‘Let’s get you back into bed, shall—’

She gasped as Edward’s hand came down on her wrist, trapping it.

‘You won’t tell Anna, will you?’

Grace looked down at his hand, pinioning her wrist. ‘Let go of me, please, Private Stanning,’ she said in a carefully level voice.

‘Promise me, Nurse. Promise me you won’t say a word to Anna about that wretched report.’

Grace lifted her chin to meet his gaze. ‘She deserves to know what kind of a man she is marrying.’

‘But it’s all lies!’ Edward released her abruptly. He looked down at the buff envelope, the word ‘Private’ standing out even in the dim light.

‘It would break her heart,’ he said flatly. ‘You’re her friend, Nurse Duffield. You’ve seen how happy she is since I came home. She’s so looking forward to us getting married, settling down, building a life together. Do you really want to ruin all that for her – for us?’

Grace thought about Anna, skipping around their room as she packed her belongings. Edward was right, she had been happier since he came home. For the first time in a long time, she was actually looking forward to her future.

‘Perhaps that wretched report is right,’ Edward interrupted her thoughts. ‘Perhaps I’m not the man I once was. God knows, the war has changed me, just like it’s changed all these other poor men in here.’ He looked around in the shadowy darkness. ‘But all I need is a chance,’ he said. ‘I can be the man I once was. I just need time, a stable home, a purpose in life. I need Anna.’ He turned pleading eyes to meet Grace’s. ‘Please, Nurse Duffield? I know you’re a good, kind-hearted person, and I know you want to do the right thing. I wouldn’t blame you for a minute if you decided to tell Anna about this. But I’m begging you to give me the chance to prove I can change, that I can be a good man again.’ He looked downcast. ‘My future is in your hands,’ he said.

This particular psychopathy is deep-seated and would take a great deal of time and effort to treat. Always assuming Private Stanning is willing, which I believe is highly unlikely, given that he doesn’t believe there is anything wrong with him …

Grace thought about Anna again, the bright smile that lit up her face when she talked about Edward, about her wedding.

Perhaps he was right, that he only needed a chance. Who was she to take that away from him, to ruin two people’s happiness?

‘It’s getting very late, Private Stanning,’ she said. ‘Let’s get you back to bed, shall we?’

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

New Year’s Eve was a dark, depressing day. Wet sleet fell sullenly from a dirty yellowish-grey sky, turning to sloppy slush on the pavements.

But Anna was determined not to allow the miserable weather to dampen her spirits. This was her wedding day and nothing was going to spoil it.