The Navy had not let the Army down, but the cost had been heavy. In addition to the losses off Greece, they had now lost the cruisers, Gloucester, Calcutta and Fiji, with Warspite, Formidable, Valiant, Barham, Orion, Ajax, Perth, Dido, Naiad, Coventry and Carlisle damaged. The destroyer losses had been enormous – eight sunk and sixteen damaged. It was almost more than the fleet could stand. First Officer Jenner-Neate remained curiously detached. She had hardly turned a hair when he’d arrived on her doorstep, merely pushing across the gin bottle and going into the kitchen to prepare sandwiches. When he awoke on the settee the following morning, aware that he’d poured his soul out to her the night before, she’d already left for work. Collecting a taxi, he managed a shave, found himself fresh white drill and, in a borrowed cap, set out to find her and thank her. For a change, her office was empty and she was alone. ‘Dinner tonight,’ he said at once. She gave him a little smile.
