Paddy stood for a moment outside the makeshift ward of Hospital 36. Wiping the sweat from her brow, she welcomed the spots of rain hitting her face, because they hid the tears running down her cheeks. Tears shed for an unknown soldier, whose hand had gripped hers as he took his last agonizing breath. It was something that happened often, but it always got to her.
Explosions and gunfire assaulted her ears as an ambulance drew up, spraying muddy water over her feet. ‘We’ve five inside for you, Paddy. It’s hell out there, but we’re winning, lass. This war is coming to an end.’
Taking a deep breath, Paddy nodded. ‘How we’re to cope with them is a matter for the Good Lord himself, Lou. Are they for being badly injured?’
‘Naw. I reckon as you’ll soon have them back in the firing line.’ Lou laughed at his own joke, but Paddy couldn’t join in. Oh, she knew the only way was to make light of it all, but not today. Today she was tired to the bones of her, and more than a bit down in spirits.
Lou passed by her as he guided the stretcher-bearers into the ward, his smile lifting her a little. ‘Perk up, lass. I heard there are reinforcements on the way for you.’
‘Aye, it is that there’s a team of Red Cross workers coming, and sorely needed they are, too.’
‘You’re reet there, lass. Our lads are not having an easy job of it.’
The lad on the stretcher chipped in. ‘It’s as bad as anything we experienced at the Somme.’
Forgetting her own sorrow, Paddy told him, ‘Well, you’re doing a good job, so you are. You’re for nearly having it won. And it is that you’re safe now.’
Safe, but for how long?
Shaking this thought away, Paddy straightened her body and wiped her face. She had been stationed in Hospital 36 for the last six months and during that time had visited the hell the soldiers had spoken of more than once.
She’d been surprised to be taken into Queen Alexandra’s nursing service, but the rules had been altered, due to a shortage of nurses, and they no longer only took women from wealthy backgrounds, but welcomed all qualified nurses. A lot of Irish lasses were amongst the ranks. Oh, how she wished there were some of them here; she’d give anything to hear the lilt of the Irish tongue.
Leaving Lou to unload the men and show them to the receiving bay, Paddy walked away from tent-ward seven, where she had been working. Matron had given her a ten-minute break to collect herself, and she meant to take full advantage of it. Although Matron was a strict taskmaster, she had a sixth sense when it came to her nurses and often showed compassion, even though her usual maxim was that everything must carry on, no matter what.
Outside the perimeter of the hospital Paddy followed a safe path away from the direction of the fighting. Huddled in her cloak against the onslaught of the rain, she felt an overwhelming sense of loneliness for her beloved Ireland engulf her.
She and her widowed father had been forced to flee to London. They had lived in the south of Ireland, not far from Dublin, on the estate of Lord Herringbone, an English gentleman – a good man, who had sponsored Paddy through her nurses’ training. It had broken her heart when the Fenians had burned his house to the ground. She’d been glad that he and his family were away in England at the time. And glad, too, that her mammy hadn’t lived to be part of her pappy taking to the drink, and of them living in squalor.
The war had saved Paddy, in a way. And her pappy, too, for he had joined up as a training-camp chef to the troops in England. It was a blessing to know that he was safe.
‘You’re a fast walker, Nurse. I’m out of breath trying to catch up with you.’
The voice made her jump. Turning, she saw Private Bobby Baker and her heart fluttered.
‘What is it you are doing out here, Bobby? For sure you’ll catch your death!’
‘Oh? Quicker than I will when they send me back to the bloodbath, then?’
Bobby had been brought in with a broken ankle, sustained when he’d slid back into a trench and landed on a dead soldier’s gun. He’d been traumatized to find the body was that of his friend, and hadn’t felt the pain of his break until he’d tried to stand up. Now he was mended and would soon return to the front line. How would she bear that? For Bobby had snatched her heart from her the moment she’d looked into his eyes. This thought had her lowering her head, as a blush crept up her cheeks.
‘Don’t be talking like that, Bobby. You are one of those who has nine lives, so you are. You’ll come through. Is it not true that the war is almost over?’
‘Aye, it is. But it isn’t the war that I came after you to talk about. I – I, well, I was wondering, Paddy, if we could keep in touch?’
The flutter turned into a somersault as her heart leapt with joy. ‘I’d be for liking that, Bobby, so I would.’
The silence between them held all the tension of their feelings. For Paddy, it was as if the dreams she’d had since first seeing Bobby were coming to life.
Bobby broke the stillness. ‘You’re beautiful, Paddy. I – I hope I’m not speaking out of turn, but, well, I would like us to be more than friends.’ His hand reached out and touched her face.
‘I’m for thinking we already are . . .’
Bobby’s drawing of her into his arms stopped any further conversation. Paddy went willingly and lifted her head to him. His kiss was light at first, but deepened to one of intense desire, awakening deep feelings inside her.
‘What do you think you are doing, Nurse Riley?’
The voice of Sister Price zinged fear through Paddy, and she jumped back and stood to attention. ‘I – it’s sorry, that I am, ma’am. I—’
‘That may well be the case, but fraternizing with one of the patients, in such a manner, is a reportable offence.’ Turning to Bobby, Sister Price pulled rank. ‘Private Baker, stand to attention in the presence of a senior officer.’
Bobby stood straight and saluted. ‘Permission to speak, ma’am.’
‘I doubt you have anything to say that can excuse your behaviour. Report to the discharge clinic immediately. You have shown that you are more than ready to serve your country again.’
Bobby whispered, ‘I’ll get a message to you, my darling.’
Paddy started to protest that Bobby wasn’t to blame, but Sister Price cut her off. ‘Just get yourself back to the ward you are assigned to, Nurse Riley. We’ll say no more about this. Private Baker will leave here tomorrow morning, and that should prevent any further such trysts between you. I do not condone your behaviour, but I do understand. However, these things have to be nipped in the bud.’
‘Yes, ma’am, thank you.’
Wanting to shout that her love for Bobby would never be ‘nipped in the bud’, Paddy walked past the sister with her head held high.
When she reached the first tent, Bobby jumped out in front of her. Paddy swivelled round, but her fears were unfounded, for the sister must have carried on walking and wasn’t following her. ‘To be sure, Bobby, you gave me a fright.’
‘Sorry, love, but I couldn’t leave it there. I want to know your real name, and to tell you that I love you and, no matter what, I will find you.’
‘Oh, Bobby, me name’s Bernadette Riley and I live in Fenn Street, Cricklewood, in London, but I’ll not be going back there, if I am for helping it. Me pappy will be there, though, and he will know where to find me. Can you be for remembering that?’
‘It’s written into my heart. As is the picture of your golden curls and beautiful Irish eyes. Here, I’ve written down me address at home.’
Taking the note, Paddy shoved it down the front of her apron. ‘And I’ll be for keeping your handsome face in me mind’s eye, so I will, and your address close to me heart.’ As she looked up into the eyes that she sometimes thought of as green and at other times as a light brown, she wanted to brush the raindrops off his face and hold it close to hers. To run her hands through the waves of his shiny black hair, which had grown quite long during his time here and now curled just above his ears.
Bobby reached for her, but she stepped back.
‘We can’t be touching each other – folk will see and we’ll be up on a charge. Take care, my love, and keep safe. I’ll be praying for you every day to the Good Lord.’ She turned and almost ran away, her tears mingling once more with the rain.
‘There you are, Nurse. That was a long ten minutes, but then I suppose you deserve it.’
‘Yes, Matron. It’s sorry that I am, but I walked further than I intended.’
‘And got yourself soaked to the skin in the process. Take your wet cape off and dry yourself as best as you can. We need you. Hurry, now.’
Thrown once more into the gore of the incoming wounded, Paddy immersed herself in caring, soothing and administering to them, though her mind was singing with mixed emotions. Deep happiness vied with fear and sadness. But she would only let the happiness in. Bobby loves me. Bobby loves me.