‘That was to get her away from Richard? For my sake? But, Johnny, you were perfectly foul to me that night.’
‘And not only that night. But that night suddenly seeing you again after a break showed me how deep I was in it.’ His voice was very low. ‘Remember I once told you I passed the point of no return that night?’
‘Yes.’ We sat and looked at each other. We did not need to touch each other. Yet. ‘That happened to me the evening you collected me from Hilldown Station. When Sonia turned up. I saw the sight of her had upset you.’
‘Of course. I knew it was going to be hell for you.’
‘It was. Not in the way you thought.’
He shook his head at his thoughts. ‘That moron Dave was so right. You know that Saturday morning? He told me that if you were still in love with Richard he was in love with Sister Mark. He said he thought I was behaving like a bloody ostrich.’
I smiled. ‘He told me I was behaving like a charming little ostrich.’
That did it. Suddenly he was sitting on the edge of my bed, his arms were round me, and he was kissing me.
‘When I had to walk away from you that Monday evening in Cas,’ he said a little breathlessly some time later, ‘I was afraid I would never see you again. I still don’t know how I got to the theatre. And then when we heard the roof give and knew you were still inside, I felt exactly as if part of me had died with you. I honestly thought you had to be dead.’ He tilted my face to his. ‘I could live without you if I had to. I would never be wholly alive.’
‘Yet you were going to walk out on me to-day? Johnny, how could you?’
‘Only because I could not see any alternative. You had ignored my letter, the flowers, me. I wasn’t going to turn myself into a bloody bore.’
I held his face in my hands. ‘I have accused you of being a lot of things, Mr Druro, sir. Never that.’
The door opened. ‘Matron will be round shortly ‒’ Sister Nightingale broke off, gazed at us wide-eyed.
Johnny stood up calmly, held on to one of my hands. ‘Sister, I really should apologize. I am not sure’ ‒ his hand tightened on mine ‒ ‘if Nurse Francis has told you that we are engaged to be married?’
Sister’s old eyes lit up. ‘Not in so many words, Mr Druro dear.’ She shut the door, came towards us, her hands outstretched. ‘Of course; I guessed all along!’ She shook his hand, patted mine. ‘I will say you have both been most sensible and discreet, and it must have been a little difficult when Nurse Francis was your patient, dear boy ‒ but as soon as I saw those beautiful daffodils I said to myself, there will be a romantic announcement soon! I remember seeing them lying in the clinical room early one morning, and just checked to see who they were for.’ She smiled enchantingly coyly. ‘It was a little naughty of you, Mr Druro! But I understood, and just did not see your name. My eyes are not as keen as they used to be.’
Johnny said feelingly, ‘I wouldn’t say that, Sister. I wouldn’t say that at all.’
She warned him Matron would be up in about ten minutes, but he could come back after lunch for the rest of the afternoon. ‘If you can possibly postpone your journey to the annexe?’
He said he would arrange that during Matron’s round.
‘There’s nothing for it, sweetheart,’ he said when we were alone again. ‘We’ll just have to be officially engaged. Then I think we had better get married on my holiday. They’ll give you a long sick-leave after this. And you should have the plaster off just about the time I start my holiday. Any objections to that?’ He sat on the edge of my bed again, took both my hands. ‘You had better not object, dearest. You’ll upset Sister Nightingale like hell. And me. So what’s the verdict? Will you marry me, Kirsty?’
I said, ‘Yes, Mr Druro. Certainly, Mr Druro. Anything you say, my darling Mr Druro.’ I kissed him. ‘Will that do, Johnny?’
He did not answer. Johnny never had been a man for wasting time or words. He kissed me hard instead.
Also by Lucilla Andrews
If you enjoyed Flowers from the Doctor, you will also want to read these other stories by Lucilla Andrews.
The Print Petticoat
A moving story of heartache and hope in the Maternity Unit of a busy 1950s teaching hospital.
Joanna Anthony is a dedicated Nursery staff nurse at St Gregory’s Hospital. The nurses and doctors share laughter and tears as they tend to the mothers and babies in their care.
There is time for romance, too. After five years together, is ambitious Dr Richard Everley finally ready to settle down with Joanna? And what of the two other young doctors who have more than a professional interest in her?
It takes a serious illness for Joanna to understand where, and with whom, her future really lies.
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Read The Print Petticoat from Amazon AUS
The Secret Armour
There’s romance for Nurse Maggie on the wards of a 1950s teaching hospital. But is she in love with the wrong man?
Nineteen-year-old nurse Maggie Howard is completing her training at St Benedict’s Hospital. Life on the ward is hard and the Sisters are strict, but Maggie and her set mates, Alice and Rose, love their work. That’s not all that Maggie loves, when against all advice she falls for a dashing patient, David Corford.
Maggie will experience happiness, heartache and misunderstandings. And throughout the emotional ups and downs, young houseman George Hartigan is always there to provide a shoulder to cry on.
Will Maggie risk her career and future happiness over her love for a handsome patient?
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The Quiet Wards
Young nurse Gillian Snow is blamed when a dangerous drug goes missing during her shift on the ward of a 1950s teaching hospital. But who took it?
Twenty-one-year-old Nurse Gillian Snow finds her career in jeopardy when a dangerous drug disappears from the drug cupboard under her care. The situation also affects her romance with dashing house-surgeon Peter Kier.
Moved from her ward to do other duties, Gillian experiences the happiness and heartache that comes from nursing both children and accident victims.
As she struggles to understand who took the drug, and why, Gillian finds support and truth from some unexpected quarters.
Read The Quiet Wards from Amazon UK
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Read The Quiet Wards from Amazon AUS
The First Year
Rose Standing has a lot to learn about hospital life, patients ‒ and romance, during her first year as a probationer nurse at St Martin’s Hospital in 1950s London.
Twenty-year-old Rose has a reputation for being accident-prone and absent-minded. Does she really have what it takes to make a good nurse?
The biggest question on Rose’s mind is whether the Senior Surgical Officer, Jake Waring, will even notice her existence. Are her daydreams about a romance between them destined to remain a fantasy?
Rose discovers that each department has its own heartaches and joys as she gains experience on the men’s surgical, women’s medical, and Casualty wards.
Meanwhile, handsome student doctor Bill Martin shows a keen interest in Rose. But she has her suspicions about his motives.
A moving and heart-warming story of a young nurse, and the challenges she faces on the hospital wards and in her personal life.
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A Hospital Summer
In the summer of 1940, Clare Dillon is a V.A.D. in an English military hospital, nursing the wounded as the bombs fall.
Twenty-year-old Clare must rise to the challenge of nursing in wartime. Whether giving comfort to a dying soldier, or assisting in a birth during an air raid,
she has to remain clear-headed and professional.
Clare is not only dealing with problems at the hospital. She is also worried for the safety of her brothers, who are both in the forces. Then the Dunkirk evacuation changes her world forever.
With the medical emergencies and bombings, it’s no wonder Clare doesn’t have time to think about the attention she’s getting from young medical officer Joe Slaney. But she surprises herself when news about Joe makes her face up to what she really wants for the future.
A gripping, bittersweet story about the courage and determination of young V.A.D. nurses in the Second World War.
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My Friend the Professor
Young probationer nurse, Frances Dorland, is dealing with the ups and downs of 1960’s hospital life when she meets an understanding older man ‒ the Professor.
Frances’s nursing friends joke about the identity of the Professor, but the truth is that none of them know anything about him, except that he proves to be a loyal and kind friend to Frances.
As Frances starts to realise she feels more than friendship for the Professor, she is also trying to help the course of true love run smoothly for her best friend Estelle Dexter. And handsome student doctor Bart More is sending mixed signals to both young women.
It is only when one of the hospital staff becomes dangerously ill that Frances and her friends come to realise home truths that will change their lives forever.
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Discover all of the available novels by Lucilla Andrews, and be the first to know when the next ebook is released, by going to www.lucillaandrews.com
Wyndham Books: Timeless bestsellers for today’s readers
Wyndham Books publishes the first ebook editions of bestselling works by some of the most popular authors of the twentieth century. Enjoy our Historical, Family Saga, Regency, Romance and Medical fiction and non-fiction.
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A Nurse’s Life by Jane Grant
Heart-warming and humorous tales from a 1940s student nurse
In this warm and witty book, Jane Grant recounts her life as a trainee nurse in a busy 1940s London teaching hospital.
Jane, and her friends Mary and Phyllis, discover that both happiness and heartache can be found on the wards of St. Bernard’s Hospital. Before long they realise it takes determination and a sense of humour to deal with the colourful characters of hospital life – and that goes for the staff as well as the patients.
The young nurses gain their medical training under the watchful eyes of strict, but generally fair, sisters and matrons. They meet patients who are facing the biggest challenges of their lives, and share with them moments of bravery and fear. There are times of laughter, but also of tears.
There is romance too, as Jane and her fellow student nurses enjoy the attentions of the hospital’s handsome young doctors, falling in and out of love for the first time.
A Nurse’s Life is a moving and amusing account of a bygone era, brought vividly to life. Also available in this series, there is more from Jane and her friends and family in More From a Nurse’s Life, A Sister’s Life and A Country Life.
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Doctors and Nurses: 3-in-1 box set by Sheila Burns
Three medical romances from the 1960s in one box set. Romance and drama in medical settings.
Doctor Called David ‒ Can Valerie escape her past, or is history destined to repeat itself?
1966. After nurse Valerie Scott is found innocent of a terrible crime and released from jail, she turns to prison doctor David Graves for support. The offer of a new position as a private nurse to a kind and elderly couple seems the ideal chance to rebuild her life. But are the Goddards and their adopted son Gregory all that they seem? And can a doctor called David protect Valerie from a cruel twist of fate?
Dr Irresistible M.D. ‒ Sharon wins a beauty competition but can she win a handsome stranger’s heart?
1962. Sharon’s life takes an unexpected turn when she wins a beauty competition. Then she crashes the prize car of her dreams, and is rescued by a mysterious, good-looking man. He is Glynn Rodwell ‒ Dr Irresistible. The chance of a Mediterranean cruise offers Sharon excitement and opportunity ‒ but if she takes it, will she ever see Dr Irresistible again?
The Eyes of Doctor Karl ‒ Will Cherrie discover the truth behind the hypnotic eyes of a handsome doctor?
1962. While sitting in a traffic jam, Cherrie locks eyes with a dark and handsome man. That evening she reads about the strange case of Dr Karl Heineman whose patients have died in mysterious circumstances. Cherrie accompanies a newspaper reporter friend who is investigating the story. When they call on the doctor, she is surprised to find he is the man whose eyes she hasn’t been able to forget. As Cherrie is drawn closer into his world, will she discover the truth, and love, behind the eyes of Dr Karl?
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The Country Doctor by Jean McConnell
Captivating tales from a young GP’s case notes
Young doctor Linda Ford swaps a busy London teaching hospital for a six month post at a small West Country General Practice. She soon discovers that countryside life is far from uneventful.
John Cooper, the senior doctor, warns Linda not to get emotionally involved in her cases. But Linda can’t help taking a personal interest in her patients, particularly when their problems seem to be more than medical. And as this is the late 1970s, Linda also faces some misgivings about a female doctor. Especially a young and pretty one.
Linda clashes over medical matters with Dr Peter Cooper, the older doctor’s son. But there is an undeniable attraction too. Where will it lead? And as Linda is keeping Peter’s place until he joins the practice as his father’s partner, what will her future hold?
This slice of rural life uncovers the dramas, family secrets and dilemmas which confront patients young and old. Their stories are in turn intriguing, poignant, and heart-warming.
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A Doctor’s Life by Dr Robert Clifford
A heart-warming, nostalgic look at life for a doctor in the 1940s and 1950s, perfect for fans of Call The Midwife and classics such as Dr Finlay’s Casebook and the Richard Gordon Doctor series.
This charming and amusing story follows young doctor Bob Ramsden from his training at a busy 1940s London teaching hospital to life in general practice as a Somerset GP in the 1950s. It is also the tale of his love for the beautiful, clever Priscilla, the medical colleague he falls for at first sight, despite feeling sure that she is out of his league.
Once at medical school, he soon discovers that both laughter and tears are to be found on a hospital ward.
During his medical career, Dr Bob meets patients who can be brave, funny or a challenge. His fellow doctors provide moments of entertainment, as well as support. There are many tales of happiness and heartache in this nostalgic look at a doctor’s life in post-war Britain.
Bonus Short Story: The Bevin Boy. Bob spends time as a Bevin Boy, working in a Yorkshire coal mine. There he enjoys the camaraderie of his fellow miners, but also experiences great tragedy.
A Doctor’s Life is a poignant, feel-good account of a doctor’s love for his profession and his patients, as well as his
devotion to the woman who is the love of his life.
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Wyndham Books: Timeless bestsellers for today’s readers
Wyndham Books publishes the first ebook editions of bestselling works by some of the most popular authors of the twentieth century. Enjoy our Historical, Family Saga, Regency, Romance and Medical fiction and non-fiction.
Join our free mailing list for news, exclusives and special deals:
www.wyndhambooks.com
Flowers from the Doctor Page 19