On deck, Harry was led off one way and the girls another and soon they found themselves in a cabin flanked with bunk beds on either side. There were no windows apart from a tiny porthole and the place stank abominably of dried blood from the injured soldiers who had occupied it before them. It was very cold too and their breath hung on the air.

‘Seeing as we’re going to be sailing through the night, I dare say we should try and get some sleep,’ Holly suggested.

Angela eyed the bunks with distaste. Many of them had blood on the sheets but she supposed that the crew wouldn’t have time to change them every time they brought a shipload of injured men home. They would probably be more concerned about getting the patients to hospital.

‘Not exactly the Ritz, is it?’ Angela said glumly, throwing her bag onto the nearest bunk. ‘And what is that awful smell?’

‘I think it’s better that we don’t know. But come on, let’s see if there’s anything to eat in the dining cabin. I’m starving.’

Angela groaned. Just the thought of food at the minute made her feel nauseous. ‘No, you go,’ she encouraged. ‘I reckon I’ll just wait here.’

‘But it’s stuffy down here,’ Holly pointed out. ‘At least up on deck you’d get some fresh air.’

Seeing the sense in what she said, Angela reluctantly agreed and they set off to explore.

Many parts of the ship were out of bounds, but they soon found the deck. ‘I wonder if Harry’s coming for something to eat?’ Holly mused once they were out in the open. A thick sea mist had rolled in and already it was pitch-dark, although it was only late afternoon. It was icily cold too and both girls shivered as they asked one of the crew the way to the dining cabin. They’d quickly decided it was far too cold to stay outside longer than they had to.

At least it was warm in the dining cabin and on entering they saw Harry already deep in conversation with another man who had his back to them.

They approached the table with smiles on their faces but when the person Harry was speaking to turned to look at them Holly felt the colour drain out of her face. Richard!

‘Ah, here you are,’ Harry welcomed them. ‘I believe you know my old friend Richard Parkin, don’t you, Holly? Didn’t you say you were both at the same hospital in London?’

‘Y-yes I did,’ Holly croaked. ‘Hello, Richard.’ Her hand rose to finger the ring he had given her which she still wore close to her heart.

He rose to greet her. ‘How are you?’ he asked formally, and Holly wanted to weep. He seemed so cold and standoffish, but then what could she expect after the way she had ended their relationship so abruptly.

‘I-I’m well.’ She hurriedly looked away from his eyes, terrified that he might see the love she still felt for him reflected in them but she needn’t have worried. He had already turned his attention to Angela, who was staring at him admiringly, and, holding out his hand, he formally introduced himself: ‘Dr Richard Parkin.’