‘No reason, Staff,’ she said.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

‘Nurse Beck, will you pay attention?’

Anna looked round sharply at the sound of Nurse Hanley’s stern voice. The senior staff nurse stood facing her, a length of rubber tubing in one hand and a catheter in the other.

‘You’re supposed to be keeping an eye on the patient’s pulse,’ she snapped. ‘How can you be ready with the stimulant if you’re miles away?’

‘Yes, Staff. Sorry.’

Anna gave the patient in the bed a quick, apologetic look, and checked his pulse. It was a good, steady beat, forceful enough to tell her he was suffering no ill effects from the abdominal drainage procedure.

She allowed her gaze to travel stealthily back to the far end of the ward, where the curtains were pulled around Edward’s bed. Dr French had been in there a long time, she thought.

Today was the day they decided whether to ship Edward back to France. Officially, he would have to go before a Medical Board who would decide his future, but Anna knew they nearly always took the advice of the doctor in charge of the soldier’s case.

She kept telling herself not to think the worst, but it was difficult after everything that had happened. She tried to keep up a brave face for Edward’s sake, but every night she would pray that God would not take him away from her, too. She wasn’t sure she would be able to bear it if she were left alone again.

‘Nurse Beck, I am about to suture the wound,’ Nurse Hanley’s voice rapped out.

‘Yes, Staff.’ Anna got to work, administering the local anaesthetic. But as she watched Nurse Hanley carefully stitching, her mind was elsewhere.

Suddenly the screens around Edward’s bed were pushed back and Dr French emerged with Miss Sutton. Anna watched them talking together, trying to work out what they might be saying. They both looked very solemn, she thought.

Nurse Hanley finished her sutures and Anna was allowed to apply the many-tailed binder and then dress the wound. She settled the patient and made sure he was comfortable, then hurried off to see Edward.

He was listlessly doing a crossword when she approached. Anna took one look at his subdued face and her heart sank.

‘Oh, Edward, what did the doctor say?’

He shook his head. ‘It’s bad news, love.’ Then, before Anna could reply, he went on, ‘It looks like those Germans will have to find someone else for their target practice!’

It took a moment for the news to sink in. ‘You – you mean, they’re not going to send you back?’

Edward shook his head. ‘The doctor reckons my lungs are too damaged. Another gas attack could kill me, he says. I’ll have to go in front of the Board to make it all official, but Dr French says he’ll be recommending light duties at home. Or you never know, I might even get a complete discharge!’ His face brightened.

Anna stared at him, scarcely able to take this in. She had seen so many other men, often in a worse state than Edward, shipped off back to France. He must be very lucky, she thought.