The Duke's Daughter (Editing)

Chapter Nineteen

FEBRUARY 1916    

I had spent nearly five months in France and I didn't even notice unless I looked at a calender. I spent Christmas with the nurses at the hospital.They were all kinda women, I grew especially close with Charisse. She was able to teach more on stitching and working on more extensive work on patients.  It was difficult but we made the most of it, giving each other little gifts we could find in the little village near us. We sang Christmas carols and played games with soldiers, hoping to lift their sports.

Exchanging many letters with Anna, I kept up with Livingstone. Olivia was her natural self, still moaning and groaning when she couldn't get her way. "Christmas would've been so much more fun with you around Lenora, everyone seems to be in such low spirits. I hope France is treating you well, I pray for you night and day." Grandmother Maude seemed to be moody once I left with Elisa as well. I received a letter from Frank saying that Gil and Jerry were somewhere in Germany which frightened me considering how I heard of how bad it was in that part of Europe. 

Jerry eventually mailed me from Germany. Apparently he got a nasty infection when a bullet got him in the arm. Luckily he didn't have to amputate it, there were some "old tricks" that Gil knew of which helped. Jerry told me that Gil missed me, even if he didn't openly admit it. "His heart is yearning for you, just by the way he looks with puppy dog eyes at the sky." Jerry wrote. I gave a heavy sigh, how I missed them both. "Gil will forgive you, I'll force it out of him. He knows why you didn't talk to him, he's not some nincompoop." I smiled at my brother's words. Even if the war had changed him somehow, his humor never left him.

Drew wrote to me frequently. Apparently Lord Henry and him were both in charge of the operation that GIl and Jerry were apart of, so he would keep me up to date of where they were if Jerry hadn't. Even though I couldn't know full well the mission, I did get a hint that it was to find battle tactics from the Germans. It sounded very dangerous but I prayed for their safety. Drew and I grew closer since he left. He wasn't as bad I believed, although I still knew he was huge flirt, Drew did have a heart of gold. There wasn't a time he reminded me how sorry he was and how he would make sure to take care of my brother and Gil. I was so grateful for his consideration.

Work at the hospital was never sparing. Wallace was feeling better ever so slowly, but he was a kindred spirit and never gave up on his life. Once Lady Thornton thought I was more experienced, she allowed me to have another patient to look after. Aaron Harding was a Sargent of the Royal Army who was blinded when a poisonous gas bomb exploded in his brigade. He was only twenty one years old. Same age as Jerry.

"Aaron, you have to eat." I said very mother like.

"Go away." He shooed me off. Sometimes this boy could be difficult.

"If you don't eat I'm going to have tell Nurse Thornton, you wouldn't want me to do that."

"Why would you care anyways?" Aaron asked. If it wasn't for the bandage's around his eyes, I'm pretty sure I would see his eyebrows curve into a angry look.

"Because I'm your nurse and I want the best for you." I said as I patted his shoulder, "Now come eat."

He sighed and ate his food in peace. Although the food was terrible, Aaron ate with no trouble; he was obviously hungry even if he didn't want to admit it.

"Very good." said Elisa clapping her hands, "Working with difficult patients. Always fun."

"There you are!" I exclaimed, "I haven't seen you in ages." I leaned in to hug her.

"I've been a little busy I suppose." She smiled.

"We should talk some more tonight, I have the night off."