The Mersey Daughter (Empire Street #3)(82)

Laura gasped at that, she couldn’t help herself. ‘And is it better now?’ she demanded.

‘On its way,’ he assured her. ‘It must be, as I’ve been stone cold out of it for the best part of a week, so they tell me. But do you know, at one point I could have sworn I heard your voice.’

‘Well, I did make it nearly as far as your door,’ Laura admitted. ‘Then I bumped into your uncle and the matron and, er, got turned back.’

‘Quite something, that matron,’ he said. ‘I wouldn’t fancy Hitler’s chances against her. She’d give him one of her quelling looks and he’d turn back in a trice.’

Laura gave a small smile. ‘Your uncle seems a decent sort.’

‘Oh, he is.’ Peter grinned, but winced in pain. ‘Sorry, it’s still giving me gip. Yes, anyway, he’s pretty good and has been coming here as often as possible, even though he’s an admiral with one or two other things on his plate. But he’s based in central London and he knows his sister, my mother, would expect it – and you don’t argue with my mother. She’s worse than the matron.’

‘Gosh, sir.’ Laura didn’t know what to say.

‘Well, he seems to have taken a shine to you,’ Peter went on. ‘Probably on account of you saving my life like that. I expect that had something to do with it.’ His eyes sparkled and she remembered how they were a rich honey brown.

Suddenly she couldn’t keep up the light banter. ‘But if I hadn’t taken that route then you wouldn’t have been there to start with,’ she burst out. ‘You’d never have been in danger in the first place. We wouldn’t have been anywhere near the fire.’

Peter shook his head a little. ‘And if my uncle hadn’t summoned me to that meeting then both of us would have been safely in our billets the whole evening,’ he said. ‘And if Hitler hadn’t started this war, we wouldn’t have been here at all. Fawcett, you can’t think like that. You’ll end up going around in circles and that’s no good to anyone. I’ve spent a lot of time thinking whilst I’ve been stuck here, but that idea had never occurred to me.’

‘Really?’ Laura stared into his face, searching for clues as to whether he meant it or not. ‘You haven’t been lying here blaming me? You don’t hate me?’

‘Honestly, Fawcett.’ He shook his head. ‘Don’t be a fool. I never took you for a fool. Of course I don’t hate you. You saved my life, and helped save that baby. Why would I hate you? In fact … come a little closer.’

Heart in her mouth, Laura did so. He reached out his hand and touched her nose. ‘At least you got rid of that smudge I see, Fawcett.’ His eyes blazed into hers.

‘Of course. Like I said, I always obey orders.’ Her tone was light but the expression on her face was anything but. Then there was a noise from the corridor and the door swung open. Laura hurriedly leant back in her chair. The young nurse came in.

‘Visiting time is up,’ she said pleasantly. ‘You mustn’t tire the captain, he still needs plenty of rest.’

‘Yes, I do understand.’ Laura stood, having little option. ‘Very well. I’m glad to see that you are on the mend, sir.’

Peter nodded. ‘Still a way to go yet, Fawcett. I expect I shall be in need of plenty of visits, if you could see to that.’ His eyes danced.

Laura broke into a delighted smile. ‘I’d be happy to oblige, sir. And please do give my regards to your uncle.’

‘He’ll be happy to have them,’ Peter assured her. But before he could say anything else to delay Laura’s departure, the nurse intervened.

‘That’s enough now, Captain. You know you aren’t to get overexcited. Come with me, Miss Fawcett, and I will let you know the schedule of visiting hours so that you may attend when you aren’t on duty.’ The nurse gave them both a knowing smile, but she was still firm in ushering Laura out with her.

Laura turned as they went through the door, catching a last precious glance of Peter as he lay back against the mound of pillows. It was true, he did look terribly tired. She wondered with a pang if she had set back his recovery by staying too long. Then he caught her eye and unmistakably gave her a wink.





CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE


‘How long is he down for, Kitty?’ Marjorie asked. She had just come off duty and was getting changed in the dormitory. Kitty was almost dancing with anticipation along the narrow gap between the two long rows of beds.

‘A whole long weekend. I can’t remember when we spent this long together. Not since I was posted down here. In fact, we never have, as one of us was always on duty when we both worked in Merseyside.’ She couldn’t hide her excitement. Laura had made good on her promise to lend Kitty another of her frocks, and this one was in a deep coral pink with a delicate print of flowers and leaves. It brought out the roses in Kitty’s cheeks.

‘And when are you meeting his parents?’ Marjorie wanted to know. ‘Are you nervous? I would be.’

Kitty shook her head with determination. ‘A little bit, of course. But if they are anything like Elliott, then it’s going to be all right. As long as I don’t say anything too stupid. We’re having lunch with them on Saturday. That gives me two whole evenings of his company first.’