Of course, it was always being broken. The ward sisters were forever finding staff nurses and probationers closeted in kitchens and sluices and linen cupboards with young doctors and medical students.

But for a ward sister to condone such a thing – well, that was an entirely different matter.

‘I think that would be a very good idea, Doctor,’ said Sister Parker.

The younger nurses always thought ward sisters were made of stone. Or iron, at any rate. Most of them would never have believed that their superiors were young too, once. They had flirted with doctors, crept back to the nurses’ home with their shoes in their hand after lights out, and even fallen in love a few times.

Of course, most of the ward sisters had forgotten their own ill-spent youth, but not Florence Parker. Even though her salad days were long gone, she still enjoyed watching romances blossom on the ward – so long as the nurses didn’t allow it to interfere with their work, of course.

And she had watched the tentative romance between Grace Duffield and Dr Robert Logan with particular interest. She had willed them both on from the sidelines as their friendship slowly developed, and silently cursed when Dulcie Moore decided to interfere.

There had come a point when she had begun to despair that they would ever find their way to each other. Dr Logan was far too shy for his own good, and as for Grace – well, she wouldn’t have known a man was interested in her if he’d carried a banner.

But now, seeing the keen look on Dr Logan’s face as he headed for her sitting room, Florence Parker began to hope that love might at last have found a way.

Then perhaps the doctor would stop behaving like a lovesick puppy, and they could all get on with their work.

She turned away with a smile. She was definitely going soft in her old age.

CHAPTER FIFTY-FIVE

‘Don’t you want to go outside, Sergeant Trevelyan?’

Sam looked up at the nurse hovering beside his chair. She never seemed to be far from his side.

Her name was Nurse Bright, and it really suited her. She was always irritatingly perky and full of good ideas about how he could fill his days. Even her voice grated on him.

‘Some of the men are organising a cricket match on the front lawn. Perhaps you’d like to join them.’ She beamed, showing off a mouth full of over-large teeth.

Sam pointed to the wound in his side. It was healing well, but the muscles were still weak. ‘I reckon my days as a spin bowler are probably over.’

‘I didn’t mean join in, silly!’ Nurse Bright brayed with laughter. ‘But you could watch?’

Sam looked at her. He knew she was doing her best, but she was far too sweet for him. He missed having someone he could spar with, someone who could give as good as they got.

‘Perhaps you might like to do something else then?’ Nurse Bright suggested. ‘The singing group are practising in the dining room?’