and spun round. ‘What have you got on your feet?’

Lizzie giggled and raised her skirt a couple of inches, revealing a pair of men’s boots, caked in mud. ‘Sorry, miss. My shoes are at the cobbler’s being mended. These belong to me elder brother.’

‘Are they all you could find this morning?’

‘I didn’t think anyone would notice under me frock.’

‘No wonder you fall over your own feet. When you’ve taken the tea to the drawing room I want you to go and find Mrs Ralston. Perhaps she can help.’ Judy could see the slow working of Lizzie’s mind as she tried to think of two things at the same time. ‘Never mind,’ Judy added hastily. ‘I’ll see if I can find you a pair of decent shoes. Just do what Mrs Tattersall asked.’

Grinning with relief, Lizzie clattered on ahead, tripping over a raised flagstone and only narrowly saving herself from falling as she clutched the kitchen doorpost.

‘You’ll break your neck one day, you silly girl,’ Cook said crossly. ‘What did Madam want?’

Lizzie stuck her thumb in her mouth, glancing anxiously at Judy.

‘Mrs Tattersall wants tea for three in the drawing room.’ Judy could see that Lizzie had forgotten her instructions and she set about laying a tray with crockery. ‘Make two pots of tea, please, Lizzie. On second thoughts, I’ll make the tea in case you scald yourself. You can fetch the cake from the larder.’

Lizzie shambled off, repeating Judy’s words over and over as she went.