The Midnight Rose A Novel by Lucinda Riley

Author:Lucinda Riley
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Publisher: Pan Books
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

24

While Donald was in Devon, I was determined to immerse myself in my nursing course. I knew I hadn’t concentrated fully on it. No matter what the future held for the two of us, this was an achievement I wanted for myself.

Perhaps it’s true to say that when one is loved by another person it creates a glow of happiness and confidence that others find irresistible. Never before had I been asked out to so many dances and outings by the doctors at my hospital.

‘Quite the girl of the moment,’ said one of the nurses, as yet again I refused an invitation from an eligible young surgeon.

For the first time in my life, it seemed as if she might be right.

I’ve since learned that one must never be complacent about a special time in one’s existence. It’s always so fleeting, that moment when one feels invincible, and I’m sad to say that my moment came to an abrupt halt very soon afterwards. A week after Donald had left for Devon, I received a letter at the nurses’ hostel, forwarded to me by Selina.

Cooch Behar Palace

Cooch Behar

Bengal

December 1918

My dearest Anni,

I have no idea where you are living since you returned from France a few weeks ago, but I thought the Astburys might. Maybe you have since written with your new address, but we both know how slow the Indian post can be. I can only say how proud we all are here of your nursing work on the front line. And I hope you are well and finally able to find your path, after the turbulence of the past four years.

Therefore this letter is hard for me to write, as I hate to call your attention away from your own life. But I need your help.

As we both know, Indira fell in love a long time ago with Prince Varun. Since the war has now ended, preparations for her marriage are going ahead. But she is point blank refusing to marry the Maharaja of Dharampur. We have all tried pleading with her, telling her that she has no choice – you can imagine the scandal if she declined at this moment – and the Maharaja is a good man, if a little older than she. Indira must do her duty for her family, whatever her heart is telling her.

She is currently refusing to eat, or, in fact, to rise from her bed at all. She tells me she wishes to lie there and die rather than marry a man she doesn’t love. No one at the palace can bring her to her senses, and I beg you, Anni, as someone she loves, trusts and respects, to come back home, even if just for a short time, and help us try to make her see where her duty lies. We all feel that you’re perhaps the only person on this earth to whom she will listen.

I enclose in this letter a first-class passage back home. It is an open ticket, as I

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