‘He will be all right, won’t he, Nurse?’ he said finally.

‘Of course he will, Corporal Sallis.’

‘And they’ll look after him properly?’

Grace looked at Albie. His voice was flat, less ebullient than she had ever heard it.

‘They’ll take good care of him,’ she said.

‘I hope so. He can be a funny bugger, y’see. If you’ll pardon my French. Bit too quiet.’

‘I’m sure he’ll make friends soon.’

‘Yes.’ Albie looked troubled by the thought. ‘He’s asked me to write to him, but I dunno if I’ll bother. I ain’t really much of a one for letters.’

‘I’m sure he’d be disappointed if he didn’t hear from you.’

‘D’you think so?’ Albie looked up at her.

‘I’m sure of it.’

‘But like you said, he’ll make new friends.’

‘That doesn’t mean he’ll forget you. You heard what he said, your friendship means a great deal to him.’

‘I s’pose so.’ Albie paused for a moment, taking it in. ‘I won’t know what I’m going to do with myself now he’s gone,’ he said at last. ‘It gave me a sort of purpose, looking after him. And now …’

Then his grin returned and he said, ‘Hark at me, I must be going soft in my old age! Take no notice of me, Nurse. I dunno what I’m saying half the time.’

Grace finished stripping the bed and put the dirty sheets in a bag, ready to go to the laundry. As she returned from the sluice, she noticed Albie sitting forlornly on his own, staring into space. He looked so lost, her heart went out to him.

Sister was at her desk in the middle of the ward, deep in conversation with Dr Logan. Grace promptly changed her mind about approaching them. She had just turned away when Miss Parker called after her, ‘Was there something you wanted, Nurse?’

Grace turned back reluctantly to face them. ‘I wondered, Sister, whether it would be all right to spend some time with Corporal Sallis? He was such good friends with Private Gordon, it’s going to be difficult for him now.’ She risked a glance at Dr Logan. He had his back to her, ignoring her presence.

‘I think that would be an excellent idea, Nurse. What do you say, Doctor?’ She turned to Dr Logan.

His shoulders lifted in a non-committal shrug that made Grace’s blood boil in her veins. Why was he being so childish? It wasn’t as if he didn’t have anyone to take to Sylvia’s wedding, after all.

‘Certainly you may spend time with him, Nurse, if you truly think it will help.’ Miss Parker looked at the clock. ‘But aren’t you supposed to be off duty from ten o’clock until two? It’s twenty to ten now.’

‘I won’t spend too long with him, Sister. I just want to make sure he’s all right.’

Grace stared at Dr Logan’s turned back as she said it. The tips of his ears glowed scarlet through his neatly trimmed dark hair.