The Lost Sister, Kathleen McGurl [best desktop ebook reader txt] 📗

head. ‘No, this is my first. I’ve just completed training as a VAD nurse. And yes, it’s very odd to see the ship kitted out like this. But I believe it works well as a hospital ship. Ah … here’s Captain Bartlett to address us all.’

The girls fell quiet as they listened to the Captain – a gruff man, without the charisma of Captain Smith, whom Emma had served under on the Olympic and who’d then been lost when the Titanic went down. They heard that the plan was for the Britannic to set sail the next day, along the English channel, across the Bay of Biscay and round Spain, through the Straits of Gibraltar into the Mediterranean. There was a refuelling stop planned at Naples, before the ship steamed on towards Greece. The wounded servicemen were to be picked up from Moudros on the Greek island of Lemnos.

‘We might have rough seas on the first few days,’ the Captain said, ‘but once we are past Gibraltar it should be calm. This is the ship’s sixth voyage, and I am fully expecting it to feel quite routine. Many of the crew have been with us before, so thank you for returning, and welcome to those who are new to Britannic. That is all.’ He nodded and left the gathering. The nurses were then taken off for on-board training, and Emma went with the rest of the ship’s crew to start on her duties. Her work would be harder than it had been on the Olympic in some ways – there’d be long hours and many areas to clean – but also easier as she would not be at the beck and call of demanding passengers. And it would be a more meaningful job.

The ship left Southampton as scheduled, and Emma felt a pang of sadness as she realised that this time she was leaving no family in the city; no one to come back to. And then she looked at the excited face of Lily and knew that she was doing the right thing. ‘I’ll take care of her, Ma,’ she whispered, as the ship inched away from the docks, pulled by the same tugs that had been used by both of Britannic’s sisters. As they sailed down Southampton Water just as on earlier voyages Emma was out on deck, pointing out the landmarks to Lily. Passing Netley she indicated the enormous Royal Victoria Military Hospital. ‘Look, I’ve heard that’s now full of recuperating soldiers. Some that we pick up on this voyage will be sent there to complete their recoveries, I expect.’

‘Yes, I think you are right,’ Lily said, as the huge building passed by on their port side.

The journey to the Mediterranean passed without incident, and the crew and nurses were kept busy with preparations for the soldiers. Passing Gibraltar, Emma spent some time on deck, gazing at the view to both port and starboard. There was the coastline of Spain on the one hand and the mountains of Morocco on the other – Africa! This was why she’d loved her job on the Olympic. Seeing new places, travelling across the world. She resolved that once the war was over she would return to sea as a stewardess once more. Boarding the Britannic had helped her get over her fear of life at sea. Maybe she’d be able to get a job on liners plying different routes – to the Far East, perhaps, to India, China, Australia … There were so many places in the world, and she wanted to see as many of them as possible.

Emma and Lily found themselves often sitting for meals at the same table as some other crew members – a couple of pleasant-faced young seamen, who regaled them with tales of their past adventures and their future dreams. ‘I was going to join the Royal Navy,’ one of them, a red-haired fellow with a cheeky smile said, ‘but then I decided to stay in the merchant navy. This job’s perfect – I’ve always worked for White Star and now I get to do my bit for the country.’

‘Were you on the Britannic’s earlier trips?’ asked Emma. She liked this fellow – his name was Frank Perkins, he said.

Frank nodded. ‘Yes, this is my third. They’re satisfying journeys – there’s a real sense of purpose to them. I’m hoping I can stay with Britannic until this war’s over, then go back to Olympic.’

‘Oh – I was on Olympic!’ Emma tried to remember if she’d ever met Frank before. Surely she’d have remembered such bright ginger hair and twinkly blue eyes? Although back then, of course, she’d only had eyes for Martin.

‘Really? Lovely ship. I joined it after its refit in 1912.’

The refit, Emma knew, had been to increase the number of lifeboats and make the bulkheads extend higher up the ship, so an accident like the Titanic’s could not sink it. ‘Ah – I worked on it in 1911 and then …’

‘Titanic?’ His voice softened and his eyes were sympathetic.

Emma nodded. She’d only just met him. Too soon to tell him about Ruby.

‘How long until we reach Moudros and begin taking on the wounded?’ Lily asked Frank, and Emma smiled at her, grateful for the change of subject.

‘Few days, if the weather holds. We’re due to dock at Naples and take on coal and fresh water first. Won’t be allowed on shore though.’ Frank pulled a sad face, which made both Emma and Lily giggle. Emma noticed Frank flash Lily a look that suggested he was pleased to have made her laugh.

That night, Lily lay on her back on her bunk, musing. ‘That Frank, and his friend Peter – what did you think of them?’

‘They seem nice,’ Emma said. ‘What did you think?’

‘Mmm. I liked them both. Frank’s really sweet. Peter’s very good-looking.’

Emma smiled to herself as she moved about the cabin, folding clothes and putting things away. It was the first time she’d heard Lily show any interest in a man. Or