‘So you’re back.’ He hastily paid the canteen assistant and lifted his tray. ‘Won’t you come and join me?’

‘Of course.’ Holly quickly bought a sandwich and a cup of tea then wove her way through to the tables to where he was sitting suddenly very aware of the locket he had bought for her which she always wore now beneath her uniform.

‘So, did you have a good break? And how is Ivy?’ he asked when she sat down opposite him.

‘Still quite low in spirits but then I suppose that’s to be expected. And yes I did enjoy my break, thank you. What about you?’ She sipped at her tea, peeping at him over the rim of the cup.

‘I only managed to have Christmas Day off, and I spent it with my family, which was nice. Well, if you can call spending the whole day with a tribe of younger siblings nice.’ His eyes twinkled as he grinned at her. ‘But now how about we arrange a meeting away from this place while we have the chance?’

There was no hesitation on her part this time and she nodded eagerly. ‘I’d love it, when were you thinking?’

‘I know we’re a bit old for this sort of thing but there’s a pantomime on in Drury Lane with George Greaves. I’m afraid I’ve never grown up and still love pantos. Do you fancy it? We could always do something else, of course, if you don’t?’

‘It sounds wonderful,’ she told him and now her eyes were shining too.

‘Right then, I’ll go and get us two tickets when I’ve finished here this evening. Would Thursday or Friday night suit you?’

‘Either.’

When they parted soon after, Holly floated back to the ward with her head in the clouds. They were finally going to spend an evening together, just the two of them and she could hardly wait.

When the big night arrived, Holly flung one outfit after another across the bed in an agony of indecision as to what she should wear. She had never been out with a man before and was suddenly nervous. What if they didn’t get on? What if they found they had nothing to say to one another? Eventually she chose a pale green gown nipped in at the waist with a gently flowing skirt trimmed with a darker green braid. She then piled her long fair hair onto the top of her head in loose curls, and as she studied her reflection in the mirror she felt very grown-up all of a sudden. There was a knock at the door and her heart skipped a beat. Richard was here. She hurried down the stairs to let him in holding her skirt high so as not to trip and once he had followed her upstairs he looked around at her little rooms with a smile.

‘You’ve certainly got this place very comfy and cosy,’ he said approvingly, making her blush with pleasure at the compliment. ‘And may I say you’re looking very pretty tonight, but then you always do.’ Before she could answer he went on, ‘I’ve ordered us a cab for seven thirty. It’s really frosty out there and I didn’t want you slipping on the pavements. We see enough of hospitals as it is without ending up back there as patients.’