Netty let him in, putting her finger to her lips. Adelaide lay curled up on the day bed, a rug over her legs. She had managed to wash and change into one of her dreary gowns, but her hair was loose, cascading over the embroidered cushion in damp waves.

Caleb hunkered down beside her and smiled as he looked at her peaceful face. Her eyelids were almost translucent with her exhaustion. A wayward lock of hair fell across her cheek. With a gentle finger he pushed it back, his hand hovering over the thick mane. He longed to wind his fingers in her hair and draw those gently parted lips to his. He had never loved her so much as he did at that moment.

Adelaide murmured but did not wake. He rose to his feet and glanced towards the kitchen door, where Netty stood watching him. She shook her head and smiled. With a last look at Adelaide, he joined Netty in the kitchen.

‘I’ve come to see Danny. Any change?’

‘Took a bit of soup this evening but threw it right back up. Says his head and stomach hurts and he’s still feverish.’ She turned her worried gaze up to him. ‘He will be all right, won’t he?’

Caleb wished he could assure her.

She turned to the stove. ‘I’ve some stew here if you’re hungry?’

Caleb shook his head. ‘Thank you, but no, I’ve eaten.’

Netty’s eyes narrowed and her mouth pursed into a prim line. ‘Those girls up at Lil’s looked after you, did they?’

He could hardly deny it.

‘That Sissy,’ Netty said. ‘She’s a good girl at heart, for all her whoring ways.’

‘Some girls don’t have many choices in life, Netty,’ Caleb reminded her.

Netty sat down at the table with a plate of stew. ‘I know that,’ she said. ‘I just hate to see her and Mr Penrose breaking their hearts.’

Caleb left her to her supper and looked in on Danny. What he observed worried him. The boy tossed in his sleep, his hair clinging to a face damp with sweat. Caleb picked up a cloth that had been set on the nightstand and wiped Danny’s face. The boy’s eyes flickered open but looked at Caleb without seeing him. He resumed his fevered tossing.

Caleb returned to the kitchen. Netty stood quite still, staring at the back door.

‘There. Did you hear it?’ she said.

Caleb stopped and listened, hearing a scratching at the kitchen door. He threw the door open.

‘Doctor?’ A shrouded figure came out of the gloom and in the light from the kitchen he recognised Lin.

‘Lin. Are you looking for me? Is someone hurt?’

Lin shook her head. ‘I heard the boy had been bitten by a snake,’ she said. ‘I come to help.’

Caleb stood aside as Lin entered the warm kitchen.

She looked around the room. ‘Mrs Greaves?’