The Wartime Midwives by Daisy Styles

Author:Daisy Styles
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd
Published: 2019-04-15T16:00:00+00:00

21. Farewells

To Percival’s disgust, Daphne stayed on at Mary Vale a little longer than she had planned. Her father was adamant that she wouldn’t be allowed home until he’d discussed ‘the state of play’, as he called it, with Sir Percival, who was more than keen to sign the girl off for reasons not known to Lord Wallace.

‘She’s as fit as a fiddle; she can leave any time,’ Matron informed Percival. ‘In fact, if the wretched girl isn’t discharged soon, she’s more than likely to jump out of the window and run away.’

‘Oh, dear, we can’t have that,’ Percival said with mock sincerity. ‘I’ll notify Lord Wallace right away.’

Jubilant as she was to return to her horse-and-hound life, there was an unexpected sadness in Daphne when she visited the nursery to say goodbye to her son.

‘He’s a fine chap,’ Ada said, when she spotted Daphne at the changing table, where Bertie, kicking his chubby bare legs and chortling happily, was blissfully unaware that his world was about to change forever. Biting her lip, Daphne turned to Ada. ‘Will you keep an eye on him for me, until he goes?’ she asked.

‘Of course I will,’ Ada promised, touched by the request. ‘We all will. That’s our job here: to look after all of Mary Vale’s babies until they leave us.’

Daphne picked up her son, gave him one last cuddle, kissing him tenderly, before returning him to his cot, that more familiar look of resolve back on her face.

‘Mummy’s waiting for me in the car,’ she said with a grimace. ‘It’ll be a hell of a journey home, with her rabbiting on about the ghastly deb balls she’s lined up for me.’

Her friends could hardly conceal their smiles.

‘Oh, heck, Daphne, for the life of me I can’t see you in a tiara and a long white frock,’ giggled Nancy.

‘Mother’s under the illusion that, just because I’ve had a baby, I’ve had a brain transplant too! It drives her mad that I’ve always resisted society balls and parties; a good ride to the hounds and a bit of slap and tickle in the tack room is more my thing,’ she guffawed.

‘We’ll miss you so much,’ Gloria said, hugging her friend goodbye.

‘Who will make us laugh when you’re gone?’ Isla asked sadly.

‘I would say I’ll come and visit you, but one thing’s for sure: I’m never coming back to this place as long as I live and breathe,’ Daphne boomed as she strode towards the door. ‘You’ve all got my address. I expect you to write after you’ve had your own babies, and give me an update, and you, Nancy,’ she added bossily, ‘keep in touch too, once you’re back home.’ And, with a final goodbye to Bertie, she swept out of the room.

In the hallway Daphne completely ignored Matron, who’d come to see her off, but she thanked Ada and Sister Ann profusely. Not one for sentiment, she bade her last farewells, then picked up her suitcase and set off down the garden path to join her mother, who was waiting for her in a gleaming chauffeur-driven Daimler.

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