‘I shall be fine,’ Holly answered, wondering how her mother would react if she ever got to know about the mission she had gone on to save Sam. She would probably lock her in her room and throw away the key until the war was over. She hastily changed the subject but when the family finally left, the goodbyes were tearful, even Walter, who seemed to have aged ten years since the news about Marcus had reached them, was concerned about her.

‘Do as your mother says and don’t take any chances,’ he urged. ‘This family has enough heartache to deal with at present.’

‘I won’t,’ Holly answered as he gave her an affectionate hug. It was strange to think now that her grandfather had once had Walter earmarked as her husband. She could only imagine what a disastrous union it would have been but he and her mother were perfect for each other so at least that had turned out well. She said her goodbyes to Katie and Florence next and after they had left, Cook retired early and she and Ivy sat in the warm kitchen together sipping cocoa.

‘I wish you didn’t have to go.’

Holly smiled at her friend. ‘I wish I could stay a little longer too, but I’m needed out there.’ She chose not to tell Ivy about the horrific injuries she and the rest of the nurses and doctors had to deal with on a daily basis. Losing Marcus was still too raw. ‘But I’ll come back again just as soon as I can, I promise. Meanwhile I shall expect you to write and tell me what Alice is up to every single week, do you hear me? She’s at such a lovely age, she seems to learn a new word every day now.’

‘Yes, she does, she’s a bright little spark,’ Ivy agreed and even managed a small smile.

Holly left early the next morning and Gilbert insisted on carrying her bag and walking her to the station.

‘Are you sure you don’t need anything? Have you got enough money?’

‘I have more than enough,’ she assured him. ‘There’s nothing really to spend it on where I’m stationed.’ They could hear the train coming now and he gently squeezed her hand.

‘I shall be glad when this damn war is over,’ he said. ‘You and I have a lot of catching up to do.’

‘And we will, that’s a promise,’ Holly told him before pecking his cheek and hopping onto the train. She hung out of the window and waved until he was out of sight, then sank back in her seat to face the long tiring journey ahead. As always her thoughts turned to Richard. She wondered whether he’d missed her while she’d been away, or perhaps he hadn’t even noticed she’d gone. Maybe since she’d left, Angela and he had grown closer and she was taking up all his thoughts. Thinking about this brought her close to tears, but she would just have to put a brave face on it. But oh, how she wished things could have been different.