Celia frowned and, crumpling up her sister’s letter, threw it down onto her bed. What was Phoebe thinking? Did her sister have no self-discipline? How was she going to keep her role as a VAD if she was going to lose her heart to the first handsome soldier to smile at her?
She knew she must write back immediately. She checked the clock and noticed she had a mere five minutes in which to write her thoughts, scrambled as they were.
Dearest Phoebe,
I am well and happy enough working here at the camp. It is very different to the General Hospital in that we only deal with German prisoners, and I admit that I miss looking after local women and children on a daily basis. That said, this place is very well run and most of the prisoners are decent men who have been conscripted into fighting a war that, like the British soldiers, they probably would choose not to take part in if they had the choice.
I must keep this letter brief in order to post it before my next shift, because I want to reply to you as soon as possible. To say I was shocked by your letter is an understatement. Do you not understand how unprofessionally you are behaving? You might not be a qualified nurse, Phoebe, but you still hold a position of trust and therefore have a duty of care towards your patients. Finding those patients attractive should be the last thing on your mind, and I cannot stress strongly enough how disappointed I am to hear that you are behaving so flippantly.
I’m sorry to be harsh towards you, dear Phoebe, but you really need to think about your behaviour before you end up in serious trouble and lose your job at the base hospital.
I really must press on and do send you my love, but please take note of what I’ve said and be careful.
Your affectionate sister,
Celia x