‘To the nurses’ home. You can use our room to rest and keep dry. It’s the Home Sister’s day off, so you’ll be quite safe,’ she added.

Anna did not protest as Grace helped her off with her damp coat and laid it out to dry. She pulled a spare nightgown out of her drawer for her to put on, and carefully folded up her clothes.

‘Try to rest,’ she said. But Anna’s eyes were already closed as her head touched the pillow.

‘I’m sorry you missed the wedding,’ she mumbled, half asleep.

Grace looked at the clock. They would be in the middle of the wedding breakfast by now. She could imagine Dr Logan standing up to make his speech, Dulcie beside him, looking up at him adoringly …

‘It’s probably for the best,’ she said.

She left Anna sleeping and headed back to the main hospital building.

Now she had started thinking about the wedding, she couldn’t seem to stop. She kept torturing herself with images of Dulcie and Dr Logan together. She could imagine her charming him, looking up at him through her lashes in that way she had. She had once told Grace that whenever she spoke to a man she liked, she always pouted her lips slightly.

‘It puts them in mind of a kiss,’ she had said.

Grace could imagine her pouting up at Dr Logan now, and him accepting her unspoken invitation, his head lowering to meet hers …

And then she walked on to the ward, saw the curtains drawn around the bed at the far end, and all thoughts of the wedding, Dulcie and Dr Logan went right out of her mind.

CHAPTER FIFTY-THREE

Dulcie was having a wonderful time. At least, that was what she kept telling herself.

She and Robert Logan made the perfect couple, she decided. She could see the envious looks the other girls were giving her as she entered the wedding reception on his arm. Miriam Trott looked as if she might expire with jealousy.

Even the bride looked slightly put out at the amount of attention Dulcie was getting, she noted with sly satisfaction.

The only one who didn’t seem to be looking at her was her own partner.

Robert had been a dutiful escort, opening doors and pulling out chairs for her, complimenting her dress and making polite conversation when they sat down for the wedding breakfast. But dutiful was the word; Dulcie sensed his heart wasn’t really in it.

Even now, as she was doing her utmost to flirt with him, his gaze was straying around the room, pulled towards the doors.

Finally, she could stand it no longer.

‘Are you looking for someone?’ She smiled when she said it, but her voice was laced with irritation.

She expected him to apologise, but he said, ‘I thought Grace – Nurse Duffield – might be here.’

‘She’s on duty,’ Dulcie replied, tight-lipped.

‘Yes, but she said she might come to the ceremony, at least.’