She shoved back from the table, glanced at the clock and slumped down again. ‘And now it’s too late to visit today,’ she said in exasperation. ‘The poor little love must think I’ve deserted her, being in Cliffehaven all this time and none of us have visited her. How could you be so cruel not to tell me earlier?’

Ron abandoned his pipe and gently took hold of Peggy’s arms, drawing her closer. ‘’Tis sorry I am I’ve upset you, wee girl,’ he said softly. ‘But it was not done purposely. Danuta only woke today, and she’s asked for you. So go and get your coat, and I’ll ring Fred the Fish and see if he’ll give us a lift up there.’

‘But it’s gone visiting time,’ Peggy managed.

‘Danuta’s a very special girl,’ he replied. ‘We can visit her any time we want.’

‘She must be, if Matron Billings has agreed to that,’ said Fran briskly. ‘The old witch is the last person to bend the rules.’

‘Aye, well, Matron Billings has had direct orders from some of Danuta’s very well-placed friends, and even she has to obey them,’ said Ron, leaving the table to telephone his old pal Fred.

Fran frowned and looked to Peggy and Cordelia for enlightenment. ‘What friends? I thought she was working at St George’s Hospital in London?’

Peggy shrugged, unable to reveal her knowledge of Danuta’s dangerous missions in enemy territory. ‘I neither know nor care,’ she replied. ‘I’m just thankful that she’s alive and well enough to ask for me.’ She slipped on her coat and hunted out her best shoes. ‘Do you both want to come with us?’

‘You go, dear,’ said Cordelia, clearly upset by Ron’s revelation. ‘I’ll get Bertie to drive me over when she’s feeling up to having more people around her.’

Fran was still looking puzzled as she shook her head, making her copper curls bounce on her shoulders. ‘I’ll stay and put Daisy to bed. I can get a lift from the General and pop over there tomorrow before I have to be on duty.’

Peggy sat squashed between Fred the Fish and Ron in the rather smelly van, her handbag clasped on her lap, her pulse racing as they rattled up the steep road and turned into the hospital driveway. She hadn’t been up here since Kitty had been a patient, but she knew Danuta couldn’t have been in a better place to recover.