‘We have a new influx of Red Cross nurses joining the staff this morning,’ the matron informed her. ‘And I was wondering if I might put you in charge of them to show them the ropes. I’ve been extremely pleased with you since you started here and so have the sisters on the wards where you have worked so I can’t think of anyone I would rather entrust the new recruits to. What do you think? Could you do it?’

‘Well, I …’ Holly gulped. ‘I dare say I could.’ She was delighted to have such a glowing report from the matron herself, although it had come as something of a shock. ‘But as you know I only nurse for two days a week so am I really the right person for the job?’

Matron waved her hand. ‘Absolutely. I want you to show them around, explain what we expect of them and allow them to come to you with any concerns they have. If the concerns are anything that you can’t deal with you can ask me for advice, of course, but it will save me a lot of valuable time that can be better spent elsewhere if you will take on the responsibility.’

‘In that case I’d be delighted to,’ Holly told her with a smile.

‘Right, I shall want you to keep a close eye on them.’ The woman peered at her over the top of her glasses. ‘We can usually sort the wheat from the chaff within days so I’d like you to report their progress back to me on a weekly basis. And now, nurse, if you’d like to go along to reception they should be here any minute … and thank you.’

Feeling proud, Holly found the new recruits all nervously waiting on a bench and she quickly introduced herself and showed them the small clipboard Matron had given her telling them where they would each be working.

‘Nurse Jenkins, we’ll get you settled in the maternity ward first,’ she addressed a small, fair-haired girl who barely looked old enough to be there. They all set off and just before lunchtime when she had shown the last girl to her ward, she almost bumped into Dr Parkin in the corridor leading to the men’s geriatric ward.

‘Ah, Nurse Farthing, word is about that you’ve had a promotion,’ he said with a teasing smile.

She flushed as she stared up into his face. She supposed that he wasn’t handsome in the traditional sense: his mouth was a little too wide to be termed as perfect and his thick hair always seemed to be in need of a good brush, but every time she looked into his twinkling brown eyes she felt her heart give a little leap. ‘I’m not sure that you’d call it a promotion. Matron just asked me to help settle the latest batch of Red Cross nurses in,’ she explained primly.

‘Hmm, which suggests she must think very highly of you, don’t you think? But now you’ll have to excuse me, I’m wanted in the ward and you know what Sister Barraclough is like if anyone isn’t on time. I’ll try and find you in the canteen at lunchtime and then you can tell me all about it.’ She stared after him bemused as he raced off to the ward. Why is it I never get tongue-tied or embarrassed in front of any of the other doctors? she wondered.