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‘Cauliflower and stilton. An old family favourite,’ Minerva remarked, glancing at her daughter.

Alex smiled sweetly on cue over the rim of her wineglass. ‘So, is there any getting around this business of you not being able to join the army and rush off to war?’ she asked. ‘I think it’s most commendable and you would be such an excellent role model for the other men.’

Again, Matthew didn’t falter. ‘I’ve tried every avenue. Short of breaking the law, there is no path open to me.’

‘Not even packing up your boots a few inches?’ she offered.

Her parents and Matthew chuckled appropriately.

‘I doubt they’d fall for it,’ he offered.

‘At this stage, anyway,’ she said as playfully as she dared.

He looked back at her, shifting his gaze from her mother’s increasingly adoring expression. ‘Yes, quite right. Who knows what’s going to happen or the demands Britain will face. If she wants me, I’ll be there for her.’

‘Well said, again, sir,’ Charles said, lifting his glass to Matthew and his wife followed while Alex raised hers a moment or two slower and hoped no one noticed the slight reluctance. They sipped their wine, making small noises of appreciation as they swallowed.

‘So how about you, Alex – how will you contribute to the war effort?’ Matthew asked, putting down his glass. ‘That’s a fine claret, sir,’ he remarked but his gaze darted straight back to her.

This was her chance. ‘Er, well, I’m very glad you mention this, Matthew, because I’ve decided I’m going to volunteer as a nursing aide.’ She’d rehearsed in the bathtub and felt she’d mastered hitting just the right choice of words and tone.

She felt the thunderstruck silence form itself like stone at either end of the table as her parents exchanged guarded but nevertheless shocked glances. She could sense those gazes pass across her line of vision like whizzing bullets but she turned to neither of them yet; it was a legitimate idea, and one neither could surely reject.

‘Well, that’s marvellous.’ Matthew beamed. ‘I hear nothing but heroics about the brave nursing teams at the Front who tirelessly patch up men, caring like mothers to perfect strangers. I’m sure the same care is already needed at home.’

‘Exactly,’ Alex murmured.

‘Yes, indeed,’ Charles muttered, warming to the suggestion, nodding at Lambton, who was attending to topping up the claret. ‘I’m hearing about the high number of soldiers who require intensive care back home.’

‘Rowntree’s has handed over its brand-new dining block to become a hospital,’ Alex chimed in. ‘It can seat two and a half thousand workers at one time. Imagine that!’

Matthew looked suitably impressed.

‘I can make myself extremely useful as a volunteer.’ She smiled but shook her head at Lambton regarding more wine.

‘I’m deeply impressed by Rowntree’s, and by your plan, Alex,’ their guest praised.

‘Are you, Matthew?’ Minerva said, a slight look of wonder now in her expression.

‘Yes, I’m impressed by all the women of Britain who are selflessly volunteering every spare hour to help the war effort. Alex’s efforts given to a hospital is a commitment to be applauded.’

‘Well, I’m glad our daughter impresses you, Matthew,’ Minerva replied, ignoring Alex’s look, which was intended to wither.

Matthew regarded her, no longer wearing his monocle, eyes reflecting the candles like he had a secret flame burning within and filled with private amusement, she thought. ‘When did you think you’d volunteer?’

She dabbed her mouth, hardly daring to believe he was pushing this topic and helping her so squarely. ‘I thought I’d go over to Rowntree’s tomorrow and enquire. They’ve had to do something towards the war effort, as being Quakers they’re conscientious objectors.’ They ignored her father’s grunt as he sipped on his claret.

‘What about the hospital at Swinegate in the old Methodist Hall? Isn’t that more appropriate, darling?’ her mother pondered aloud. ‘I think Jennifer Houghton’s girl volunteered there and maybe even Alice Trubshaw is already working there.’

Damn! She’d forgotten about the military hospital.

At her hesitation, Matthew spoke. ‘Er, I happened to visit a friend on the way here. He’s a newly qualified doctor and working with the military hospital.’

‘Did you?’ Alex said, waiting for the inevitable axe to fall on her plan, with Matthew conveniently, no doubt, having the right connections to the wrong hospital.

‘Yes,’ he replied. ‘Unfortunately, Lady Frobisher, he mentioned to me that they’re turning away volunteers at the Swinegate facility and sending willing hands to the Friends Hospital at Rowntree’s, where they can use the generous care of women as aides in that new hospital.’

Alex felt her mouth open and close immediately with surprise, a small square of buttered bread halfway to her slightly reddened lips.