She took it out of her apron pocket and proffered it to him. Sam ignored it.

‘You had no right,’ he said, his voice soft with menace.

‘I’ll put it here, in case you want to read it later.’ Dulcie placed the letter down on his bedside locker.

‘I won’t.’

‘You might.’ She hesitated for a moment, looking at the letter. ‘Your mother says she can’t wait to see you.’

‘I don’t want to see her,’ he cut her off bluntly.

‘But—’

‘I mean it. You can write back and tell her that.’

Dulcie kept her head down, tucking in a corner of the bedclothes. ‘It might be a bit late for that,’ she said. ‘She’s on her way.’

Sam sat up straighter. ‘My mother’s coming here?’

Dulcie risked a glance at him. ‘Not just your mother,’ she said. ‘She’s bringing your children too.’

He stared at her. His face was impassive, but she could see a myriad emotions reflected in his green eyes.

‘What have you done?’ he murmured at last.

‘They’re your family.’

‘You had no right to interfere!’ He turned on her savagely, his voice rising. ‘For God’s sake, it’s not as if you even really care.’

‘Shhh!’ Dulcie glanced around the ward nervously. ‘Stop shouting, or you’ll get me in trouble.’

‘Get you in trouble?’ He stared at her, his eyes black with anger. ‘Christ, do you ever stop and listen to yourself, you stupid, stupid girl?’

‘What’s going on here?’ Dulcie’s heart sank as Staff Nurse Hanley bustled over. ‘What’s all this noise about, Nurse?’

‘Nothing, Staff.’

‘Well, it didn’t sound like it to me.’ Nurse Hanley turned to Sam. ‘Sergeant Trevelyan, perhaps you’d like to tell me why you were shouting?’

Sam stared back at her, tight-lipped and silent.

Nurse Hanley sighed. ‘Very well, if neither of you wishes to speak … Nurse Moore, please come with me. There are some linens in the store room that need counting. That should keep you out of trouble,’ she muttered.

As she followed Staff Nurse Hanley up the ward, Dulcie took a quick glance over her shoulder. Sam’s face was buried in his hands, his broad shoulders slumped in utter despair.

For the first time, it began to dawn on her that she might have been too hasty.

She stayed out of his way most of the morning. But as noon approached, she knew she would have to speak to him again. The visitors would be arriving at two o’clock that afternoon, his mother and children among them.

She got her chance just before lunch. Staff Nurse Hanley was taking her break, and Sister was doing bed seven’s abdominal drainage behind the screens, assisted by Miriam Trott.

Dulcie crept over to Sam Trevelyan’s bed. He was lying on his back with his eyes closed, but she could tell he was not asleep.

‘I know you’re upset,’ she started.

‘You don’t know anything.’ Sam kept his eyes closed. ‘As far as I can tell, you don’t give a damn about anyone’s feelings but your own.’