‘Then pack up what you don’t want and I’ll get George and Tom to deliver it to the workhouse,’ Sunday said sensibly. ‘I know the children there will be really glad of so many treats.’

‘What a good idea!’ Cook looked slightly happier now. ‘I’ll do just that – but how is Zillah?’

‘Not good,’ Sunday confided with a tired frown. ‘We can’t seem to get this fever to break and the doctor says he’s going to come back later this afternoon to look at her again.’

Cook’s lips wobbled. She was very fond of Zillah – as they all were – but all they could do was pray that she would recover.

‘And what about the couple that came to see you earlier?’ she asked then. There wasn’t much slipped past Tabitha Rose.

‘They’re interested in giving one of the children a home with them.’

Cook sniffed. ‘So why don’t they go and choose one of the poor little mites from the workhouse then?’ Cook spoiled all the children and, like Sunday herself, hated the thought of any of them leaving Treetops.

‘I don’t know and I’m not even going to think about it for now,’ Sunday said wearily. ‘All I care about at present is Zillah. I know that the children are going to be disappointed that we’ve had to cancel the party too. I’d better go and tell them and explain why.’ She wasn’t looking forward to it.

‘I’ll tell you what. I’ll do a little party in here for them,’ Mrs Rose offered good-naturedly. ‘The kitchen is far enough away not to disturb Zillah and it’s better than nothing at all. I’m sure Em’ly and Bessie will help to keep them occupied. We’ll do it late tomorrow afternoon, and with luck, by the time it’s finished they’ll be worn out and ready for bed. You just concentrate on Zillah and leave everything to me.’

‘You’re such a treasure, Mrs Rose,’ Sunday told her gratefully, then leaving the kitchen she hurried back to the sick room.

The party Cook organised for the children on New Year’s Eve turned out to be a roaring success but upstairs, things didn’t improve for Zillah. She was dangerously ill. Each rasping breath she took was an effort for her now and Lavinia was almost beside herself with grief and worry. She and Zillah had been through so much together that she couldn’t imagine life without her.

Cissie, Sunday and Tom had all begged her to go to her room for a rest while they sat with the invalid, but Lavinia refused to leave her side.

‘I want to be here when she wakes up,’ she insisted – and miraculously Zillah did just that as it was approaching midnight.

She suddenly opened her eyes and as they settled on Lavinia, who was clutching her hand tightly, she gave her a beautiful smile.

‘Ah … there you are, pet.’

‘Of course I’m here. Where else would I be?’ Lavinia choked back tears and stared down at the beloved woman she had come to regard as a mother.