‘I know, it is too dangerous. I understand,’ said Jeanne. ‘Now, please, rest while you can. Here’s a nightgown you can wear tonight. I’ll be back shortly with the child.’
Fitz slipped on the flannelette nightgown and climbed into Jeanne’s bed. It may not have been the kind of cotton sheets and quilted eiderdown she was used to back in England, but after the last few days, it was pure luxury. Jeanne soon returned with Yvette in her arms and placed her in the bed beside Fitz.
‘I will come in to check on her but if you need me at all, I will be downstairs.’ She pulled the bedclothes up over both Fitz’s and Yvette’s shoulders. ‘Rest now. You’re safe for tonight.’
Fitz knew she was tired, but she hadn’t realised quite how exhausted she had been.
She was woken in the morning by Yvette thrashing around in her sleep. Fitz sat bolt upright and took one look at Yvette and jumped out of bed, calling for Jeanne.
Yvette was sopping wet with sweat and yet she was shivering. She was writhing around like she was having a bad dream.
‘Jeanne?’ Fitz called out, stroking Yvette’s damp hair off her face.
Jeanne appeared within seconds. She felt Yvette’s forehead and then put her fingers to the child’s wrist, checking her pulse. ‘I’ll go and fetch the doctor now,’ she said. Although she was calm, there was a sense of urgency in her tone.
‘What shall I do?’ asked Fitz.
‘See if you can get her to drink a little water. Use a cool cloth on her forehead.’ Jeanne was already out the door as she called out her instructions.
Fitz went around to Yvette’s side of the bed and, putting her arm under Yvette’s back, she got her to sit up. The change of position seemed to bring Yvette out of her disturbed dream. She opened her eyes, but they darted around the room, unfocused. ‘Yvette, please try to drink some water,’ said Fitz. ‘You were having a bad dream.’ She lifted the glass to Yvette’s lips and encouraged her to take in some fluids. Yvette only managed a few sips before her eyes closed and she was drifting back to what seemed a calmer state of sleep.
Fitz wasn’t sure which she preferred – Yvette lying motionless on the bed as she was now or flailing around in distress.
It was raining again outside and it was lashing against the windowpane. Whilst Yvette was asleep, Fitz got dressed quickly. She didn’t know how long they could stay here, but taking Yvette out in the treacherous weather really wasn’t an option. Every hour they stayed here, though, put Jeanne and her family in more danger.
It was another twenty minutes before Jeanne returned with the doctor. He nodded an acknowledgement at Fitz. ‘Bonjour, mademoiselle,’ was all he said before turning his attention to the patient. Both Fitz and Jeanne stood by the window, watching the doctor examine Yvette. Fitz was silently willing Yvette to be all right. She couldn’t bear it if anything happened to her now. She’d feel completely to blame if anything did.
Eventually, the doctor completed his examination. He clipped his black medical case shut. ‘She’s going to be all right,’ he said kindly.
‘Oh, thank goodness,’ said Fitz. Her heart fluttered in relief.
‘She’s very unwell, but she is lucky that the cough hasn’t developed into an infection. I can give you something to help soothe the cough. Also, if you have a peppermint balm to rub on her chest, that will help clear the airways for her. Keep her in a slightly sitting-up position. Plenty of fluids. If the fever hasn’t broken in the next twelve hours, you will need to come and get me again.’
‘Thank you, so much,’ said Fitz. She suddenly thought about the cost of the medication. ‘Can I pay you?’ she asked. ‘Where’s my skirt? I have some Francs sewn into the hem in case of emergencies.’
But the doctor was already waving his hand. ‘Not at all. I don’t want paying. You might need that for a real emergency,’ he said.
Fitz noticed a look pass between the doctor and her host. Jeanne spoke. ‘The doctor can help you get to safety,’ she said quietly.
‘Really? But what if that is not here in France?’ Fitz was hesitant to give away too much detail.
‘It can still happen,’ said the doctor. ‘Especially if it was somewhere like England. Would that be somewhere you’d like to go?’
Fitz gulped back a ball of emotion. ‘Yes,’ she said. ‘It would very much be somewhere I’d like to go.’
The doctor patted her hand. ‘It will take a few days to organise.’
‘And Yvette?’ she added.
‘She can’t be moved until she’s better,’ said the doctor.
‘I can’t leave her,’ said Fitz. ‘I won’t go until she’s well enough to travel with me.’
The doctor cleared his throat. ‘It can be arranged. Normally, I wouldn’t advocate such action. Taking a child from her homeland but in these times of occupation, I believe she will be safer in England.’
‘She will. I promised her I wouldn’t leave her,’ said Fitz. ‘She has no one as far as I know.’
‘You have to promise me one thing, though,’ continued the doctor.
