The Poppy Field by Deborah Carr

Author:Deborah Carr
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780008301002
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Published: 2018-08-09T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 15

Alice

November 1916

This time Alice didn’t care about her bumpy, cold journey back to the casualty clearing station. All she wanted was to see Ed again. It had been just over three weeks in reality but had felt like a lifetime. Three hours would be too long the way she felt about him now.

She dropped her suitcase into her tent and quickly changed into her uniform. Then, going to Matron’s office, she knocked on the door.

“Enter,” Matron said, her voice sounding strained, Alice thought.

She walked into the silent room, feeling a little nervous.

“Ah, Nurse Le Breton, you’re back,” Matron said, looking a little less severe than usual. “As I’m sure you expect, much has happened since you’ve been away.” She checked her watch. “Your mother. She is better, I assume?”

Alice didn’t like to admit that her mother had never really been unwell and that her visit had not been a necessary one. “Yes, thank you. Much better now.”

“Very good. I’m relieved to hear it,” she straightened several sheets of paper on her desk. “I’d like you back on the wards as soon as possible. We’re rather short staffed.”

“Yes, Matron,” Alice said, delighted to oblige. “Thank you, Matron.”

She returned to Ward Three, eager to see Ed.

“Oh, you’re back,” Mary said, as she reached the ward entrance.

Alice could tell by the furrows of concern on her brow that something was amiss. “Is everything all right?” Alice asked, concerned for her friend.

Mary went to say something when Matron walked around the corner and spotted them chatting. “Nurse Le Breton, Nurse Jones. There is much work to be done. Go to your wards, immediately.”

Alice pulled an apologetic face at Mary. She would have to ask her about her woes later when they were in their tent.

Striding into the ward, a smile on her face, Alice saw that there was a stranger in the bed where Ed used to be. Maybe they’ve rearranged the room, she thought, aware that it had happened many times since she’d begun working there. She scanned the room for sight of him and her heart raced when she couldn’t see him anywhere. Surely, he hadn’t relapsed? Trying to control her panic, she spotted a probationer and went over to her.

“Captain Woodhall,” she said quietly. “Do you know where he’s been moved to?”

The nurse frowned. “I’m sorry, which one is he?”

Concerned, but trying to remain professional, Alice pointed to where she had last seen him. “That was his bed, there.”

The young girl thought for a moment. “Oh, yes. Injury to the head and hip, fair-haired, good looking,” she smiled. “Is that the one?”

Alice wanted to throttle her for taking her time. “Yes.”

“He was a nice man”

“Was?” Alice’s heart plummeted. Exhausted from two days travelling and her rising panic was threatening to overwhelm her. “Please, what happened to him?”

“Oh, he’s gone.” She turned to walk away, but Alice stepped in front of her.

“Gone?” If he left, then he was fit. Relief flooded through her. But it meant that she had missed him. “When was this?”

“Two days ago,” she said, folding her arms in front of her chest.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.