‘Oh … I didn’t see you there.’ Her heart was thumping wildly and she hoped that he wouldn’t be able to hear it. ‘That was some storm, wasn’t it? Angela’s been ill for most of the way.’

‘And yourself?’

‘I’m all right, thank you.’ She stifled the urge to reach out and touch him before saying, ‘I, er … ought to get back to check she’s all right though.’

‘Of course.’ He stood aside and made no attempt to stop her as she scuttled past like a rat with its tail on fire. I’ve got to stop behaving like this every time I see him, she scolded herself, but she had the feeling that it was going to be easier said than done.

Angela was sitting on the side of the bunk looking slightly better when Holly arrived back at the cabin. ‘Perhaps some tea would settle your stomach a little. Would you like me to fetch you a cup?’ Holly suggested.

‘No, thanks.’

‘Then in that case we’d better get ready to go ashore. I don’t think we’re far off now.’

Sure enough, half an hour later a small tug guided the military ship into the harbour and soon they heard the engine stop, followed by the sounds of the crew manhandling the gangplank into position.

‘Thank goodness for that,’ Angela said. ‘I can’t wait to feel my feet on solid ground again and one thing’s for sure, when this damned war is over I won’t be putting my name down for any cruises. How anyone could derive any pleasure from being at sea is totally beyond me.’

There was a tap on the door and one of the crew called that they were to report up on deck.

Angela followed Holly on legs that felt like jelly and when they arrived they found Harry waiting for them, although Holly was both relieved and dismayed to find that there was no sign of Richard.

‘I reckon Richard might be being posted to another hospital,’ Harry informed her as he saw her glancing about and she had the uncanny feeling that he could read her mind.

‘Oh, I hadn’t really thought about it,’ she answered nonchalantly but she had the feeling that she hadn’t fooled him one bit. They were surrounded by swarms of nurses and doctors from other hospitals all eager to disembark but Holly noticed that the mood was sombre now that they had all almost reached their destination. It was one thing to feel brave before the event but quite another now that they were faced with the reality of war.

Eventually they were led down the gangplank like a herd of cattle and at the bottom two military men with clipboards asked them for their names. They were then pointed towards the transport that would take them to the various hospitals.

‘Farthing, Dewis, Parkin and Phillips, truck number three,’ the soldier told them and they battled their way through the throngs of people on the dock. Holly’s heart was racing now that she knew Richard was to join them, although outwardly she appeared calm. They clambered awkwardly into the back of the trucks and squatted on the hard wooden benches that ran along either side.