She answered on the first ring.

‘Sorry to wake you, Fi,’ he said. ‘But I have a problem. Can you give me some advice?’

The morphine was starting to take effect. Finally. The pain in her foot and in her shoulders was taking a back step.

She was warm. Gloriously, safely warm. Dominic had loaded the fire, the flames were leaping and the room was fabulously heated. She was still a bit damp but it didn’t matter.

She could go to sleep, right now.

She should ring Charles and her parents, she thought drowsily. They’d worry.

Or not. They’d just assume she’d been caught up at work. They certainly wouldn’t be pacing.

They’d be furious with her anyway. Maybe they’d even expect her not to come.

‘I’d kill her.’

Out in the hall Dom’s voice sounded startled. Up until now she’d been concentrating on the pain, but now Erin lay back and let Dom’s words sink in.

‘If you’re sure…Then I’m guessing it’s been stuck for hours. Yeah, you’re right, there’s no choice. No, you’re right there, too, she’s not going to make it that far. Or that long. She’d be dead before you got here. Thanks for offering anyway, Fi, you’re a hero. Okay, step by step. Yeah, I’ve got the kit you made up for me-not that I ever dreamed of using it. Talk me through it slowly. I’ll write down dosages as we go.’

Silence followed. She peered around the back of the settee and saw him taking notes. Finally the receiver was replaced. She heard him moving away somewhere further down the hall, the sound of running water in the bathroom, then things being set up on the floorboards by the front door. Just out of sight.

‘I know, girl,’ he said, so softly she had to strain to hear. ‘It’s not a great operating table, but I don’t want to move you more than I need to. And I’ve set up the desk lamp so I can see.’