‘But we never got it and now he’s missing too.’
‘I know,’ Robert said grimly. ‘I wonder if the little rascal tried to follow them. You know how he likes to do everything they do.’
‘Why didn’t Daisy say she wanted to go to see Pips? We could have arranged something . . .’
Robert looked shamefaced for a moment. ‘She did, Alice, and, to my bitter regret, I refused her. I’m so sorry. I should have realized how anxious she was.’
Alice stared at him for a moment, then nodded and glanced away. ‘Well, at least they were together and they’re safe now. I must go and tell Peggy and Sam – and my mam and dad – that they’ve been found.’
‘We still have Harry to worry about, though at least we know where to start looking now. You go to your parents and tell them and I’ll go to see Peggy and Sam.’
‘I’ll get our coats. It’s still raining.’
They were halfway down the driveway, just passing through the gatehouse, when Sam’s bulky figure, coming towards them, loomed out of the darkness.
‘Sam,’ Alice said at once. ‘We’re just coming to tell you. Daisy and Luke are safe – they’re in London with Robert’s parents – but we’ve no news of Harry.’
‘He’s safe. He’s just arrived home.’
Swiftly, Sam recounted the boy’s escapade and then Robert explained why Daisy and Luke had gone to London, ending, ‘Don’t be too hard on Harry, Sam. He’s only young. They were wrong to put such a responsibility on an eight-year-old.’
‘To be honest, Master Robert, none of them are blameless in this. The older two should have known better and Harry – even at his age – should have realized how important the message was.’
‘Maybe we’re to blame a little as well.’ Robert was not afraid to admit his own mistake. ‘Daisy did ask me if she could go to see Pips, and I said “no”.’
Sam nodded. ‘We’ve just to be grateful it’s all ended well. Though I shall have a few stern words to say to Luke.’
‘And I to Daisy.’
‘I’m just glad they’re all safe,’ Alice murmured. ‘I know it was very naughty of them all, but – they’re safe.’
Robert put his arm about her.
‘Sam, would you do me a favour? When you’ve told Peggy, will you go and tell Mr and Mrs Dawson too? I must get back to the house and telephone London. They’ll still be worrying about Harry.’
‘Of course, Master Robert.’ Now that all the youngsters had been found, Sam chuckled as he added, ‘And I promise I really will deliver the message.’
‘Father?’
‘Yes, Robert. Have you news?’
‘Harry’s back home. He’d tried to follow Daisy and Luke and didn’t pass on their message. He got on a London train, I understand, and reached the next station, but was sent back because he hadn’t got a ticket. He’s just got back after walking most of the way from Lincoln.’
‘That’s wonderful news. I’ll tell the others straight away.’
‘No more news on Pips, I expect?’
‘Not tonight. I’ll ring again tomorrow after we’ve seen her.’
Now she remembered. It had come to her in the night. She’d just come back from England and had seen Giles – the man she loved – kissing Rose, another nurse. She had turned away from the sight and had run and run into the night, not knowing or caring where she went.
And then George had found her . . .
The fog was lifting and she was aware of light. It must be morning. The soldiers would be standing to on the fire step or cooking breakfast in the trenches. She should get up, but her limbs felt so heavy and there was no one beside her now.
‘George?’ she whispered, and then a little more strongly, ‘George?’
Her eyes flickered open, searching for him.
Someone was bending over her and she heard a woman’s voice. ‘He’s here, Pips. I’ll get him for you.’
Pips closed her eyes again and a small smile played on her lips. In a moment, he’d be here. George would be with her. He’d never let her down . . .
Fifty-Five
Rebecca hurried out of the ward and down the corridor. Pausing in the doorway of the waiting room, she saw her father asleep in one of the chairs whilst another man and woman were sitting on the opposite side of the room. The man, whom she had recently been introduced to as Mitch, stared at her for a moment and then leapt to his feet. His eyes still on her, he nevertheless crossed the room and shook George.
‘Wha . . .?’ Instantly he was awake and struggling to his feet. ‘What is it?’
‘She’s stirring,’ Rebecca said. ‘She’s asking for you, Dad. Go to her, but I must fetch the doctor.’
He pushed past her and tore down the corridor, breaking every rule in the hospital book. Her eyes were turned towards the door as he entered the room and she smiled. George thought his heart could not be filled with any more love for her than it always had been, but at that moment, it overflowed. Willing himself to be quiet and patient, he sat down beside her and took her hand.
‘My darling,’ he whispered, but before she could form an answer, the doctor arrived with Rebecca close behind him. The doctor, a kindly and understanding middle-aged man, put his hand briefly on George’s shoulder, though his gaze was on his patient. ‘Just give me a few minutes, Major Allender, if you please, then you may come back, I promise.’
Reluctantly, knowing he must obey orders once again in his life, George left the room and went back to the waiting room. Mitch almost pounced on him as he walked through the door. ‘What’s happening? Is she all right? Is she talking?’
‘She’s awake, but she hasn’t spoken to me yet. The doctor came in and, of course, I had to leave.’
‘Why? Is something wrong?’
Muriel touched Mitch’s arm. ‘He’ll want to examine her, Mitch. Do sit down, there’s a dear. It must be good news.’ She glanced at George. ‘Your daughter said she’d asked for you. Sit down, the pair of you, and I’ll see if I can rustle up some tea. Oh, here’s Dr and Mrs Maitland – that’s good timing.’ Muriel smiled at them as they came in, followed by Daisy and Luke, clutching each other’s hands. ‘She’s just this minute woken up, but the doctor’s with her. We don’t know any more, other than that she said George’s name. Oh hello, Daisy – and is this Luke? I’ll get you all something too.’
At Muriel’s words, Henrietta gasped and swayed and Mitch leapt to her side. ‘Sit down, Mrs Maitland. Make that tea hot and sweet, Muriel. We’ve all had a bit of a surprise, but let’s hope it’s a nice one this time.’
It was an agonizing half an hour before the doctor came into the waiting room. He glanced around the anxious faces and said at once, ‘She’s awake and lucid. I’m sure she’s going to be fine, but of course, I cannot discharge her yet. She needs to rest and I need to keep a close eye on her. She’s had concussion, so we must be careful.’
Henrietta struggled to her feet. ‘But you’re sure she will make a full recovery?’
Daisy buried her face against Luke’s shoulder and wept tears of thankfulness.
‘Yes, I am, but she will have a nasty scar just here on her hairline.’ He touched his own forehead, then he smiled. ‘And I forbid any strenuous activities for a while. Although I understand she’s getting married very soon.’
His glance went around the room and came to rest on Mitch, but, to his surprise, it was an older man – the one whom he’d seen sitting beside her bed for the last three days and nights – who stepped forward. He should have guessed, he supposed, but he’d thought at first that it was her father.
‘It was supposed to be in December,’ George said, ‘but, of course, we’ll wait until she’s fully recovered.’
‘I would postpone it at least until the New Year. You may go in to see her now, but, please, only two at a time.’
‘I’d just like to see her for myself,’ Edwin said, ‘and then I must go back to the hotel and telephone home.’
‘You may use the telephone in my
office,’ the doctor said. He and Edwin had had a long chat about Pips and talked frankly as doctor to doctor. ‘It’s just down the corridor on the right-hand side. Please – if I’m not there – help yourself.’
‘That’s very kind of you. Thank you.’
The line crackled, but Edwin shouted into the receiver. ‘She’s awake and talking, Alice. She’s going to be all right.’
‘Oh, that’s wonderful. I’ll let everyone know. Give her our love, won’t you?’
‘Of course, but Alice, I’m afraid the wedding won’t be going ahead as planned. Her doctor said New Year at the earliest.’
‘I’ll see to all that. Don’t you worry. How are those two little rascals? Are you sending them home today?’
‘Maybe we’ll give them until tomorrow, seeing as they’re here now. If that’s all right with you.’
‘Of course, though they don’t deserve it after the worry they’ve caused us all.’
‘Don’t be too hard on any of them. They were all as worried about Pips as we were. We should have realized.’
‘Anyway,’ Alice said, ‘give Pips all our love and make sure she does as she’s told.’
Edwin chuckled, able now to feel the burden of worry lift from his shoulders. ‘And just how am I to do that, Alice, my dear?’
‘You’ll all have to band together and try, and – if all else fails – I’ll send Robert down.’
The village’s grapevine spread its branches far and wide and soon everyone knew that Miss Pips was going to recover.
‘How many more times is that wedding going to be postponed, I’d like to know?’ Bess asked Norah.
‘Just be thankful there’s going to be one at all,’ Norah said sharply. ‘She could’ve been killed. You should have seen poor Daisy when she came to dinner with us on Sunday. She hardly ate a thing and Luke wasn’t much better. I’m not surprised they both sneaked off to London to see for themselves. They must be so happy now everything’s going to be all right.’
‘Aye, well, Daisy’ll still get to be bridesmaid now, won’t she?’
Tartly, Norah said, ‘I’m sure that isn’t uppermost in her mind.’ Sometimes, good hearted though she was, Bess could be very irritating.
But the other woman only grinned at Norah’s admonishment. ‘Sorry, duck. That didn’t come out the way I meant. Just me being my usual tactless self.’
Whatever else Bess Cooper was, she recognized her own faults and acknowledged them.
‘When are they coming home? Dr and Mrs Maitland, I mean. And the children? Len’s fretting about Luke being away so long.’
‘They’re sending the children home tomorrow, so our Betty says, though Dr and Mrs Maitland’ll no doubt stay a day or two longer. It’ll be a while before Miss Pips is out of hospital, never mind being able to travel home.’
‘I expect her friends will look after her and Major Allender is there.’
‘Betty said he never left her side all the time she was unconscious.’
‘Aye, well, that’s love for you.’
‘Dad, I need to talk to you.’
‘Rebecca, if it’s about what’s going to happen when Pips comes out of hospital, it’s all arranged. She’s going to Milly’s and I’m going to kip down on the sofa to be near her and to help.’
‘No, it’s not that. Well, it is in a way, but . . .’
Rebecca was fidgeting with her handkerchief, twisting it agitatedly between her fingers. Then her words came out in a rush. ‘Dad, I’m so sorry. I’ve been beastly to you and to Pips and I was so wrong. Can you ever forgive me?’
For a moment, George stared at her. He had not expected this. He held out his arms and, with a little sob, his daughter flew into them.
‘Oh my darling girl, of course I forgive you, but – can I ask – what’s made you feel differently?’
For a few minutes Rebecca clung to him and wept against his shoulder. Then she drew back and wiped away her tears. ‘It was seeing you sitting beside her all that time – so devotedly. The look on your face as you watched over her, willing her to get better. You’d have changed places with her in an instant, if you could have done, wouldn’t you? I could tell how very much you love her, and then – when she began to come round – it was your name she said first. It was you she asked for. Not a member of her family or one of her other friends – but you. I’ve been wrong to try to keep you apart and I bitterly regret it. Like you said before, Mummy was a very poorly lady, only I wouldn’t see it, didn’t want to see it. And when she – you know – I blamed you and then I blamed myself, but I see now that neither of us was to blame.’ She smiled wryly. ‘At least, being a nurse, I’ve learned that much. Mental sickness is just as bad as physical illness. Worse, in a way, because it can’t be seen and people don’t understand it.’
‘One day I hope people will. Pips’s brother is doing research into the effects of shell shock. It’s a kind of mental breakdown, I suppose. I saw a lot of it.’
His arms were still around her and she laid her head against his shoulder again. ‘Daddy?’ she said in a small voice, using her childhood name for him.
He stroked her hair. ‘Mm?’
‘Please may I come to your wedding?’
His arms tightened around her and he said huskily, ‘That would make our day perfect.’
‘But will Pips want me to be there?’
‘Of course she will. She’s not one to bear malice. It’s all she’s ever wanted. For you both to be friends – and I hope, one day, you will be.’
She drew back again and smiled up at him. ‘I’m still helping to nurse her and I must talk to her when she’s up to it. I’m certainly willing if she is.’
It was what George had waited years to hear.
Fifty-Six
Rebecca sat on the edge of Pips’s bed, breaking yet another of Matron’s strict rules. She’d broken quite a few over the last few days whilst she’d been nursing her special patient. But today was important for them both. Pips was sitting up and eating almost normally. She had been lucky that no bones had been broken, but it had been her head injury that had caused the doctor concern. Today, however, she was to get out of bed for the first time and sit in a chair, just in her dressing gown, but it would be a start. But first Rebecca had something she wanted to say to her.
She took a deep breath. ‘Pips, I am so sorry for the way I’ve treated you.’
Whatever Pips had been expecting the young woman to say to her, it wasn’t this. She was unprepared and didn’t know how to respond. Rebecca rushed on. ‘I’ve watched my father over the last few days, devotedly sitting beside your bed, never leaving you until we made him get some rest. I’ve seen the drawn look on his face, the anguish in his eyes and then, when you started to regain consciousness, the very first word you said was his name.’ She paused a moment, but Pips said nothing. ‘I – I’ve met your lovely parents and all your friends, who have been so anxious about you. I was so wrong about you, Pips, and I’m desperately sorry.’
Pips started to frown but winced when the wound on her forehead hurt.
‘I’m not quite sure I understand you. What did you think about me?’
Rebecca blushed. ‘I’d rather not say.’
‘Go on. If we’re to move forward, Rebecca, we have to be honest with each other.’ She grinned and found that the movement of her face didn’t hurt. ‘I’m a big girl, I can take it.’
‘Well, first, I didn’t want Daddy to marry anyone. I didn’t want anyone taking Mummy’s place.’
‘I can understand that,’ Pips said gently. ‘No one can take another person’s place and I certainly don’t want to be a mother to you.’ She giggled. ‘I’m not much older than you anyway.’ She paused and then added, ‘Was that part of the problem too? That I’m so much younger than your father?’
Rebecca shook her head. ‘No, not really. It was – it was just that I thought you were . . .’
‘Go on.’
Rebecca’s words came out in a rush. ‘A gold-digger
. Dad had been left some money and so, when he left the army, he was reasonably wealthy. But I didn’t know about your background.’ She smiled wryly. ‘I didn’t know that your family could probably buy and sell him ten times over.’
Pips laughed aloud and then winced. ‘Ouch! I must stop doing that.’
‘It’s just the dressing pulling when you move. I’ll redo it for you in a minute.’
‘So, how do you feel about me now? About us getting married?’
‘I was being insufferably selfish and I want you to get married and be happy. And – I’d so like us to be friends, if you can ever forgive me for being such a – such a—’
‘Cow,’ Pips said bluntly.
‘Harsh, but I have to admit it’s a fair comment.’
Pips touched her hand and said huskily, ‘I’d like nothing better. And will you come to the wedding?’
‘Oh yes – please.’
It was the ‘please’ that undid Pips. Suddenly, tears were flooding down her face and Rebecca was hugging her.
And that was how George found them when he walked into the room at that moment.
After leaving hospital, Pips stayed with Milly for a few weeks, then on the last day of November, she went home to Doddington Hall to recuperate, while George, with his new appointment, had to stay in London.
‘I can’t possibly miss the birthdays,’ she told him.
As George and Rebecca saw her onto the train, Rebecca hugged her and said, ‘Come back as soon as you’re well enough. You know you can stay at the flat any time you want to and I promise not to throw a tantrum. Pips, I’m so sorry . . .’
Pips put her finger against the girl’s lips. ‘Rebecca, no more apologies. It’s over and done with. We start afresh from now on.’
With tears in her eyes, Rebecca said, ‘Thank you. You’re a very generous woman. I don’t think I’d be as forgiving in your shoes.’
‘I just want us all to be happy together. Look after your dad and yourself. And now, I must go. I have a wedding to plan.’
The Brooklands Girls Page 36