‘I can understand that.’ Holly was feeling decidedly light-headed and was smiling like a Cheshire cat. ‘I don’t think I’d better have any more wine, I’m not really used to it,’ she admitted and he grinned.

‘In that case I’ll order us some coffee.’ He patted his stomach contentedly. ‘And I have to say that meal was delicious.’

‘Yes, it was.’

It was almost an hour later when they finally left the restaurant. Holly thanked him profusely for such a treat, but he waved her thanks away, saying she was doing him a favour by keeping him company. He insisted on walking her home and it seemed the most natural thing in the world to link her arm through his as they strolled along. When they reached the shop she looked up at him in the glow of the street lamp and was sure that she had never seen a more handsome man in the whole of her life.

‘Thank you so much for a lovely evening,’ she said shyly and he smiled down at her.

‘Thank you for keeping me company. I can assure you the pleasure was all mine.’ He hesitated for a moment, then said, ‘I would love to do this again, but it may not be possible for a while. I didn’t tell you before, but I will be transferring to another hospital next week to continue my training.’

Holly felt her stomach drop in disappointment.

‘But, I would be honoured if you would allow me to write to you?’

‘I’d like that. And I will write to you too.’ She smiled happily, thought it wouldn’t be as good as seeing him, but at least he wanted to stay in touch.

‘Nothing would make me happier.’ He smiled into her eyes, and lifted her gloved hand to his lips, kissing it gently.

After he’d left, Holly felt as if she were walking on air, although this feeling was tempered with the knowledge that just as she would be starting to work at the hospital full-time, he would be leaving. But he wanted to write to her, which must mean he liked her. Unable to stop smiling, as she climbed the stairs to her little flat, she wondered if she was falling just a little in love with him. Never having been in love before she couldn’t be sure, she only knew that she liked the feeling and wanted it to continue.

Chapter Eighteen

November arrived bringing gusty winds and frosty nights. Holly was working six days a week at the hospital now and although it was hard work, she enjoyed it. The one disappointment was that Richard wasn’t there. She missed seeing his cheerful face, but at least she had his letters to look forward to, as they were writing to each other on a weekly basis.

However, although Holly found she could cope during the week when she was busy, Sundays were proving to be very lonely indeed now. She knew that she could have gone to visit Ivy but didn’t like to intrude on her and Jeremy’s privacy, even though she was so worried about her dear friend, so most Sundays were spent visiting markets and writing letters home to her mother and Richard.