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wasn’t going to object. They didn’t really get on, and there was no one else to worry about her, though Connor might miss her. But he was usually out with his friends to all hours. ‘My parents are dead, and my stepmother won’t mind at all.’
    â€˜That’s excellent. I imagine the posting will come through in about three weeks’ time, and then you will get a few days’ leave before you go.’
    â€˜Thank you. My sister’s wedding will be two weeks yesterday, and I would like a few days off for that – after it, actually.’
    â€˜I’ll make a note of that,’ Miss Brown said. ‘You will report back for work here after your leave and I expect we’ll have news of your posting by then.’
    Emily was feeling bemused when she went back to her desk, but news of a big fire at a local factory was breaking, and she didn’t have time to think about herself or anything but coordinating the various fire crews.
    It wasn’t going well, and three firemen had been injured in a terrible explosion at the site. There were wild reports of it having been a bomb at first, but then it was established that it had been a gas main that caused the trouble. The news that three of their men were hurt cast a shadow over the girls. A few were in tears, because some of them had loved ones amongst the crews, and they all knew and cared about the brave men manning the engines and doing a very necessary job. They were used to fires and to the danger, but when something bad happened it affected everyone.
    The chaos and confusion caused by what was clearly a very bad fire kept the girls at their posts all night. No one thought of going home until it was all over, and so it was into the early hours before Carole and Emily walked back to the hostel together.
    Carole was subdued, because her fiancé’s brother was one of the men hurt, and she would have to write and tell him about it.
    â€˜They lost their parents years ago,’ she told Emily. ‘There’s only Terry and Jack now. If anything happens to Terry  . . .’
    â€˜It may not,’ Emily said, and squeezed her arm. ‘Why don’t you visit him in the morning, and then write your letter to Jack?’
    â€˜Yes, I suppose that would be a good idea. Would you come to the hospital with me?’ Carole gave her a pleading look.
    â€˜Me?’ Emily was surprised but didn’t hesitate. ‘Yes, all right, if you want. It’s my morning for the school, but I’ll telephone and let them know I’m not coming. I shall have to give it up soon anyway.’
    â€˜Why is that?’ Carole looked at her curiously.
    â€˜They are transferring me somewhere – one of the ports or perhaps London.’
    â€˜Not you too,’ Carole said, and pulled a face. ‘They asked me but I said I couldn’t go. My mother wouldn’t put up with it. That’s why I volunteered for this instead of joining the Wrens.’
    â€˜My father felt much the same,’ Emily confessed. ‘He wanted me to stay home until I got married, but let me join the Fire Service because I would have had to do something once the war started. He wouldn’t have wanted me to go away, but it doesn’t matter now.’
    â€˜You don’t like your stepmother much, do you?’
    Emily grimaced. ‘No. It’s awful of me, I know, but I shall be glad to get away from the house – though Daniel is home at the moment. I wouldn’t have minded seeing more of him.’
    â€˜He can visit you wherever you are.’ Carole looked thoughtful. ‘I shall miss you. It makes me think I ought to have said yes. Do you think they would send us both to the same place?’
    â€˜I don’t know. Why don’t you see where they send me?’
    â€˜And then ask for a transfer?’ Carole said, and nodded. ‘Yes, I might do that. I can work on Mum in the meantime, tell her I have