A few yards from the camp gate, he stopped the jeep. ‘Look, I hate to do this to you, but if you two get out here and come into camp as normal, I think I can get her past the guards better than if I’ve got you on board as well.’ His deep chuckle made them both smile. As they slid out of the jeep, Mavis said. ‘Thank you, sir – for everything.’

‘Yes, thank you, sir,’ Isobel echoed, ‘you’ve been jolly decent about this.’

‘Think nothing of it. But not a word to a soul, mind.’

‘No, sir,’ they chorused with heartfelt agreement.

Kate was not asleep. Through the mists of alcohol, she had heard everything that was going on, but she couldn’t seem to get her mind to work properly. She was muddled and confused. She had never in her life felt like this before; but then never before had she been drunk.

Fortunately for them both, she lay quietly while Philip drove through the gates, pausing to prove his identity to the guard. ‘My driver’s in the back. We’ve had a long day . . .’

The soldier on duty glanced into the back of the jeep, then stepped back and saluted smartly. ‘Sir!’ he barked and the barrier was raised for the vehicle to pass into camp.

It was as if she was waking up in a fog. Her head throbbed abominably when she tried to raise it. She groaned and dropped back against the pillow and a sharp stab of pain shot up the back of her neck and gripped the top of her head.

Somewhere above her a deep voice spoke. ‘Oh, surfacing at last, are we?’

Kate opened her eyes and tried to focus on the face bending over her. She blinked rapidly and recognized the face of her commanding officer.

‘Oh bloody ’ell!’ she muttered and closed her eyes again.

‘Such language, young lady!’

‘Where am I? What are you doing here?’

‘You’re in my bed where you’ve been all night – at least, what was left of it.’

Her eyes flew open. ‘Your – your bed?’

‘Don’t look so shocked. I wasn’t in it. Taking advantage of a young woman in that state isn’t in my line. It’s the room behind my office. I like to stay here when there’s an op on, so I got it fitted out with the basic necessities. Good job I did. I could hardly have taken you to the CO’s house, now could I?’

He sat down carefully on the edge of the bed and leaned over her, resting on his hands placed either side of her. ‘Want to talk about it, Kate?’ he asked gently.

Kate was just beginning to realize what he had done for her this past night, and at the kindness in his tone easy tears filled her eyes. ‘I’m so sorry.’