Daisy sat on her bed and sorted through the textbooks that Sister Johnson had given her. Her unexpected falling out with Nick had upset her more than she had imagined possible, but, if anything, it had made her even more determined to follow a career in medicine. The men in her life all seemed to have feet of clay, and at the first sign of trouble they crumbled to dust before her eyes. Nick’s possessive attitude was the biggest disappointment of all. She selected a book on general ward hygiene and skimmed through the index, but the silence in the room was unnerving. It was oddly quiet without Minnie’s constant chatter, but she was probably relating the events of the afternoon to anyone who was prepared to listen. On the way home Minnie and Ivy had been making plans for another such Sunday outing, and Daisy suspected that they were both sweet on Toby. She sighed and turned back to her selected book.

Next morning Daisy was assigned to the outpatient department. She was sent to fetch the patients and take them to the appropriate cubicles where the doctor examined them while she stood by ready to assist. The clinic had gone smoothly enough and she went to find the last person in the waiting area, but it was Nick who rose to his feet, clutching a large bunch of violets.

‘Are you ill?’ Daisy asked warily.

‘No, I came to apologise for my behaviour yesterday. I realise it was unforgiveable, Daisy. You are your own woman and I am a clumsy fellow who can’t put his feelings into words.’ He held out the flowers. ‘Would you accept these with my apologies?’

She could feel everyone staring at them and she hurried him into an empty cubicle. ‘There was no need for this, Nick, but the flowers are lovely. Thank you.’ She took them from him and buried her face in their soft purple petals, the scent reminded her of the woods near Creek Hall.

‘Am I forgiven?’

‘Yes, of course. Perhaps I was a bit hasty, but let’s forget it, shall we?’

‘Gladly. I’ll try to curb my tongue in future.’

She smiled. ‘I think you might find that rather difficult.’

‘I’m going to be very busy for the next two or three weeks, but perhaps we could go to the theatre some time, or I could take you to dinner.’

‘I’d like that, but I intend to spend much of my spare time studying. I want to get my qualifications as soon as possible.’

‘I have to go now, Daisy. I put off a very wealthy patient to come here and I’ll be in trouble with my employer if I don’t get back within the hour.’ He kissed her briefly on the cheek. ‘I’ll see you very soon.’

‘I hope so, Nick.’ She opened the curtains and stood for a moment, watching him as he walked purposefully towards the main doors. She sniffed the violets again and their scent was intoxicating. She found a small glass and filled it with water, arranging the flowers carefully to show them off at their best, but the sound of Sister Johnson bellowing her name brought her back to the present. She left the violets on a shelf and went to answer her superior’s summons.