‘Shhh, shhh,’ Ada soothed; but, for all her attempts to keep Rosie calm and in control, her patient ranted, raved, and used up all of her precious energy until she lay on the bed limp, dripping with sweat and feverishly exhausted. Worried and needing to speak in private, Ada and Matron slipped briefly out of the room, and in the corridor they consulted in tense whispers.

‘I think the baby’s breech,’ Ada whispered.

Matron nodded. ‘One of them might not make it.’

Knowing how hard a breech birth would be, Ada said urgently, ‘I must get back to her.’

Matron stopped her. ‘Ada, Dora can replace you,’ she said. ‘It’s important you don’t take unnecessary risks at this stage in your pregnancy.’

‘I’ll stay with Rosie,’ Ada answered firmly. ‘It’s the right thing to do, and after all I promised I would.’

After Matron had administered a sedative to ease Rosie’s pain, Ada stayed by her side, wiping her brow, speaking softly and calmly, never letting go of her hand, while Sister Ann eventually eased Rosie’s baby into the world. When it was finally over, there was no sound from either mother or child. Ada looked down at Rosie, who looked more dead than alive; she gasped in relief when she saw her eyelids flutter.

‘Stay with her,’ Matron instructed. ‘I’ll see to the baby.’

Ada stayed with Rosie until she mercifully dropped off to sleep, then she started the process of washing and tidying up before Rosie was removed to the post-natal ward. Now completely exhausted and working automatically, Ada was grateful when Dora walked in.

‘I’ll take over now, lovie,’ she said. ‘Matron says you’ve got to go home and get some rest before you collapse.’

In no mood for arguing, Ada nodded. ‘Thanks, Dora. How’s the baby?’

Dora shook her head. Ada’s heart sank.

Ada was inconsolable by the time she caught up with Sister Ann, who could do no more than give her a comforting hug.

‘We did everything we could, dear. The rest is in God’s good hands.’

‘Poor Rosie,’ Ada gulped. ‘It’s so heartbreakingly unfair that everything has gone wrong for her. The worry over her missing children was just the final straw. I’m amazed she survived her labour, to be honest. There were times during it when I was sure she would just give up and die.’

Matron agreed, almost as concerned for her dear colleague as she was for her patient.

‘I’ll take over now, dear. Promise me you’ll go home now and go straight to bed.’

Weary Ada nodded as she sighed. ‘I don’t need to promise, Ann, I’m exhausted – all I want to do is lie down and sleep.’