Before I could move on, she turned and literally dashed toward the exit. I tried to follow, but I lost her in the crush. By the time I reached the street, she was in a sea of black umbrellas as people made their way toward the line of cabs waiting there.

I gave up my search after several minutes, and found a cab of my own to take me to the flat. I wasn't sure what I'd have done if I'd caught up with Mrs. Evanson, but I'd have felt better knowing she'd taken a cab rather than tried to walk off her low spirits in this chill rain.

Mrs. Hennessey opened her door as I came into the hall, smiling up at me in welcome. From her own ground-floor flat she watched us come and go, took in our mail when we weren't there, brought us soup when we were ill, and generally kept an eye on us without in any way intruding.

"Bess, my dear! And just look how wet you are."

She embraced me with warmth, then added, "You've just missed Elayne. She left this morning. Mary is in London, but staying with her brother's family, and there's been no word from Diana since she went back last week. Is there anything you need? I must say, you do look tired. How long will you be here?"

I laughed. "Thirty-six hours. Thirty-five now. And yes, I'm tired. And I'm glad to have the flat to myself. I want only to sleep."

"And you must do just that. I'll see that you have a nice tea. You look thin to me, Bess Crawford, and what would your mother say to that?"

"We sometimes miss meals," I admitted. "You won't tell Mama, will you?"

For some time I'd had a sneaking suspicion that my mother and Mrs. Hennessey had entered into a conspiracy to keep me safe. Choosing nursing as my contribution to the war effort hadn't been met with the greatest enthusiasm at home. The Colonel Sahib, my father, had no sons to follow in his footsteps, and while I believed he was secretly quite proud of me, he was also well aware that war had an ugly face, and nursing sisters saw the worst of what war cost.