I hoped with all my heart Father would come to Portsmouth. As soon as we got to our third-class room in the Sea Shanty Hotel, I posted three letters to Manno, and organised a telegram to my parents:

In Portsmouth for Britannic inq. on 14th. Hope home soon. Gertie.

*

The morning I’d dreaded had arrived and even my most fervent prayers would not stop the day progressing. Everyone’s future depended on my answers in the inquiry. I had to think before I spoke, and lie convincingly for the sake of those on whom this country depended. Too many lives were destined to be lost because of HMHS Britannic’s sinking, but many more sick or wounded would perish if the Britannic’s senior medical staff lost their jobs because of my actions. They would be held responsible, I knew that.

However, I couldn’t think straight, and my hands were trembling. In the mirror, I saw dark circles under my eyes and thought I looked half dead already. What was the penalty for lying under oath to a British Naval Tribunal? Probably death.

‘I’m so afraid,’ I whispered at breakfast.

‘Why should you be afraid if you don’t remember anything?’ Josephine said firmly.

It became apparent they were all playing the same game, to protect me. I owed them so much. At the town hall, we sat in a corridor and waited, my hands spread on my knees like pale, wasted starfish. Merriberry joined us. She peered into my eyes and said, ‘Remember the blood transfusion, Smith. It’s important.’

She was called into the room where they held the inquiry. There must have been another exit because she never reappeared.

Josephine and I sat in silence although my stomach made terrible gurgling noises.

‘You don’t remember anything then, do you?’ she whispered when the silence became unbearable. ‘Only what you had for breakfast, and giving blood to the dying soldier, right?’

I shook my head. ‘Not a thing.’ Even as I said it, I wanted to confess. But Josephine, Matron, Staff Nurse, and perhaps even the Ship’s Medical Officer might all lose their jobs in disgrace for leaving a trainee in charge of the ward. If I could take the entire blame, then I would, but I could not drop those who had placed their trust in me, in the mire.

‘That’s the spirit. Not surprising after all we’ve been through.’

*

I heard distant talking, then footsteps on the parquet floor. Two figures came around the corner, a man, and a woman. The woman was Matron Merriberry, and a moment passed before I realised the other was my father. My heart pounded with relief. I leapt to my feet, about to rush into his arms, when Josephine placed a hand on my arm.