‘She’s left Liverpool?’ she said. ‘Do you know where she’s gone?’

Dr Gaskell helped himself to a mint-green national-issue cup and saucer from the pile on the wooden tray and began to pour himself a milky coffee from the urn. ‘I haven’t had one of these for a long time,’ he said as he flicked the handle on the urn back to upright and spooned three sugars into the cup. ‘Here’s another secret for you to keep: don’t tell either my wife or Matron that you saw me doing that. Those two are in cahoots.’ He winked.

Although his eyes were so kind and mischievous, he didn’t manage to dispel Dana’s fear that she might have unwittingly helped make Mary Kate’s situation worse. She felt like running home herself, just because she was tired. She knew exactly what he was going to say next.

‘She’s gone home to Ireland,’ he said as he stirred, ‘or so I was told by her neighbour.’

Dana swallowed again. She felt sick and this time it wasn’t because of the bedpans.

‘It’s such a shame,’ Dr Gaskell continued. ‘She reminds me of you such a lot. I do remember your interview. You were as young as Mary Kate is now, and I saw a similar spark in her. She would have made an excellent nurse, and having known loss herself, well, as you know, compassion for a patient is something that can’t be taught in the school of nursing. That young lady has sadly learnt it the hard way, at a very young age. Never mind. Our loss. I just thought I would let you know, as I promised I would.’

Dana remembered to close her mouth and respond just in time as an idea flashed through her mind. ‘I have an idea, Dr Gaskell. I was just saying to Nurse Tanner that I fancy a trip home for a holiday. Why don’t I call in and see Mary Kate? Tarabeg is such a small village – it’s all farms, like in our village – and I would find her in a minute. I could see how she is for you myself and if the conversation moves that way, I shall tell her what you said. It might give her something to look forward to for the future. I’m sure she has never thought of nursing, but you never know, it could give her hope and help her, maybe?’

Dr Gaskell sipped at his coffee and smiled over the brim of the cup. ‘What an excellent idea. Matron thinks she’d have made a marvellous nurse too. She liked her very much. It was Matron who first gave me the idea. We have new wards opening soon. There is no sign of the new hospital being built in my lifetime, I can tell you. Matron has even been talking about moving away from Liverpool to find potential nursing staff for the hospital.’

‘Well, I can’t guarantee anything, but I can keep your promise to Dr Marcus for you and check that Mary Kate is doing all right. And I will tell her you were asking about her and that was why I called.’ Her fingers were crossed behind her back. Knowing all the time that she would have to go home and lie through her teeth.