‘Thank God for that.’ Dr Logan sank down into his chair behind the desk. He took off his spectacles and rubbed his eyes, a gesture Grace had come to know well. He looked as weary as she felt.

‘He’s afraid of being sent back to France,’ she said.

‘Yes, I know.’

She paused. ‘I told him he should get on the train and go.’

Dr Logan looked up at her sharply. ‘Good Lord! Did you?’

‘I tried to give him money. I thought he deserved a chance to make a life for himself.’

‘You tried to encourage him to desert?’ Robert Logan spoke slowly, his expression grave.

‘Yes, and I’d do it again,’ Grace replied defiantly.

He stared at her. ‘And what did he say to that?’

‘He wouldn’t go.’ When it came to it, he had decided it was better to do his duty than to take the easy way out. If nothing else, Captain Jeffers had proved to himself today he was no coward.

‘Thank God for that,’ Dr Logan muttered. ‘You could have both been in serious trouble if he was caught. He would have been court martialled, shot …’

‘What does that matter? Either way, he knows he’s going to die. At least with a court martial it would be quick. He wouldn’t have to suffer like those poor men on the ward.’

‘I’ll pretend I didn’t hear that, Nurse.’ Dr Logan looked down at the papers in front of him.

‘I don’t care,’ Grace said. ‘It would be so unfair if he were passed fit when he’s obviously still not well.’

‘That’s for the Medical Board to decide,’ Dr Logan cut her off.

‘Can’t you do something?’

‘I already do what I can.’ His blue eyes flared behind his spectacles. ‘I detest writing these reports. Sometimes I think I might as well be signing these men’s death warrants. I seldom recommend a return to active service, but whether the board takes up my recommendation is another matter.’

‘They should send the whole Medical Board to the Front and then see what they have to say about it,’ Grace said.

Dr Logan’s mouth curved in the smallest of smiles. ‘I’ve often thought that myself,’ he said. He leaned back in his chair. ‘You look tired, Nurse. You should try to get some rest.’

‘Yes, Sir. Thank you.’

As she turned to go, he said, ‘Nurse?’

‘Yes, Sir?’

They looked at each other, their eyes meeting across the office.

‘I would have told him to get on the train too,’ said Dr Logan.

CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR

‘You’ve had a wedding invitation.’ Edward looked down at the card in his hand. ‘Someone called Sylvia?’

Anna had to hesitate for a moment before the name fell into place. It felt as if it belonged to another world. ‘Oh you mean Saunders.’

‘Who is she?’

‘A friend. We nursed together at the Nightingale.’ Anna looked at the curling copperplate script on the invitation Edward had passed her. Hard to believe Sylvia’s wedding was once all they had talked about. Now, after a couple of months, she had almost forgotten about it.