CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

As two o’clock crept closer, Dulcie began to doubt herself more and more.

Sam Trevelyan looked sick with fear, and she felt sick too. She found it even harder than usual to concentrate on her work, and several times Staff Nurse Hanley had to take her to task about her ‘daydreaming’.

‘Sister wants you to prepare a cotton jacket for the pneumonia patient in room two,’ she said. ‘The doctor will be back to see him shortly.’

Dulcie glanced at the clock. It was a quarter to two.

‘Can’t one of the VADs do it?’ She said the words without thinking.

‘I beg your pardon, Nurse?’ Veronica Hanley blinked at her.

‘Sorry, Staff. I – I just wanted to be on the ward when the visitors arrived.’

‘Oh, I’m terribly sorry, Nurse Moore. I’ll ask Nurse Trott to do it instead, shall I?’ Staff Nurse Hanley’s broad face was mottled red with suppressed fury. ‘I know you think everyone and everything was put on this earth for your convenience, girl, but I’m afraid that is not how we do things on this ward. If Sister wants you to prepare a cotton jacket, then that is what you must do. And be glad she hasn’t got you scrubbing the toilets!’ she added.

‘Yes, Staff.’

Dulcie retreated to room two, one of the private rooms adjoining the main ward. The patient was young, an officer in his early twenties, but he gasped and wheezed like an old man. His body was emaciated, muscles wasted to nothing, and when he fought for breath Dulcie could see the rapid rise and fall of his ribcage clearly outlined through his translucent skin.

She got to work, spreading the rolls of absorbent cotton around his sunken chest and back, then fitting the flannel into place over it. It took all the young man’s efforts to breathe, let alone talk, so she was able to allow her thoughts to wander back to Sam.

It would be visiting time soon. The families would be gathering outside the double doors, eager with anticipation to see their loved ones. And then the bell would ring, and one of the VADs would open the doors, and then …

‘Nurse?’

Dulcie looked up sharply, surprised to see Dr Logan standing behind her.

‘I’m sorry, Doctor, I didn’t hear you come in.’ She started to her feet, but he gestured for her to carry on.

Please, don’t let me disturb you.’

‘Thank you, Doctor.’

Dulcie went back to her stitching, but it wasn’t long before her thoughts strayed to Sam again.

What if she had got it wrong? She had been so sure of herself when she wrote to his mother, but now she could see she’d had no right to interfere. Sam had made a choice for himself; she should have respected that.

Now he had to face the consequences, all because of her.

‘Isn’t that stitching rather tight, Nurse?’

Dulcie looked up, surprised that Dr Logan was still in the room. It was the oddest thing – usually she was very aware of him when he was near her.