Page 144 of The Sun Sister

‘I’m staying here.’

‘Your pulse has calmed down a little now,’ Dr Boyle said as he removed his fingers from her wrist. ‘And I’m sure a good night’s sleep will sort you out, if that is possible with this racket.’ He smiled as the band struck up with “Ain’t She Sweet”. ‘I’ll leave my wife to take you to your room, and I’ll drop in on you tomorrow morning.’

‘Oh, I’m sure there’s no need,’ she said as Ethnie appeared beside her with her room key. She helped Cecily to standing and they walked slowly out of the dining room, the bursts of music and laughter gradually subsiding as they moved further away down the corridor.

‘Have you had other instances of dizziness recently?’ Ethnie asked.

Cecily was feeling too sick and miserable to lie.

‘A few, yes, but I’m sure it’s just the heat.’

‘Well, my husband will be back in the morning, just to double-check. Better to be safe than sorry, isn’t it? Now, goodnight, Cecily dear,’ she said as they stopped in front of her bedroom door and Ethnie opened it.

‘Goodnight, and thank you so very much for your kindness.’

Sitting down on her bed and drawing down the zip at the side of her dress, Cecily sighed in relief, feeling she could finally breathe for the first time that evening. Once she had slipped into her nightdress, she lay down under the sheet and closed her eyes. Even though the band played on well into the night, Cecily didn’t stir.

She was woken by a knock at the door. With a great deal of effort, she pulled herself into consciousness.

‘Who’s there?’

‘It’s Dr Boyle. May I come in?’

Before Cecily had even answered, the door was opened and there was Dr Boyle with his medical bag.

‘Good morning, Cecily. Feeling any better?’

‘I sure slept well, thank you.’

‘Jolly good. Best cure of all, sleep. Now then, I thought I’d just pop in and take a look at you before I leave.’

‘Honestly, Doctor, I’m fine, and—’

‘I saw Captain Tarquin Price a few minutes ago – after yesterday’s news about Hitler, there’s a pow-wow going on in the Gentlemen’s Bar. He asked whether I’d seen you at last night’s shindig and I told him I had and that you’d felt unwell. Captain Price said that this ailment has been going on for quite some time. So, let’s have a look at you, shall we?’

With a sigh of embarrassment, Cecily submitted herself to being poked and prodded and answered endless questions. Dr Boyle took his stethoscope out of his ears and looked down at her.

‘My dear, are you married?’

‘Why, no, I was engaged up until Christmas, but it was broken off.’

‘Before Christmas, you say?’

‘Yes.’

‘And when did you have your last monthly?’

‘Why, I...’ Cecily felt herself blushing. Never once in her life had she talked aboutthoseto a man. ‘I’m not sure.’

‘Try to think back.’

Cecily, who had never been “regular” anyway, did so.

‘I believe it would have been just before I left to travel here.’

‘And how long ago was that?’

‘It was the last week of January. So my...monthly was about two weeks before.’