A flush spread across Ada’s pretty face and her big blue eyes looked troubled. ‘Is he really?’ she questioned. ‘I’m seriously beginning to wonder if it isn’t all talk and no action. I mean, why hasn’t he involved us in his discussions with the local Army officers, some of whom we already know and are on good terms with? Have you ever thought that he could be stringing us along?’

Matron’s brow furrowed in concern. ‘Why would he waste his time doing that?’ she enquired. ‘And why would he draw attention to the matter if he didn’t think he had some chance of succeeding?’

‘To be honest, I just don’t trust him – and I stick to my point, Sybil’s not been the same since his last visit to the Home.’

‘Mmm,’ Matron murmured thoughtfully, then, reminding herself of what they had originally been discussing, she added, ‘We’ve somehow managed to move away from the subject of your departure date, Ada.’

‘I don’t want to be here for too long after Miss Mann has joined us,’ Ada said. ‘It wouldn’t be fair on her, apart from anything else.’

Matron nodded. ‘Perhaps you could work in tandem with Miss Mann for a week?’

‘I think I can manage a week,’ Ada smiled.

When Ada took Dora and Sister Theresa to see Mary Vale Cottage, Dora, worried about the requisitioning rumour which was always at the forefront of her mind, came straight to the point. ‘If the Home gets closed down and we’re all sent elsewhere, you might well find yourself on your own in the middle of nowhere – and with a new-born baby too.’

‘You know what, Dora, I’m prepared to take that risk,’ Ada answered frankly. ‘I’ve got to know a lot of good people in this beautiful valley, where I think I would be happy to live forever.’

Theresa gave a cheerful smile. ‘Anyway, the Home might not be requisitioned,’ she said optimistically. ‘All this nasty scaremongering could just be a silly storm in a teacup.’

After a tour of Mary Vale Cottage, dewy-eyed Dora said, ‘It reminds me of when me and mi husband set up home. We started out renting a little place just like this on’t other side of Kendal, eeh, they were happy days.’ Ada couldn’t help but notice the catch in her friend’s voice.

‘It’s like a doll’s house,’ Theresa exclaimed in delight. ‘So neat and trim and tidy.’

Ada slipped an arm around her friend’s slender waist. ‘You’re welcome any time, darling,’ she said sincerely. ‘Both of you,’ she added as she teased, ‘You never know, I might get lonely.’

Dora gave a loud hoot of disbelief. ‘YOU, lonely? Pull the other one!’ she mocked. ‘Anyway, you won’t have time for socializing, you’ll have your hands full with a new-born baby.’