The Walnut Tree by Charles Todd

Author:Charles Todd [Todd, Charles]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Mystery, Romance, Historical
ISBN: 9780062236999
Goodreads: 15768152
Publisher: William Morrow, an imprint of HarperCollins
Published: 2012-01-01T06:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eight

When I arrived in France, I found I was well behind the lines in a hospital unit. Matron looked at my orders, then studied my face for a moment.

“Sister Douglas. Are you all right?”

I wasn’t. I’d spent my leave searching for Peter, and I had got almost no sleep at all, snatching what rest I could when it was possible.

“Yes, Matron.”

“Have you been ill?”

“No, Matron.” I could see she was of two minds about believing me. And so I added, “I received unhappy news while on leave. A friend of the family has been severely wounded. My training makes it impossible for me to pretend that he’ll recover. For all I know, he’s already dead.” My voice nearly broke on the last words.

“I understand, but I must remind you that you must put personal matters aside if you are to work with the wounded. If your mind is wandering, you will not be able to make decisions quickly and efficiently. You were told that in your training.”

“Yes, Matron. Only, then, before someone close to my family was wounded, it was easier to believe it was possible to put personal feelings aside.”

She sighed. “My own brother has gone missing. He’s in the Buffs. They’ve taken heavy casualties. But I mustn’t put that above my duty.”

I knew she was right. And if she could manage to carry on, then I would have to find a way.

“I’m sorry, Matron. It was wrong of me to bring my feelings back to France with me. You can count on me to do my duty.”

Smiling, she said, “You’re very young, Sister Douglas. But an excellent nurse from all reports. I’m sure I can depend on you.”

And indeed, I found that throwing myself into my work helped. I also made certain I was too tired to dream or lie awake worrying. That helped too. But that night I kept my promise to the Gilchrist piper.

I tried to couch my news in the best terms possible, telling the truth but at the same time leaving the door open to hope. There would be no way of knowing if my letter would even reach the piper, but it was important to try.

Not twenty-four hours later, another letter found me, this one from Madeleine. She wrote that young Henri was thriving, and that despite the shortage of food in Paris, she was managing to feed the household.

And I’ve heard from Henri again. He says he has seen you, and that you are in good health. I’m so glad to hear it, dear Elspeth. I’ve been very worried about you.

There’s been no word from Alain, but we have learned that he was wounded in the shoulder and could lose his arm if the infection doesn’t respond. Henri is trying to have him released in some sort of prisoner exchange, since he has been so ill. But so far this has not come to pass. He killed quite a few of the enemy before he was captured, and the Germans could well see this as a reason to keep him.

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