And she couldn’t wait to make a start.

‘Let’s set a date for the wedding,’ she said.

Edward turned sharply to face her. ‘Do you mean it?’

‘Why not? We’ve waited long enough, don’t you think?’

He smiled. ‘When?’

‘How about Christmas?’

His mouth twisted. ‘That’s only a couple of weeks away. I might not even be discharged by then.’

‘New Year, then. How about New Year’s Eve? I’m sure you will be home by then.’ Anna reached for his hand. ‘Wouldn’t it be wonderful to start the New Year as man and wife?’

He looked down at her hand resting in his.

‘I can’t think of anything I’d like more,’ he said.

Grace was surprised to hear Edward Stanning had been transferred to Wilson. She had always thought of him as such a strong, steady type. And yet there he was when she reported for night duty, sitting up in the bed next to Corporal Frost’s, a sullen expression on his face.

‘I’m afraid Private Stanning has not settled in very well,’ Miss Parker said when she was going through the patients’ notes with Grace. ‘He refuses to speak, and wouldn’t even look at me earlier when I tried to talk to him. Dr Carlyle has prescribed a sedative for him this evening, but he may well refuse to take it.’ She handed over his notes. ‘I fear you may have your work cut out with him, Nurse.’

‘I’ll do my best, Sister.’

‘I’m sure you will, Nurse. And at least you’ll have Marchant with you. I’m sure she will be a great source of help and comfort.’

Grace caught the gleam of amusement in Miss Parker’s blue eyes. ‘Thank you, Sister,’ she said.

When she had finished taking report from Sister, Grace helped Sylvia Saunders and Mary Finnegan hand out cups of cocoa to the patients, then assisted with the bedpans.

After that it was time for the medication round. As Sister had predicted, Edward refused his sedative.

‘I don’t need it, Nurse,’ he insisted. ‘I shall sleep quite well without it.’

‘Are you sure, Private Stanning? I see from your notes your nightmares can be—’

‘I’m well aware what my notes say, Nurse. But I’m telling you, I don’t need a sedative.’

Grace looked at him for a moment, so solid and strong-willed, his mouth set in a stubborn line.

‘Very well.’ She made a note on his chart. ‘But let me know if you change your mind. I’m afraid night-time on this ward can be rather lively.’

‘If you can sleep standing up in a dugout, you can sleep anywhere.’ He was smiling again, back to his old charming self.

‘I don’t know why you didn’t just force him to take the sedative,’ Vivienne Marchant said as she followed Grace and the medications trolley to the next bed.

‘How could I?’ Grace reasoned. ‘Anyway, the men on this ward are fragile enough without being forced into anything.’

‘He didn’t seem very fragile to me.’ Vivienne Marchant sniffed. ‘Are you sure he belongs here? He doesn’t seem like the other patients.’