‘But he’s all right, isn’t he?’ asked Doris. ‘There are no complications?’

The doctor smiled. ‘Apart from his injuries, he’s a very fit, healthy man for his age, which has helped him through the operation. There is always the possibility that he will suffer from concussion, but we’ll keep a close eye on that.’

‘How soon will he be able to come home?’ asked Doris.

‘Not for some time yet, Mrs White. It will take several weeks of recuperation and physiotherapy before he is able to walk again, but once we deem him fit enough, we’ll be sending him to the Memorial.’

‘Thank you, Doctor,’ she said meekly. She gathered up her things. ‘I’d like to see him now, if I may.’

‘Not before I do,’ said Michael, who’d come in unnoticed and in full army uniform.

The doctor raised his brows. ‘And who are you?’ he asked.

‘Major White, Colonel White’s son,’ he replied curtly. ‘And as I’ve just been flown in from Germany I demand to see my father.’

Peggy and the others shifted uncomfortably in their seats at this rude intrusion.

‘I’m sorry, Major,’ the doctor replied coolly. ‘But only the next of kin may visit tonight.’ He looked at Doris who’d gone ashen and took her arm. ‘Come, Mrs White. I’ll show you the way.’

The colour drained from Michael’s face as he clenched his fists at his sides. ‘If my father dies before I get to see him, I shall blame you,’ he hissed at Doris.

There was a sharp gasp of disgust from Peggy who stood to defend her sister.

Doris faltered and drew her arm from the doctor’s grasp. ‘Perhaps it would be better if Michael saw him tonight,’ she said fretfully. ‘I’ll come back in the morning.’

The doctor looked from her to Michael, clearly sensing the tension that was building in the room. ‘Why don’t you both come?’ he said to forestall any more trouble.

‘I have no wish for this woman to accompany us,’ said Michael stiffly.

‘Then you will stay here,’ retorted the doctor.

Slipping her hand into the crook of the doctor’s arm to steady herself, Doris studiously ignored Michael who was incandescent with fury at being snubbed, and made as dignified an exit as possible.

‘How dare you speak to my sister like that,’ snapped Peggy.

Michael looked down at her in disdain. ‘I’ll speak to her in any way I want,’ he replied icily. ‘Not that it’s any of your damned business.’

Ron and Frank got to their feet, eased in front of Peggy and stared Michael down – two monolithic and immovable forces.

‘We don’t hold with talk like that in front of our women,’ said Frank.

‘I’m thinking you should apologise, and then leave,’ said Ron, his fists curling.

Michael glowered at the two men, turned on his heel and slammed out of the room. In the silence that followed, they could hear his heavy footsteps down the corridor.

‘He’s a nasty piece of work,’ muttered Frank.