"One really does not know why Matron but she categorically insists…" Lady Browne started as she walked, heels clicking along the stone hallway, the smell of disinfectant reeking from every crack in the aging brickwork around her. Sadly in the brief moment she had spent up at the Manor, once used by friends as a country retreat, she could see the antiques had been moved away and the thick, luscious carpets now looked utterly worn down with footfalls. She did understand however why it was employed as a temporary Hospital but it did not sit well that such a glorious building was now subjected to such abuse.

"It's quite alright", the Matron replied, pushing open a heavy Oak door. "To be entirely truthful with you, every pair of hands that we can find at this time are more than welcome. Whoever they belong to!"

Lady Browne could hear the laughter in the Matron's voice and smiled with tight lips. "She is so sullen it seems these days that to be frank Sir Rex and I are slowly finding the ends of our tethers with her and one is despairing! It is all well and good for my husband as he can leave on a whim and take himself to New York, but one finds oneself abandoned at home with her".

They turned a corner into a vast room, a place Lady Browne knew once held dinner parties and soirees where she frequently attended, to find it packed to the rafters with opened boxes, bed frames and mattresses all piled in heaps ready for transport across the vast rooms of the Manor.

"We have tried to suggest all kinds of occupation but it is met with nothing but silent derision" Lady Browne noted. School, horse riding, dressmaking, even a place at Finishing School had been considered once the War was over. The latter, was still an option if Sir Rex would provide the funds. It may be the only way to send her away again; to remove the problem from under Lady Browne's nose day in and day out.

"What goes around in an almost eighteen year old girl's mind Lady Browne is often a mystery to the world at large" her companion replied as they continued to walk through the room, nurses, orderlies and work men everywhere, to a smaller anteroom that served as the Matron's office.

"I fear I must agree with you Matron" Lady Browne replied as they closed the door. "She does have so little to occupy her these days though; one simply cannot send her up to London in these circumstances or indeed anywhere where there is risk. Switzerland is an impossibility".

"No" the Matron replied, briefly shaking her head. "Far too dangerous for man and beast alike".

"And her Father will not pay for her to be accommodated to study quite yet so one is afraid one is rather engaged in finding her either charitable occupation or a husband". With the last word, Lady Browne installed her handbag across her middle, sharp and with the frustration she continued to carry around with her like a spectre lingering at her shoulder.

The Matron nodded, gesturing for her visitor to take a seat. "We always welcome assistance I can assure you of that Lady Browne but she will be expected to work just as hard as any of my staff".

It had long struck her mother that the thought of making beds, cleaning floors or God forbid, washing laundry soiled with all manner of bodily fluids might just perturb her youngest child. She might see how the week would unfold and then undoubtedly she would be faced with those eyes and the absolute impossibility of the child as she sat in that top floor bedroom in her own company for hours on end. How she was contented her mother would never know. The child would never talk to her; poring over medical books borrowed from the library. Where would that get her?

"So, Lady Browne" the Matron started, settling into her seat, "when I am to expect Camilla to join us?"

"She would have it that it was yesterday!" Lady Browne commented. "But shall we agree that she is brought here on Thursday morning?"

"Thursday would be exceptional. We are told we are to expect ten more patients from London then so it is all hands to the deck. I will require her at eight o'clock sharp and not a moment later!"

"One will ensure she is here" Lady Browne stated still entirely unsure.

"Most satisfactory".

Chummy's heart was singing at the top of its voice Every yard the black Rolls Royce travelled towards the makeshift Hospital caused it to spin and skip in what could have been said to be naïve excitement. Her skin tingled with the anticipation. Beside her, her mother sat, bolt upright and silent, vaguely viewing the Somerset landscape as it swirled past on the short drive. Her daughter too kept her thoughts to herself even though she had woken at dawn, carefully choosing the plainest dress she could find, tying her shoulder length hair at the nape of her neck with grey ribbon, waiting to hear the clock strike so she could go downstairs for breakfast.

Chummy thought for a moment. She had counted down these last few days, waking yesterday early and with disappointment that it was only Wednesday and she would spend another day sewing or reading as the rain battered against the windows. Today however, the sun shone and for the first time in years, so did she.

As she slipped into her seat at breakfast that morning she saw her Father's eyes raise. To be truthful he was surprised to see him.

"Good Morning".

"Good Morning Pa" she replied, taking up a seat; the oak table adorned with silver and the household's second best china.

That was the sum total of their 'conversation' before she carefully reached across the table to select a piece of toast. It was all she felt she could manage. She knew she should eat more; not silly enough to think that she was not about to undertake physical work, but if she at more she may just become bilious from nerves. Although she could hear footsteps upstairs and the creaking of floorboards as the house woke to start a new day, it was only the two in the dining room sitting at the carefully laid table.

Her father folded his newspaper and set it down.

"Your mother tells me you are going to up to the Manor today?" he inquired.

"Yes Pa", Chummy replied, about to lather her toast with strawberry jam.

"One believes that you are to help on the wards?" He shared his wife's lack of belief that this next week will cause nothing but trouble. Still it was only a week and frankly what could happen in a week?

"Yes Pa".

"Hmmmm", he replied, pursing his lips and taking up the paper again, signalling a second, very abrupt end to the conversation.

Chummy briefly looked and he disappeared behind the carefully ironed Times. She never understood why he insisted on his newspaper being ironed before it fell into his hands. She sighed inwardly, hearing the door behind her open and a pull at the ribbon in her hair.

"Do not pull your sister's hair Edward" their father scolded from behind the newspaper. "You are not infants!"

Ted rounded the side of the table and pulled a face at his Chummy, before he too took up a piece of toast with one hand and poured a cup of coffee with the other.

"So you're off today then Sissy?" Ted asked, having heard nothing but this supposed 'employment' for the past few days and becoming decidedly bored with the whole scenario.

"Yes" Chummy replied. "I'm looking forward to it".

"I bet you are!" Ted sniggered, jumping into his breakfast.

"And what does that mean Edward?" their father replied, again putting his newspaper down with some annoyance that he continued to be interrupted whilst he was trying to digest the stocks and shares.

"Well, when my chaste little Sissy isn't so chaste any more when all of those girl starved soldiers get their filthy hands on her!". He leered at his sister and it made the hairs on her arms stand on end. "They're call privates for a reason you know Sissy!"

"Edward!" their father scolded. "I will not have those despicable words at the breakfast table!".

"Sorry Pops!" Ted replied, insincerity seeping from his skin.

They both heard their father sigh heavily, breath shooting from his nose. "At least my only daughter is attempting to do something gainful with her time. Tell me Edward, what are your plans for today?"

"Shooting down to Pinky's" he replied, taking a sip of coffee. "His brother in law's off to South Africa for a year or two so he's having a get together".

"Yes, you did tell me he was off somewhere", their father replied. "You will have to give his father my best regards and wish him well for the journey".

Ted smiled insipidly, the sight lingering in Chummy's mind as the car pulled up outside the entrance to the manor house. Three ambulances stood outside, doors wide and from within one she saw an empty stretcher loaded into its back.

It had been three years since Matron Banks had seen Camilla Browne and she had clearly grown. She looked her up and down, smiling discreetly to her mother who stood by her side before they walked up the stone steps.

"Miss Browne, stop there!" the Matron breathed in a most exhausted fashion. "Please remove that ribbon from your hair forthwith. We will have no adornments here".

"Yes Matron", she replied, pulling away the grey silk. She would to remember those words as they would come in very handy.