Whispers of Love Read Free Page B

be young soldiers. She said that because they had been injured they’d be very vulnerable and looking for someone to hold their hand. I hardly think Dr Murray comes into that category.’
    â€˜No, but he is a doctor and you are only a trainee auxiliary nurse,’ Peggy rejoined.
    Christabel ignored her advice. She continued to make sure that her and Dr Murray’s paths crossed as often as possible. Again she considered whether to tell him that she was pregnant and to ask his advice then she jibbed because she was sure he would be shocked by her behaviour and she hoped that one day they would become real friends.
    Her hopes of that happening were dashed when Peggy told her that he was a married man and had two small children.
    It was like a slap across the face. For a moment, she didn’t want to believe what her friend was telling her.
    She stood there completely stunned then felt herself flush hotly. How could she have ever been so silly? she thought ruefully. Her crush on Dr Murray was suddenly shattered and she wondered how she could have been so deluded as to compare him with Philip. True, they both had a shock of fair hair and deep brown eyes, but there the resemblance ended.
    As she made her way to her room, she felt an overwhelming sense of gloom. What was she going to do now? Carried away by her foolish dreams she had lost count of time and she realised with a sinking heart that by now she must be three months’ pregnant. That meant that even if she had contemplated having an abortion as a possible way out of her dilemma it was out of the question now because she had left it far too late.
    She would have to act and fast, she thought in dismay. Another month and it would become so obvious what was wrong that she wouldn’t be able to hide her condition.
    She felt choked by panic and an inability to think clearly. She daren’t go home; her parents would not only be horrified but would also consider it a terrible social disgrace.
    For one moment Christabel thought of taking Peggy Wilson into her confidence, but then decided that was probably very unwise. Therewas nothing that Peggy would be able to do to help her and there was always the chance that she might gossip and tell some of the others at Hilbury.
    Once anyone in authority knew about her condition then Christabel was pretty sure that she would be asked to leave immediately.
    She tried to tell herself that she still had plenty of time to make a sensible decision about her future and, even though she had no idea what that would be at the moment, she was sure that she would be able to think of someone who would help her or something that she could do.
    Long after she and Peggy had gone to bed, turned out the lights and stopped talking, Christabel found that sleep eluded her. Her mind was a confused jumble of what had happened in the past and how she had come to be in such an alarming predicament.
    The next morning she felt heavy-eyed and weary and found it increasingly difficult to concentrate on the lecture she was attending. Twice Sister Speakley rebuked her and when the class ended she asked her to stay behind.
    â€˜You seem to be very distracted and inattentive this morning,’ she commented, her voice sharp with annoyance.
    She listened to Christabel’s mumbled apology in silence, studying her so closely that Christabel was certain that Sister Speakley would discern the reason.
    As she walked away after she had been dismissed with some severe words of caution she felt a fluttering beneath her ribcage and she thought she was going to faint.
    For a moment she thought it was stress because she felt so humiliated at being spoken to in such a way by Sister Speakley. Then she forgot all about that as realisation dawned on her that it wasn’t stress that had caused the flutter but the baby quickening. The child she was carrying was already capable of movement strong enough that she could feel it.
    As she undressed for bed that