This is the long awaited announcement to the nuns, this chapter is one that I have found so difficult to write and I may well change it again.

"Doctor Turner." Sister Julienne smiled at him brightly as he came into Nonnatus House. "How was the holiday? Did you have a good time?"

His face turned to an ash colour as he steadied himself to tell her the news. "Not a very good holiday at all."

"Did something happen?" She had her hands clasped together in front of her, worry etched into her face.

"Shelagh miscarried."

"Pardon?"

"We didn't, she didn't know and Timothy found her." He bowed his head, his shoulders quaking slightly as she led him into the kitchen making him a cup of tea. She felt as if the world had just tumbled out from underneath her.

"Is she… ?" She couldn't bear to say it and so instead she focused on the job at hand.

"She lived but she lost so much blood, I thought she was gone when I found her."

"Where is she?"

"She's being transferred back to London today. I'm not working but I just came by to say I would have a cover in." She nodded her eyes seeming to be a hundred miles away.

"When did it happen?"

"Four days ago. I was going to write but… it just seemed like I was writing her death sentence."

"Does she know?" He nodded. "Oh my poor dear."

He took out his hanker-chief and offered it to her to dry her eyes.

"She'll live and that's all that matters right now." She hugged him then, completely out of character but she felt it was the only way she could voice her thoughts. He had protected her- he had stood as her husband should- and she could not be more thankful.

"I'd better let you go, where is Timothy?"

"He's out with friends. I wanted to tell everyone but I need to get to the London before she gets there this afternoon. I hate to ask but will you tell them?"

"Of course I will."

She took her rosary from her belt and began to chant a Hail Mary. She would tell everyone that night after they had finished their dinner. This news stung more than when her diagnosis of TB had come through.

For once everyone was present at the dinner table even Chummy who had stayed because Peter was visiting his parents with little Freddie. Jenny Lee brought it up just as they were beginning their pudding. "We haven't gotten a postcard from the Turners yet, we must tease Shelagh on Monday about it if we don't see her tomorrow."

"You will not see Shelagh tomorrow or the day after." Everyone had laughed after Jenny had spoken but the room grew quiet.

"Why sister Julienne?" Cynthia asked her gently.

"Because Shelagh has spent the past four days in Glasgow's Royal Infirmary." Everyone around her uttered gasps.

"What do you mean she's spent four days in an infirmary?"

"Sister Evangeline," she paused looking around the table which was solely focused on her, "all of you, I have the most tragic news. Shelagh suffered a miscarriage nearly five days ago and haemorrhaged. She has arrived back into London tonight and that is all I can tell you."

"Who told you this?" Trixie had tears in her eyes and blew her nose quickly, "because it is truly ghastly."

"Dr Turner. He came by this afternoon to inform me that his cover would remain on for a couple of days at the very least."

"The poor man."

"Poor Shelagh more like." Sister Evangeline blew her nose loudly. "She doesn't deserve this, excuse me."

The table watched open mouthed as she fled. "I always said to that girl to fear her future and now look at what has happened?" Sister Monica Joan sighed and walked out of the room dithering to herself.

"Of all the people, they didn't deserve this." Cynthia comforted Trixie. "She had been so looking forward to this holiday as well. Poor timothy."

"Yes it seems Timothy was the one who found her."

"Timothy found her?" Jenny's face did not hide her shock well. "He must have been devastated."

"His father did not say." Sister Julienne looked at everyone's unfinished puddings and sighed heavily. The nurses surrounding her were all quite devastated but she did not have the strength or the energy to comfort them.

"We should send flowers at very least, if we can't visit her."

"What a lovely thought Nurse Miller. Yes although I was going to try to visit her on Monday."

They all murmured their agreement. Although Shelagh had left the house, she and sister Julienne still held a special bond, one that was not broken easily.

"I feel quite dreadful and I have this desperate need to hold Freddie. I couldn't imagine what losing a child might feel like." It was those words that hit Sister Julienne for she had seen Shelagh as her own daughter in many ways. A daughter who could be close to death. Dr Turner had not said if she was unconscious or if she had required surgery. She decided that she would wait until Monday before she visited to give them some time to find their bearings again. At least they both knew the hospital well.

"Well all we can do is pray and hope. Her future belongs to god."