Peggy laughed. ‘Good grief,’ she spluttered. ‘I never thought I’d hear the like.’

Dolly chuckled. ‘I didn’t say I was any good at it – but I gave it a go just to show willing.’ She drove at speed through the hospital entrance and screeched to a halt on the gravel drive, sending a splatter of small stones across a nearby flower bed.

‘I’ll wait here for you – perhaps have a wander about to see what the place is like. Take your time, Peggy, I’m in no rush to get back to my sour-faced daughter and poor bewildered Frank.’

‘You could come in and meet Danuta if you’d like,’ offered Peggy.

Dolly shook her head. ‘Perhaps when she’s feeling better. There’s nothing worse than having to be polite to strangers when one doesn’t feel like being any such thing.’

Peggy hurried off and was soon entering Danuta’s quiet room. The girl was sleeping, and Nurse Hopkins was sitting by the bed making notes in a folder.

‘Hello, Susan,’ Peggy whispered. ‘How’s our girl doing today?’

‘She had a restless night, Peggy, so the doctor ordered some stronger medication. I doubt she’ll wake for some hours, but I’m sure that if you sit and talk to her, she’ll know you’re there.’

Peggy thanked her and sat down as Susan Hopkins quietly left the room. Danuta was breathing evenly, and her skin felt cool, so she didn’t have a temperature, and it seemed that any infection was being fought by the strong medication that was slowly being fed into her by tubes.

‘I expect you’ve already heard from Ron, but there’s been some wonderful news today,’ Peggy began softly. ‘Rome has fallen to the Allies. Everyone is expecting the invasion to come any day now, and then we will take Paris and drive on into the heart of Berlin.’

Peggy felt very emotional as she touched the girl’s bandaged hand. ‘And it’s all because of the wonderfully brave things you and people like you have been doing over there, my darling. I’m so very proud of you.’

Danuta’s fingers twitched beneath Peggy’s gentle hand, and that was when she knew the girl could hear and understand her despite the heavy medication. Encouraged, she carried on talking for almost an hour before kissing her goodnight and returning to Dolly.

15

Ron dodged out of the way and softly but firmly booted Adolf up his tail feathers as he tried to attack him for the second time. Closing the gate on the enclosure, he exchanged glares with the vicious old tyrant.

‘To be sure you were named well,’ Ron muttered. ‘And once we’ve got your namesake defeated, I shall take great pleasure in wringing your ruddy neck.’