and exhausted, Elinor lay against the pillows; one thin hand upon the sheet clutched the silver-framed photograph of Billy as a young flier. She looked up at Buzz, and her face was frightened as she whispered, “I’ll soon see him again.”
““Rubbish. I’ll have you back on your feet in no time,” Buzz said firmly.
“You don’t understand about Billy, Buzz. You never understood.”
“I understand that Billy owed everything to you.”
“Oh no, Buzz, I owed everything to Billy,” Elinor whispered dreamily.
“He was the only marr for me right from the beginning…”
CHAPTER 3
TUESDAY, 15 OCTOBER 19 18
On night duty in the casualty clearing station at La Chapelle in northern France, eighteen-year-old Nurse Elinor Dove was in love and that, for the moment, was all that truly mattered. It was the first time she had experienced the intoxicating effect.
After that first night, when Billy had kissed her hand, Elinor blushed whenever she had to go near bed 17; if he called for her, she tried to avoid touching him. Her nervousness seemed to amuse him, and the rest of the ward.
One morning, just before she went off duty, Nurse Dove, exhausted, was wearily scrubbing up the carnage from the previous day’s many operations. Alone in the sink room, she suddenly heard a tapping sound approaching from behind. She turned to see Flight Commander O’Dare, on rubber-tipped crutches, swing himself through the door. Under his aquamarine gaze, Elinor felt an all-too-familiar blush. Why didn’t this fellow get back into his bed if he felt ill? Why did he look at her so steadily, with that hint of a smile? Why did he make her feel so warm and embarrassed and vulnerable? And why did she feel guilty? He knew he was making her blush.
“Why are you out of bed?” she asked, feigning irritation. He grinned.
“You know I might be transferred soon,” he said as he moved towards her. Suddenly one of his crutches slipped on the wet tiles and he lost his balance, crashing to the floor.
Nurse Dove dashed to her patient.
“Don’t move! Let me help you!”
Carefully she turned him on his back, then gently felt his neck.
“Can you move your head to the left? … Now to the right … That’s fine.” Billy O’Dare opened his aquamarine eyes, and in them, Nurse Dove saw not pain but determination. Without speaking, he gripped her upper arms, pulling her down on his chest. For a moment, he stared into her eyes, mesmerizing her. Then silently he pulled her closer and fastened his warm mouth upon hers. Once again she was overwhelmed by the seductive, forbidden smell of him.
Lying on top of him, feeling his body beneath her, Elinor started to tremble: an odd, compulsively strong urge seemed to knock all the sense from her head. Her eyes were closed. She felt as if she were pleasantly drowning in warm water, Then she felt the tip of his tongue part her lips and gently explore her unresisting mouth as his hand reached beneath her nurse’s headdress to the thick fair hair coiled in a bun at the nape of her neck. Billy gently stroked the back of her neck, and every time he did so, a shiver ran down her spine. Through her navy serge uniform, she felt his knowing hand on her breast, his gentle touch warming her heart.
Elinor was oblivious of the ward noises around her. As if of its own volition, her body arched against Billy O’Dare. His arms enfolded and imprisoned her. He kissed her harshly, bruising her lips against his. His hand slid downwards to press her buttocks against him, and she felt his hard body against hers.
She stiffened in alarm. Between kisses, Billy murmured soothing words: lovely creature … wanted you the moment I saw you … lovely eyes … love … love … love.” As he kissed her, one calculating hand slowly raised her skirt and groped beneath it.
Nurse Dove sharply returned to reality. Frantically she fought against his insistent strong hands. All the sensuous excitement evaporated, turned off as if
““Rubbish. I’ll have you back on your feet in no time,” Buzz said firmly.
“You don’t understand about Billy, Buzz. You never understood.”
“I understand that Billy owed everything to you.”
“Oh no, Buzz, I owed everything to Billy,” Elinor whispered dreamily.
“He was the only marr for me right from the beginning…”
CHAPTER 3
TUESDAY, 15 OCTOBER 19 18
On night duty in the casualty clearing station at La Chapelle in northern France, eighteen-year-old Nurse Elinor Dove was in love and that, for the moment, was all that truly mattered. It was the first time she had experienced the intoxicating effect.
After that first night, when Billy had kissed her hand, Elinor blushed whenever she had to go near bed 17; if he called for her, she tried to avoid touching him. Her nervousness seemed to amuse him, and the rest of the ward.
One morning, just before she went off duty, Nurse Dove, exhausted, was wearily scrubbing up the carnage from the previous day’s many operations. Alone in the sink room, she suddenly heard a tapping sound approaching from behind. She turned to see Flight Commander O’Dare, on rubber-tipped crutches, swing himself through the door. Under his aquamarine gaze, Elinor felt an all-too-familiar blush. Why didn’t this fellow get back into his bed if he felt ill? Why did he look at her so steadily, with that hint of a smile? Why did he make her feel so warm and embarrassed and vulnerable? And why did she feel guilty? He knew he was making her blush.
“Why are you out of bed?” she asked, feigning irritation. He grinned.
“You know I might be transferred soon,” he said as he moved towards her. Suddenly one of his crutches slipped on the wet tiles and he lost his balance, crashing to the floor.
Nurse Dove dashed to her patient.
“Don’t move! Let me help you!”
Carefully she turned him on his back, then gently felt his neck.
“Can you move your head to the left? … Now to the right … That’s fine.” Billy O’Dare opened his aquamarine eyes, and in them, Nurse Dove saw not pain but determination. Without speaking, he gripped her upper arms, pulling her down on his chest. For a moment, he stared into her eyes, mesmerizing her. Then silently he pulled her closer and fastened his warm mouth upon hers. Once again she was overwhelmed by the seductive, forbidden smell of him.
Lying on top of him, feeling his body beneath her, Elinor started to tremble: an odd, compulsively strong urge seemed to knock all the sense from her head. Her eyes were closed. She felt as if she were pleasantly drowning in warm water, Then she felt the tip of his tongue part her lips and gently explore her unresisting mouth as his hand reached beneath her nurse’s headdress to the thick fair hair coiled in a bun at the nape of her neck. Billy gently stroked the back of her neck, and every time he did so, a shiver ran down her spine. Through her navy serge uniform, she felt his knowing hand on her breast, his gentle touch warming her heart.
Elinor was oblivious of the ward noises around her. As if of its own volition, her body arched against Billy O’Dare. His arms enfolded and imprisoned her. He kissed her harshly, bruising her lips against his. His hand slid downwards to press her buttocks against him, and she felt his hard body against hers.
She stiffened in alarm. Between kisses, Billy murmured soothing words: lovely creature … wanted you the moment I saw you … lovely eyes … love … love … love.” As he kissed her, one calculating hand slowly raised her skirt and groped beneath it.
Nurse Dove sharply returned to reality. Frantically she fought against his insistent strong hands. All the sensuous excitement evaporated, turned off as if
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