Judy was too tired to argue and she undressed as obediently as a small child. Dove uttered a gasp of disgust. ‘Just look at those bruises on your side and back. That man should be in prison for what he’s done to you.’

‘We all thought he was a decent enough fellow, although I had heard rumours about his quick temper. Nate and Pip spoke highly of him in the beginning, but maybe he’s different when he’s working with men. Ma loves him, and that’s enough for me. I don’t want to break her heart.’

Dove pursed her lips as she slipped the clean nightgown over Judy’s head, and helped her into the warm woollen wrap. ‘I’d break something over his head if I had my way.’ She opened a cupboard door and took out a pair of slippers. ‘Put these on and then I’ll get Nick to look you over, although I don’t think you’ve broken any bones, and the cuts on your face are nasty, but they don’t look deep enough to need stitching.’

Judy smiled and winced at the pain from her cut lip. ‘That’s one mercy, I suppose.’

‘At least you haven’t lost your sense of humour,’ Dove said with a smile. ‘I’ve made up a bed for you in the next room. The servants don’t come to this wing of the house every day, so no one will bother you. I’ll bring you some supper.’

A hot meal and a dose of laudanum, prescribed by Nick, had a soporific effect, and Judy slept well that night. She awakened early and for a moment she could not think why she was in a room at Creek Hall, but as she tried to sit up the pain from her bruises was a sharp reminder. Nick and Dove had both tried to persuade her to stay and shame Wilfred Faulkner, but Judy had made up her mind to leave before anyone saw her. She had a little money saved from her earnings, which she reckoned was just enough to get her to London, where she was sure that Mrs Marshall would once again help her to find work. It would be a new beginning far away from Little Creek and the unhappy memories that had almost ruined her life. She dressed in the garments that were more or less dry and she opened the door carefully. There was no one about, although she could hear sounds coming from the wing where the patients had their rooms, but that was on the far side of the building. If she left now she would be in time to catch the first train to London. With her bundle tucked under her arm she crept downstairs and was about to cross the hall to let herself out of the front door when she saw a familiar figure coming towards her.

‘Ma! What are you doing here so early in the morning?’

‘I came to take you home, love.’

‘No. That’s not a good idea, Ma.’