‘Ah, here you are at last,’ he greeted her. ‘I was beginning to think I was going to have to sit up all night waiting for you.’

‘Oh? Why would you do that?’ Holly was mildly surprised as she reached for the notes on the end of his bed, studiously avoiding his eyes.

He gave an exasperated sigh as he patted the bed at the side of him. ‘Will you please come and sit down for a minute. I need to speak to you.’

Reluctantly she moved to the side of the bed and perched on the edge of the mattress like a little bird ready to take flight.

‘So what could you want to talk to me about?’

‘My mother has told me everything!’

‘What!’ She stared at him wide-eyed and he nodded.

‘Yes, I know everything. You thought I was your brother, didn’t you? And that’s why you ended our engagement.’

There seemed no point in lying now that he knew about the misunderstanding so she nodded miserably and was shocked when he started to chuckle.

‘I hardly find it something to laugh about,’ she responded indignantly.

‘No, it isn’t, not really,’ he admitted and when he gently took her small hand in his two large ones she suddenly felt as if her arm was alight.

‘So, before I say any more there is one question I have to ask you.’

She peered at him suspiciously.

‘Do you still love me, Holly?’

A denial hovered on her lips but eventually she slowly nodded. There was nothing to be gained by lying now.

‘Yes, I do … I never stopped,’ she answered in a small voice.

‘In that case, I suggest as soon as I’m well enough we go out and buy you another ring and we’ll start all over again because I never stopped loving you either.’

She stared at him incredulously, hardly daring to believe what he was saying. And then he was pulling her towards him and as his lips pressed tenderly on hers she suddenly felt whole again. When they finally broke apart she was laughing as she told him, ‘You won’t have to buy me a ring though.’

‘Oh, why is that?’

Reaching inside the top of her dress she slowly unclipped the chain holding the locket and the ring he had once given her and placed them in his hand.

‘I’ve never taken them off,’ she admitted softly as tears started to her eyes.

Sliding the ring from the chain he took her hand and said, ‘In that case, Nurse Holly Farthing, I shall ask you again, will you do me the very great honour of becoming my wife?’

‘Yes,’ she squeaked as he slid the ring onto her finger and this time she knew it would never come off again, or at least only for long enough to place a wedding band beside it. And then they were in each other’s arms and totally oblivious to everything as Matron peeped her head around the door and smiled broadly. She was so glad that Mrs Garrett had had a word with her on her way out of the hospital.