Perry waited until they were out of earshot. ‘A gang leader must earn more than a mere lawyer, if he can afford a carriage and a coachman, too.’

Kate turned on him angrily. ‘Harry Trader is a criminal, of that I have no doubt, but today he did a good thing. If he hadn’t been in court and seen Papa collapse, and if he had not come to the docks, Jenny and I would be on our way to India by now. My poor mother will be devastated when she hears the news.’

‘You’re right, of course,’ Perry said mildly. ‘We’d better hurry. You need to be the one to tell her – bad news travels fast.’

Kate told her mother as gently as possible, but Arabella was distraught and she took to her bed with a cold compress on her forehead and a bottle of sal volatile close at hand. Barnet was kept busy with endless small tasks that were totally unnecessary, and, after her initial attempts to soothe her mother’s anxiety, Kate returned to the hospital, accompanied by Perry.

They sat side by side in the gloomy waiting room in total silence. The clock on the wall seemed to have stopped, or else time had stood still, but eventually Sir Jasper Fey, the senior consultant, entered the room. His expression was not encouraging.

Kate jumped to her feet. ‘How is he? Will my father be all right, sir?’

‘He is comfortable,’ Sir Jasper said vaguely. ‘I’m afraid I cannot tell you more at this early stage, Miss Martin. I have had patients with a similar condition who have regained most of their faculties, but it is by no means certain.’

‘I don’t understand.’ Kate sank back on her chair, staring at him blankly. ‘Are you saying that Papa might not recover completely?’

‘It’s impossible to say at the moment.’

‘May I see him, please, Doctor?’

‘I wouldn’t advise it, not yet anyway, Miss Martin. Come back tomorrow and we will have a better idea of the prognosis.’

Kate was about to argue, but Perry laid his hand on her arm. ‘That sounds eminently sensible. Your father is in good hands, and you don’t want to upset him, do you?’

‘No, of course not. But what shall I tell, Mama?’

‘I will be more than happy to speak to Lady Martin.’ Sir Jasper opened the door. ‘But not today.’

‘She’s taking it badly,’ Kate said in the low voice. ‘I don’t know what to say to her.’

‘Give her a dose of laudanum, that’s my professional advice. Lady Martin will benefit from rest and a good night’s sleep.’ Sir Jasper hurried from the room.

‘I’ll take you home, Kate.’ Perry stood up, holding out his hand. ‘There’s nothing more to do here.’

She allowed him to help her to her feet. ‘I’ll get a cab, Perry. You’ve done enough for my family today.’