‘A little,’ Ada answered cautiously. ‘Her appetite is poor, but she’s getting more rest throughout the day now that her children are at school.’

Edith glanced again at the noisy children. ‘Mmm,’ she murmured disapprovingly. ‘They do appear to be quite a handful.’

After tea, just as Edith and Ada were about to leave the room and return to work, one of the girls asked, ‘Will you be taking over Ada’s breathing and relaxation classes, Sister Mann?’

Taken aback, Edith shook her head. ‘I don’t think I’ll have time,’ she prevaricated. Seeing a look of disappointment on the girls’ faces, she quickly added, ‘I will of course discuss it with Sister Ada and find out more.’

Edith conducted the evening ward rounds with Matron and Ada, the latter, unless called upon, staying as much in the background as possible. As they were crossing from the post- to the ante-natal ward, Edith surprised Ada with a sudden question. ‘I was never briefed about taking over your exercise and breathing classes?’

Knowing just how much the patients enjoyed the classes and the camaraderie that existed within the group, plus the undoubted benefits to be had from the exercises themselves, Ada answered eagerly. ‘It would be marvellous if you could?’

‘Well, I’m not trained,’ Edith quickly explained, looking far from enthusiastic.

Anxious about the girls she had been teaching and whose babies were due about the same time as her own, Ada persisted. ‘I could continue for a while and train you in the process if you like? It would benefit me as well as the other ladies.’

Edith gave a slow nod. ‘We could see how I get on,’ she answered cautiously.

‘They’re daily, every afternoon,’ Ada continued. ‘Indoors if it’s wet or windy, outside if the weather’s fine – they usually last for about an hour.’

Edith gave a bleak smile; it really was the very last thing she wanted.

‘I’m sure they do the girls a world of good,’ she said limply.

14. Tension

Though Sybil didn’t seek out friendship in the Home, she nevertheless had a grudging respect for Staff Sister Ada Reid, who would soon be replaced by Staff Sister Mann. Sybil had taken an instant dislike to her. After observing the new nurse on the job, Sybil’s instincts calcified; she didn’t like Edith’s false smile or the way the woman smothered her Yorkshire accent with a feigned posh one. Though Sybil was by no means a fan of the Northern drawl, she much preferred it to Miss Mann’s tortured pronunciation, which grated on her nerves. She wondered if the new Ward Sister had Ada’s sensitive birthing knowledge and skill, which Sybil had heard a great deal about.

‘She definitely needs something to make up for her haughty manner,’ Sybil thought harshly.