Bett seemed to grow in stature in front of Daisy’s eyes as she listened, and Daisy saw her gain control as the terror left her. ‘Yes, I can. I’m sorry, Daisy, I lost it there for a moment. Thank you for making me see that I am brave – I know it now. Just let any of those Japs try to touch one of my nurses and it’ll be me that does the slicing.’

‘That’s the spirit, Bett. Now, I’m off-duty in an hour and meeting Alex, and I’m going to forget it all. But first I’m going to reassure my nurses that there is a procedure in place, that we will be practising it and they will be safe.’

They hugged as they parted, something they’d never done before. Daisy smiled at Bett. ‘Nursing sisters to the rescue, eh?’ With this, she charged down the corridor pretending to hold a gun, to the sound of Bett laughing as if she was fit to burst.

Alex was waiting outside in his car for her when she stepped outside the hospital an hour and a half later. She felt good in the calf-length frock she’d bought recently – made of cotton, it was a colour she’d put somewhere between cream and soft yellow. The fitted bodice had tiny sleeves that were gathered into a cuff that fell well above her elbows. The square neckline showed a hint of her bust. Gathered at the waist, the skirt fell in wide pleats that gave a smart appearance. She’d teamed this with white gloves, a white handbag and white-heeled shoes. Her hat – a woven floppy-brimmed affair – gave her shade and had a cream silk band around the base of the brim, which was finished in a huge bow at the back and flowed to her shoulders, keeping her neck cool as the breeze played with it, causing a fan effect.

‘You look beautiful, darling. That colour really brings out the golden strands in your hair.’

Alex’s light kiss thrilled her. A voice calling her name got her looking back. Florrie stood on the balcony of her ward, waving madly and blowing kisses. Daisy thought she’d like to keep that picture in her mind forever – her lovely sister, a kind, gentle person whom she loved dearly. Alex waved, too, then he pleased and surprised Daisy by saying, ‘Florrie’s lovely. I think I’m going to like having her as a sister-in-law.’

‘Oh? So you’re thinking of marrying one of the family then?’

Alex laughed. She loved his laugh. She loved everything about him, even when, like now, he was teasing her.

‘Yes, I am thinking about it. You said you had a younger sister, didn’t you? The prettiest of you all, with a petite figure, not a buxom one, like you.’