A Nightingale Christmas Promise

by Donna Douglas

  ‘It doesn’t matter. You’re here now, and that’s all I care about.’ Friedrich put his arm around his wife’s shoulders. ‘Come, let’s sit inside the recreation hut. It’s warmer in there. Then I want to hear all your news.’

  The recreation hut was crowded with other men and their families. It was thick with tobacco smoke and rank with the smell of sweat and stale cooking. But there was a welcoming fire burning in the stove, and friendly women serving tea, and they managed to find a quiet corner where they could hear themselves speak.

  Friedrich sat in the middle, flanked by his family. Liesel clung to him, still weeping. But Anna was determined to keep her emotions in check, for her father’s sake. She sat quietly, smoothing out her leather gloves in her lap, almost too afraid to speak or even look at him in case she lost control.

  ‘How are you keeping?’ her mother asked. ‘Are they treating you well?’

  ‘Well enough. I cannot complain.’ Friedrich managed a brave smile. ‘Most of the guards are kind, and the other men are friendly. They keep us busy here, in the workshops, but I do miss my kitchen.’ He smiled wistfully.

  ‘When are you coming home, Papa?’ Liesel asked.

  ‘Shush, Liesel!’ Anna snapped, but Friedrich stroked his daughter’s fair head and said,

  ‘I wish I could tell you, my dear. No one has said anything about it, but I am sure they cannot keep me here for much longer.’ He reached for Liesel’s hand, holding it firmly in his own. ‘You never know, perhaps I might be home in time to help with the Christmas orders. They must be starting to come in now?’

  He looked around at them all, and they smiled bravely back but no one spoke. They had already agreed that they would try not to worry him unduly.

  Dorothy changed the subject. ‘I nearly forgot, I brought you something …’ She rummaged in her bag and pulled out a cake wrapped in brown paper, some chocolate and a couple of oranges. ‘The apple cake is not as good as the ones you make, but I did my best …’

  ‘Oh, my dear! You have no idea how grateful I am.’ Her father held the brown paper package in his hands as if it was the greatest treasure he had ever received. ‘But how did you manage to bring them in?’

  ‘Mother smuggled them!’ Anna found her voice at last. ‘You should have seen how she spoke to the guard.’

  ‘She put on a posh voice and asked him if she looked like the kind of woman who would bring in contraband!’ Liesel joined in.

  ‘He was so embarrassed, he didn’t dare ask her to empty her bag!’ Anna said.

  Friedrich raised his eyebrows. ‘Is that so? I can scarcely believe it of you, my dear.’

  His wife blushed. ‘I learnt it from my mother. She used to speak to tradespeople like that all the time.’

  Friedrich smiled. ‘However you managed to smuggle it in, I thank you for it. I will share it with the other men later.’ He wrapped up the cake and tucked it inside his jacket. ‘But tell me, what is going on at the bakery? I have been thinking of you every day, wondering how you are managing.’

  ‘We’re doing our best.’ Dorothy did not meet her husband’s eye.

  ‘It will be more difficult for you now with Christmas getting nearer,’ Friedrich said. ‘I was thinking perhaps you should look for someone to help Edward—’

  ‘Edward has been called up,’ Liesel blurted out.

  ‘Liesel!’ Anna shot her a warning look.

  ‘What? Papa has a right to know what’s going on.’

  Friedrich turned to Anna. ‘Edward is leaving? When?’

  ‘In two weeks’ time. Christmas Eve. But we’ll have all the Christmas orders done by then, and I’ve asked if I can take two days’ holiday from the hospital so I’ll be able to help.’

  ‘Anna, Liebling, I was not thinking about the shop!’ He reached for her hand. ‘You poor child, how worried you must be.’

  Anna looked down at her father’s fingers wrapped around hers. ‘I try not to think about it,’ she murmured.

  ‘Edward wants to marry Anna before he goes.’ Once again, Liesel spoke up.

  Anna glared at her sister. Liesel stared back at her, the picture of injured innocence.

  Her father sighed. ‘Will someone please tell me what is going on?’

  ‘Edward had the idea of getting married before he left for France,’ Anna explained.

  ‘I see. And what did you say?’

  ‘I said I wanted to speak to you about it first.’

  ‘And yet you have not mentioned it?’

  Anna lowered her gaze. ‘I – was waiting for the right moment.’

  Her father sat back and regarded her thoughtfully. ‘It seems like a sensible idea,’ he said. ‘I can understand why he would want to marry you before he goes …’

  ‘But I want you to be there, Papa!’ Anna broke in desperately. ‘You won’t be able to give me away.’

  ‘I know, Liebling. But we mustn’t stand in the way of your future happiness, if that is truly what you want?’ Friedrich paused for a moment. ‘You have my blessing,’ he said at last.

  ‘Thank you, Papa.’ Anna searched her father’s face, looking for clues to his real feelings. His smile gave nothing away.

  For the next two hours they talked, played cards, and went for a stroll in the grounds. Her father pointed out the hut that had been given over to a small library, and the patch of ground where the prisoners grew vegetables. But Anna only saw the ugliness of it all, the dull grey stone blocks and the vicious tangle of barbed wire that surrounded them everywhere they walked. How could he bear it? she wondered.

  All too soon, their time was up, and they had to leave. Of course Liesel made another fuss, weeping and clinging to him.

  ‘I want you to come home!’ she whimpered.

  ‘I will come home soon, my love. I promise,’ her father said. Anna heard the broken note in his voice and was furious with her sister.

  He turned to her. ‘Just think, you may be a married woman by the time I next see you!’

  ‘Yes, Papa.’

  Friedrich pulled her into his arms and kissed the top of her head. ‘My strong girl. Look after them for me, won’t you?’

  ‘Yes, Papa. I promise.’ And what about me? Anna wanted to say. Just because she didn’t weep and wail like Liesel, it didn’t mean her heart wasn’t breaking, or that she didn’t feel utterly lost.

  ‘You’re a good girl, Liebling.’ Her father held her at arms’ length and stared into her face. ‘I know you will do the right thing,’ he said, his brown gaze holding hers.

  As he turned to say goodbye to his wife, Anna whispered to Liesel, ‘Come on, we’ll wait by the gate.’

  ‘But I want to stay with Papa!’ Liesel protested.

  ‘For heaven’s sake, do you always have to be so selfish?’ Anna snapped. ‘Let them have a few minutes together on their own.’

  She looked over her shoulder at her parents, clinging to each other like young lovers. She pictured the day when she had to say goodbye to Edward, and turned determinedly away from the thought.

  As they trudged back down the drive towards the gates, Liesel said, ‘I hate that place. I don’t think I ever want to come back.’

  Anna stared at her, shocked. ‘Don’t you want to see Papa?’

  ‘Of course I do, but I don’t think I could bear it here again.’

  ‘You can’t bear it?’ Anna turned on her, temper snapping. ‘How do you think poor Papa feels, being locked up in this dreadful place every day? The only thing he has to look forward to is a visit from his family. We must keep coming, for his sake.’

  Liesel pulled a face and fell into a sulk. They had reached the gate before she spoke again.

  ‘I suppose you’ll be getting married now you have Papa’s blessing?’

  ‘Perhaps.’

  ‘Perhaps? Are you or aren’t you?’

  ‘I don’t know.’

  ‘Have you changed your mind?’

  ‘It still doesn’t seem right, Papa not being there.’

  ‘But
he said—’

  ‘I know what he said.’ She had also seen the look in his eyes when he’d said it. ‘I just don’t think I can do it.’

  ‘So you’ll tell Edward you can’t marry him? I can’t imagine he’ll take kindly to that.’

  ‘He’ll understand.’

  ‘Are you sure about that?’

  ‘What’s that supposed to mean?’

  ‘Nothing.’ Liesel’s face was the picture of innocence. ‘I just don’t think Edward’s the patient type, that’s all.’ A malicious smile crossed her face. ‘If I were you I’d snap him up before some French mademoiselle does!’

  ‘Liesel, stop teasing your sister!’ her mother warned. ‘Take no notice of her, Anna.’

  ‘I don’t,’ Anna said. But her heart told a different story.

  Chapter Eighteen

  ‘Certainly not. I won’t hear of it.’

  Dr Ormerod threw Kate’s letter back across the desk at her. His round face was pink with indignation.

  ‘Even if I were in favour of such a proposal, I couldn’t allow it,’ he said. ‘Hospital rules expressly forbid female doctors from treating male patients.’

  ‘Yes, but surely under the circumstances—’

  ‘It’s against the rules, Miss Carlyle,’ he insisted. ‘There is nothing I can do about it. And frankly, even if I could, I wouldn’t. As far as I’m concerned, the whole idea is absurd.’

  Kate stared back at him across the desk. She could feel her anger rising, and fought to control it.

  ‘What’s absurd is that there is a shortage of doctors,’ she said. ‘Three more students left this week to join the Army Medical Reserve. We barely have enough medical staff to go around, and yet you refuse to allow a good doctor to work on the military ward, just because I’m a woman.’

  Dr Ormerod’s brows rose. ‘A good doctor? You think rather a lot of yourself, Miss Carlyle, for someone with so little experience.’

  And how can I gain experience, if I’m not allowed to treat patients? Kate pressed her lips together to hold back the comment.

  ‘The military wards are overflowing, with more men arriving every day,’ she persisted. ‘We’re closing the female wards and sending patients home to make room for them. Soon there will be no one left for me to treat!’

  Dr Ormerod smiled over his steepled fingers. ‘If you don’t feel your – talents – are put to sufficient use here, you can always leave?’

  Kate stared at him in frustration. That was all he wanted, all any of them wanted. How could they be so short-sighted? she wondered. It made no sense to her.

  She shook her head. ‘Oh, no, Dr Ormerod. I’m not going anywhere,’ she said.

  ‘Then I’m afraid you’ll just have to put up with the situation. We’ve already changed enough rules to accommodate you.’

  ‘Very well.’ Kate got to her feet, picking up the letter he had thrown back at her. It had taken her ages to write it, and now she felt as if she had wasted her time. ‘Thank you for seeing me, sir.’

  As she walked away, Dr Ormerod said, ‘I’m doing you a favour, you know.’

  She turned slowly to look at him. ‘Sir?’

  ‘The military wards … they’re really no place for a woman. Some of the men are in a ghastly state.’

  Kate lifted her chin. ‘I know, sir,’ she said. ‘I attend the post-mortem demonstrations every day.’

  Leo was waiting for her when Kate emerged into the wintry December sunshine. He fell into step with her as she walked back towards the main hospital building.

  ‘Well?’ he asked. ‘How did it go?’

  Kate shook her head. ‘He barely listened to me.’

  ‘I told you you’d be wasting your time, didn’t I? Old Ormerod’s not one for changing his mind, least of all on your account.’ He gave her a sympathetic smile. ‘Sorry, old girl. But you did try …’

  ‘I’m not giving up,’ Kate said.

  Leo frowned. ‘But you just said—’

  ‘He’ll change his mind,’ she said confidently. ‘He’ll have to, sooner or later.’

  ‘Kate—’

  ‘He will,’ she insisted. ‘Look, two years ago no one ever imagined the Nightingale would allow women to study here. And yet I am. And now it’s only a matter of time before we’re allowed to treat male patients, too. I shall make sure of it.’

  Leo looked at her admiringly. ‘You’re really not afraid of anything, are you? Father, Dr Ormerod, the Students’ Union – you just take them all on.’ He sighed. ‘I wish I had your fighting spirit.’

  ‘Be grateful you’ve never needed it.’

  ‘Haven’t I?’

  Kate sent her brother a sidelong look. ‘Since when have you had to fight for anything?’

  ‘We all have our struggles, Kate,’ Leo said quietly. He caught her eye and smiled. ‘Oh, take no notice of me. I’m just tired, that’s all.’ He ran a hand over his eyes. ‘I was up all last night on the military wards. Ormerod’s right about one thing. It is pretty ghastly down there.’

  ‘I’ll never know, will I?’ Kate murmured. ‘I’m destined to be stuck on Female Medical with wretched Dr French.’

  Leo frowned. ‘I must say, I’m surprised,’ he said. ‘Everyone else seems to think very highly of him. I’ve never heard anyone say a bad word.’

  ‘I know,’ Kate said. She had seen for herself the effect he had on people. The nurses couldn’t do enough for him, and neither could Miss Sutton, who never had a kind word for anyone else. All the patients adored him, too. Kate had never found it easy to deal with people, but Rufus had a kind of easiness around them that she couldn’t help but envy. He reassured them, charmed them and even flirted with them sometimes, and always left them with a smile on their faces.

  And unlike many of the other junior doctors, he was popular with the other students. He seemed to go out of his way to help them.

  But not her.

  He seemed to reserve all his contempt for her, and Kate didn’t understand why.

  ‘Perhaps you’ve done something to upset him?’ Leo suggested.

  ‘I can’t think what.’ All she had done was to try her best, but still Rufus did his utmost to make life difficult for her. He never seemed to miss a chance to belittle her, or to push her out.

  Kate could only assume that, like so many others, he felt the doors of the Nightingale should have stayed closed to her.

  Well, he would have to get used to her. As she had told Dr Ormerod, she was here to stay.

  Typically, Rufus was the first person she met when she entered Everett. He was perched on the edge of Ada Dixon’s bed. Kate could hear her raucous laughter ringing down the length of the ward.

  ‘And the butcher said, “That’s the first time anyone’s ever called it that!”’ Rufus delivered the punchline of his joke with a triumphant flourish.

  Ada Dixon wiped the tears from her eyes with the hem of her bed jacket. ‘Ooh, doctor, you’re a caution!’

  Kate went to pass them, but Rufus called out to her.

  ‘Back again, Miss Carlyle? I thought you’d be on the military wards by now?’

  Kate gritted her teeth into a smile. ‘It seems my services are not needed, Dr French.’

  His brows lifted. ‘What’s that? Don’t tell me they didn’t let you get your own way?’ He shook his head. ‘Good heavens, don’t they know who you are?’

  Kate ignored him, turning instead to Ada Dixon.

  ‘Is there a problem with this patient?’ she asked.

  ‘Her name is Ada,’ Rufus corrected her, ‘and she’s had a bad night.’

  ‘Shocking,’ Ada confirmed.

  Kate picked up her chart. ‘What seems to be the matter, Mrs Dixon?’ she said, with a sideways glance at Rufus.

  ‘Oh, don’t worry about it, ducks. The doctor’s sorted me out.’ Ada Dixon beamed at him. ‘I’m right as rain now.’

  Kate consulted her notes. ‘It says here you’ve been having some pain?’

  ‘I’m afraid Ada has been rather a naug
hty girl.’ Rufus sent her a reproachful look. ‘Do you want to tell Miss Carlyle or shall I?’

  Mrs Dixon looked shame-faced. ‘I didn’t think it would do any harm,’ she said.

  ‘Her sons have been smuggling in chocolate for her,’ Dr French explained to Kate.

  ‘And treacle toffee,’ Mrs Dixon said. ‘I’m very partial to a bit of treacle toffee.’

  ‘Ada’s been enjoying midnight feasts.’ Dr French shook his head.

  ‘I couldn’t help it. I got so fed up with all that horrible milk and nothing else.’

  ‘At any rate, I’ve confiscated all the offending items, given her a morphia shot for the pain, and Ada has promised to be a good girl in future. Isn’t that right, my dear?’

  ‘If you say so.’ She sent him a coquettish look from under her lashes.

  Kate stared from one to the other. They both seemed to think it was a big joke. ‘That was a very foolish thing to do,’ she said sternly.

  ‘I know,’ Rufus said. ‘I’ve already told her that.’

  Kate ignored him. ‘You could have perforated your ulcer,’ she told Ada. ‘Then we would have had no choice but to operate.’

  Ada’s smile faded. ‘All right, you don’t have to go on about it!’

  Kate put down the notes. ‘I think I should take a look at you.’

  ‘There’s no need,’ said Rufus. ‘I’ve already examined her.’

  ‘But there might be something you’ve missed …’

  ‘I think I’m competent to carry out an examination.’ Rufus was smiling when he said it, but a muscle pulsed in his jaw.

  For a moment they stared at each other. Kate was aware that the rest of the ward seemed to have fallen strangely silent, all eyes turned in their direction.

  It was Ada Dixon who broke the tension between them.

  ‘No offence, love, but I reckon the doctor knows what he’s doing. He is qualified, after all.’

  ‘Well said, Ada,’ Dr French murmured, his stony gaze still fixed on Kate. The next moment he had turned away and was smiling again. ‘Now, remember what I said. No more treacle toffee!’

  Ada looked coy. ‘I’ll remember, Doctor.’

  Kate followed him down the ward. ‘May I speak to you?’ she called out.