In the event he was to stay three nights in London, for there was to be a dinner in his honour given at the Army and Navy Club by the Regiment and another, smaller affair for friends and relations, on the next evening. It was the family’s custom to put up with William’s uncle, his father’s brother, at his house in Cadogan Place: the four Gales travelled thence together, the day before the ceremony.

The days passed slowly for Alice. On the first day of her husband’s absence she felt an occasional tightening across herself, as if an inner corset were being pulled and then released, and wondered if she should send for the doctor; but the spasms seemed to pass. Early on the morning of the 26th, however, she awoke in a warm bath. At first she thought she must have passed water in her sleep, but even before the liquid turned cool on her sheets she was awake enough to know what it must foretell. She rang the bell at once to send for Dr Nolan. It would take two hours for him to come, at best: she much regretted having refused his offer to stay at The Grange. And yet she felt a surge of exhilaration that the day had come at last and was glad of this now sacred time alone at the start of it.

In London William was taking breakfast at his uncle’s in his shirt sleeves. His uniform coat awaited him, perfectly brushed, its buttons newly gleaming. On the sideboard were poached eggs and kippers and sausages; on the table were racks of toast and pots of marmalade and small, ribbed curls of butter arranged upon cut glass circles. Each of these were perilous to the wool of his coat: it would not do for the Queen to find a crumb or a smudge in the medal’s way, when the time came. Better to leave off his outer wear until just before leaving the house. Mrs Lockwood had written a note to tell him that she would be in the Park that day, in the hopes of seeing him receive the Cross. He was moved by this kindness and hoped that he would catch a glimpse of her, so that he might thank her for her consideration.

Dr Nolan arrived at The Grange and sprang up the stairs without preamble. Alice had turned very pale and was standing by the window, holding fast to the back of a chair.

‘Here we are, here we are,’ he said. ‘Do you feel the need to bear down?’

She did not answer for some moments while she collected herself and waited for the waves within her to die down.

‘No, not yet. Only the pain is very great.’

The doctor came and took her by the arm and helped her up on to the bed.