‘A child . . . Oh my.’ I humoured him. ‘Is it a boy, or a girl?’

‘We will have a boy and a girl, I guess, so take your pick. First, I will marry you, naturally, and build you a fine house, the best, admired by everyone. You’ll be so incredibly happy you’ll be laughing all the time.’

‘Aren’t we going a little fast here? I came in to check your dressing and five minutes later I’m married with a child on my hip!’ I smiled. ‘Anyway, I think you have a fine imagination for someone who’s never even heard me laugh.’

‘Of course I’ve heard you laugh, let me think now . . .’ He screwed his face up. ‘Ah, yes, it was on the Britannic. Wait, it’s coming back . . .’ He lifted a finger and closed his eyes for a second. ‘You were left in charge of us by boss woman. You were being too hoity-toity by far, then the bedpans toppled and there was poop everywhere and we laughed so much.’ He stopped and chuckled. ‘I’ve never seen anyone go so red in all my life before, your face was scarlet.’ He paused, squinting at nothing. ‘I’d forgotten all that . . .’ He frowned, clearly trying to remember the incident more clearly.

Horrified, the last thing I wanted was him dwelling on his last morning aboard the Britannic. I had to change the subject. ‘Seriously now, tell me how we’ll avoid the Hun’s torpedoes? I’m a little anxious, to tell the truth, afraid after all that’s happened.’

He returned to now. ‘I think the admiralty ask themselves that same question every time a vessel leaves port, Nurse Gertie. They’ll be zig-zagging to avoid enemy torpedoes, don’t you worry.’

I heard the bravado in his voice. The very idea that he should protect me made him feel stronger.

‘We could sleep on deck. What do you think?’ I asked.

‘We’re probably safer here, below. You can stay if you’re afraid.’

The tension in his voice made my heart squeeze. ‘Thank you, I’d feel safer. I’ll get the lifesavers, just in case, and pull two chairs together to fix myself a bed.’

‘My blanket’s in that kit bag in the corner, make yourself comfortable.’

I found the lifesaver locker and took two cork and canvas belts out, then pulled the grey army issue blanket from Perkins’s duffel. Once I was settled beside his bed, he reached for my hand again.