‘My mother and I have been working there,’ Judy said through chattering teeth. ‘She mustn’t find out.’

‘I understand your concern, but I don’t agree with you.’ He held up his hand. ‘But I promise to do as you wish. I know that Nick and Dove will want to help you, as I do.’

Judy huddled beneath his coat and the warmth began to seep back into her tired bones. Despite her pain and distress she found herself drifting off to sleep, comforted by the scent of maleness, bay rum and a mere hint of carbolic, no doubt from the hospital.

‘Judy, wake up.’

She opened her eyes and found the interior of the carriage suffused with light from a lantern held by Dr Godfrey. ‘Where are we?’

‘We’re at Creek Hall. There’s no one about to see you.’ He held out his hand and Judy allowed him to help her down from the carriage. ‘I won’t be needing you again tonight, Carter. Dr Neville’s man will see that you’re fed and find you a bed for the night.’

‘Yes, Doctor.’ Carter drove off in the direction of the stables, leaving Judy to follow Dr Godfrey into the house.

Nick and Dove were waiting for them in the entrance hall, and Dove rushed forward to fling her arms around Judy. ‘Don’t worry. No one will know you’re here. Come with me and I’ll find you some dry clothes.’

Judy was too exhausted to argue and allowed Dove to lead her upstairs. In the sanctity of Dove’s bedroom she made Judy sit down while she went through the garments in a clothes press. ‘I was shocked when Ben told us that you’d been assaulted, but you can trust us to be discreet. However,’ she added, taking a soft woollen wrap from the press and a fine lawn nightgown, ‘he mustn’t be allowed to get away with such behaviour.’

‘No, you don’t understand. He’ll deny it and he’ll say I encouraged him. I don’t care for myself but I won’t have my mother upset.’

‘My dear, it will be even worse if she finds out the hard way. How would you feel if Faulkner turned on your mother?’

‘He won’t, or at least, I don’t think he would hurt her. He’s just a disgusting man. I’d rather not talk about it.’

‘I understand. Let’s get you out of those wet clothes, and into something warm and dry. Nick will take a look at your injuries and then Mrs Bee will make up something tasty for you to eat.’

‘She might tell Ma what he did to me.’

‘You can trust her implicitly. Mrs Bee is a good sort and she won’t say a word, if that’s what you want.’

‘Yes, it is, and tomorrow I need to get away from Little Creek. I can’t live in the same village as that brute.’

‘No, of course not, but we’ll talk about it again when you’re feeling better. I’m sorry, Judy, I know you’ve had a bad time since Jack left for the other side of the world. I wish he’d stayed, but there’s no gainsaying Jay when he sets his mind on something.’