Humphries gave her directions to the Red Cross office and Gertrude swore him to secrecy. Her mother had trusted the butler and his wife implicitly so she knew she could too. She hoped he wouldn’t say anything to her father if and when she joined up.
Wilz didn’t appear at breakfast and Humphries informed her that her sister had a headache and wished to sleep for another hour to two before her meeting at lunchtime.
“Give her my love and tell her I’ll be home after lunch. We’re bound to catch up sooner or later.” She gathered her handbag and left the breakfast room.
“Good luck, Miss. They’d be silly not to take you on.” He held the front door open while she skipped down the steps.
“Thank you, Humphries. I appreciate it although I might not share your confidence.”
“You’ll do fine, Miss. I know you will.”
“Right, I’ll be off, then.” She sucked up a fortifying breath, and with determined strides, headed toward her future.
Ten minutes of walking found her at the address Humphries had given her. A line of people, mainly young women her age, trailed out of the office with the Red Cross sign over the door, lining the cobble-paved footpath. “Is this where we sign up?” A slight girl, hair pulled back into a plait, wearing thick reading glasses lifted her head as Gertrude approached.
“Yes, but I suppose it depends on what you’re signing up for. Nursing is here in this line, transport is around the corner and military or home guard duty is in that building over there.” She pushed her glasses back up her nose and pointed at a double-story building across the street. “Land girls, I’m not sure where that is I’m afraid.”
“I want nursing if they’ll have me.” The line moved and she stepped forward a couple of paces, glancing ahead at the competition hoping she had what it took to be accepted. Gertie smoothed down her hair and mentally crossed her fingers.
“I’m sure they will. I’m Lucy.” The girl held out her hand, a big grin lighting up her face. The delicate smell of violets reached Gertie.
“Gertrude.” Gertrude took the proffered hand and shook, liking the way Lucy gripped without simpering. She seemed like a no-nonsense person who knew what she was doing.
“What kind of nursing are you looking for? They have first aid, blood services, Bureau for Wounded, Missing and Prisoners of War, social welfare services and raising funds for sending goods overseas to our troops.”
“I want to do actual nursing. Paperwork’s not really my thing.”
“I doubt they’ll turn anyone away because there are so many areas in which they need help and they keep coming up with more ideas.”
The girls chatted while the line slowly diminished and then Lucy was next to be called in. “Wish me luck.”
“Of course I do. Good luck, Lucy.” Gertie breathed and glanced back at the girls still waiting in the ever-growing line behind her. She gripped the handle of her handbag and went over her answers again, her heart racing as the tap of high heels headed down the corridor her way. Finally. Gertrude froze, a smile on her face.
“Next please.” A harried-looking lady in a dark-blue suit popped her head out of the door and beckoned Gertrude inside.
“Thank you.” She hurried in and sat down on the chair placed in front of the desk.
“Right. I’m Mrs. Blake, recruitment officer for nursing. Your name?”
“Gertrude Wallace.”
“Age?”
“Twenty-one. Or at least I will be the month after next.”
Mrs. Blake pinched her lips together. “You’ll need permission to sign up if you want to do so now. I take it you do.”
“Well, yes. I’d like to, but if I have to wait until my birthday, I can.”
Mrs. Blake put down her pen and crossed her hands on the desk in front of her, a sigh slipping from her lips. “Is there any reason why your parents would not consent to you signing up, Miss. Wallace.”
“My mother is dead and my father is rather loathe for me to leave home. I’m the youngest you see and he can’t imagine me grown up and fending for myself.” She swallowed the lie, hoping it didn’t show on her face. “He’s still mourning my mother sadly enough, but I do have another male relative who will sign for me if need be. We know that once I’m gone, he’ll cope well enough without me.” Gertrude longed to wipe the sweat beading on her top lip but refrained afraid the woman opposite would see her nervousness and lies.
“I see.” She picked up her pen and continued. “Which department was it you wished to join?”
“I want to be a nurse. It’s been a dream of mine to serve our troops for a long time and I know I can be of use given the chance and the right training.” Of course she could, even Wilz had told her she would be fine once she got an opportunity to prove herself. How much more did she have to do to convince this lady she meant what she said?
“Going overseas won’t be a holiday, Miss. Wallace. It will mean harsh conditions, hard work and very basic living accommodation. You’ll be jammed into a tent with half a dozen other young ladies with no privacy and certainly nobody to pander to your needs. It’ll mean growing up and doing for yourself as well as others.” She scrutinised Gertrude again. “I take it you come from a well-to-do family?”
“I suppose I do, but that doesn’t in any way mean I don’t wish to do my bit for the war effort.” She sat up straight in her chair, determined not to give in. “I want nothing more than to serve my country and by choosing to go into
