As Georgie began steering Eddy in the direction of the main staircase, May headed off to the drawing room to ring for a maid. When that task was completed, she went in search of Manby, the local doctor who had been resident in the house ever since the first of the house guests had fallen ill.

Later, after Manby had seen Eddy, May went with Georgie to sit with Eddy for a little while. Her first reaction, on entering his temporary bedroom, was at how truly small and poky it was.

‘Goodness!’ She seated herself on the only chair the room possessed. ‘You weren’t exaggerating, Eddy. You couldn’t swing a cat in here.’

The idioms she used always amused him and, with a grin, he said, ‘I must admit it’s a bit cramped, sweetheart. If I stretch my arm out, I can touch the fireplace.’

Their eyes held. It was the first time she had ever seen him in his nightshirt and in bed, and her cheeks warmed at the thought that soon the sight would be one that would be as natural to her as breathing.

He took hold of her hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze. ‘Sorry to be so out of sorts, May. It’s foul bad luck, but I’ll be up and about in no time. Manby says Toria and Maudie are already back on their feet.’

‘What’s Manby’s diagnosis?’ Georgie asked. ‘A chill or influenza?’

‘Influenza, and although it pains me say this, May, you mustn’t kiss me when you leave. I don’t want to infect you with it.’

Aware that he needed to rest, they didn’t stay with Eddy for long, and when they left May’s kiss was one that she lovingly blew from the room’s doorway.

The next morning Dr Manby informed the Prince and Princess of Wales that Eddy’s temperature had risen to one hundred and three degrees and that, even though it was Eddy’s birthday, he should remain in bed throughout the day.

When May visited him, in the company of Georgie, she was disturbed to find him much worse.

‘Sorry, May darling,’ he said croakily. ‘Not up to one of our companionable little chats, I’m afraid. I’m feeling very ropy indeed.’

‘But that’s the way of influenza.’ Dr Manby was reassuring when giving the Prince and Princess of Wales, and Georgie and May, his daily report. ‘It has to reach a peak before it begins to subside. As it’s his birthday, I don’t think any harm will be done if he spends an hour or so downstairs this evening.’

Supported by Georgie, Eddy manfully tottered downstairs long enough to open his birthday presents and thank everyone for them, before apologetically, and again with Georgie’s assistance, climbing back to the claustrophobic little cell that was serving as his bedroom.