She crossed paths with Lilly as she followed the doctors to one of the makeshift operating theaters downstairs in the chateau. As she stepped into the room, a parlor from the looks of it, with most of the furniture pushed to the sides and stacked to make space, she saw a soldier with medals on his jacket standing there, clearly someone highly ranked.

She gulped, knowing instinctively that the news would be bad. Jack’s right.

“Everyone, this is Captain Beaumont,” Doctor Connor, who’d summoned them all, said as he shut the door behind them. She doubted it would give them complete privacy, knowing his booming voice would probably carry to the patients in the adjoining room. “Unfortunately he has a rather sobering message to share with us all.”

Lilly’s fingers suddenly caught hers, and Cate leaned into her, their shoulders pressed together and hands clasped as they listened. They would have heard a pin drop, despite the number of nurses, orderlies and doctors crammed into the small space. She caught another nurse’s eye across the room and gave her a small smile; the other woman looked even more terrified than Cate felt.

“As some of you may have heard, the urgent evacuation of British soldiers from France has begun,” the captain said. “As I speak, soldiers are gathering on the beach at Dunkirk.”

Cate saw the shake of his hand as he held a piece of paper, about to read to them all. She hated to think what would make a soldier of his rank tremble.

“Unfortunately, the port and beach are now full of men waiting to be evacuated to the point of overflowing, and the situation is only going to get worse. There is provision for some of you to leave; however, we will not be taking any patients who cannot make their own way to the beach. In short, many of them will have to stay behind despite our best efforts to accommodate everyone, and we need medical personnel to look after our injured. A minimum ratio of one doctor and ten orderlies for every hundred patients will be enforced.”

Cate held Lilly’s hand tighter as she heard her stifle a sob. She didn’t look at her, not wanting to see her tears or be confronted by her friend’s pain. It was the only way she could hold her own emotions in check.

So it’s true, it’s over for us in France.

“While it is realized that this will mean inevitable capture for you, it is hoped that you will uphold the traditions of the Royal Army Medical Corps. More men will be sent to you as they arrive, and we thank you for your service. The work you are doing is essential during these trying times. God speed.”