‘And then,’ Rosie spluttered on, ‘right out of the blue, you telling Lord Stow how good it would be if the Brigadier continues to fight the good fight to keep Mary Vale open – oh, my God, I thought I’d have hysterics!’

Sybil giggled in sheer delight.

‘I just couldn’t stop myself,’ she exclaimed. ‘The idea of dumping Monty on Mary Vale was irresistible. He might not give a damn about the place, but he could be saddled with the task of at least looking like he’s trying to keep the place open,’ she crowed.

Looking pulverized, Rosie slumped back against the wooden chair she was sitting on. On a quieter note she mused, ‘I wonder how his talk with Lady Veronica will go. She’ll be difficult. She’s a proud woman.’

‘Maybe,’ Sybil agreed. ‘But she might be getting sick and tired of Monty – as I’ve often said, I would have shot him by now.’

‘She was sick of him when I was there before the war started,’ Rosie recalled.

‘Then let’s hope that she’s so worn down by Monty’s infidelity she’s prepared to finally tell the truth about their marriage.’

Round-eyed Rosie stared at Sybil. ‘Do you think we really influenced Lord Stow?’

Sybil laughed. ‘Well, he didn’t kick us out! It’s all down to Lady Veronica now,’ she added thoughtfully. ‘It’s up to her to make the next move.’

46. Motherhood

Ada stayed on the post-natal ward with her baby daughter for a week before she was declared fit enough to go home. Sister Mary Paul would have kept her in for a month if she had had her way. Having fallen in love with sweet little Catherine, the old devoted nun wanted her favourite girl and her favourite baby to stay close by, so she could fuss over the pair of them from dawn till dusk. The new arrival, with her sweet rose-bud lips and curious blinking baby eyes, had completely captivated Sister Mary Paul, who loved both mother and daughter to distraction.

Forever popping into the ward to check on Ada, she would make some excuse about needing to see Dora, which was her way of getting into the nursery to kiss and cuddle Ada’s baby, until Dora firmly removed her.

‘Isn’t she the most beautiful child you have ever seen in your life?’ the nun raved. ‘You can already see how intelligent she’s going to be – those bright little eyes following you around the room.’