by Molly Green
She’d always been fond of her cousin, but after Pearl had so generously offered her a home for those months of anguish, and she’d taken Maxine into her confidence about losing her baby, Maxine had felt even closer. It would destroy Pearl if she ever went through something like that again. And Edwin, it seemed, had no scruples. She desperately needed someone to ask for advice.
There was only one person she felt she could trust who was discreet and wise – June. She wouldn’t tell her about Edwin’s latest threat as her job was too precious to risk, but she could at least ask June’s advice as a friend. She had to do something to warn Pearl – even if it meant disclosing her own secret.
The chance to speak to June came unexpectedly the following day when she made an announcement after breakfast.
‘No classes today, children. We’re going to pretend we’re on holiday and have an autumn picnic outside, and if it gets too cold we’ll go in the big barn. And you are all going to help to get everything ready to take over.’ There was a sudden cheer from the older boys and squeals of delight from the girls and the younger ones. ‘So help the teachers clear away the dishes and we’ll meet in the Great Hall at five minutes to ten,’ June instructed. ‘We’ll be going on a nice long walk while the sun’s out and play any games you can think of.’
There was a more than usually enthusiastic rush from the children to pile up the dishes to take into the kitchen. They all talked at once to inform Bertie that they were going on a picnic.
‘Never had anything like this before at Bingham Hall,’ the cook said, smiling at Maxine. ‘The Fierce One wouldn’t dream of allowing the kids to have fun. But it will do them good.’ Bertie turned to Ellen who was drying some dishes and banging the doors of the cupboards as she put the crockery away. ‘Come on, Ellen, we need to get a move on. There’ll be plenty of sandwiches to make.’
Barbara and Athena were in charge of the children’s games, but soon most of the adults joined in, including Maxine and June. The teachers divided the children into two teams to pull a thick rope in a tug of war, but as the boys far outnumbered the girls, and the girls determinedly stuck together on one side, the boys pulled them over in a matter of moments. There were shouts of triumph mixed in with Daisy and Doris sobbing that they were too small against such big boys.
‘Come on, you two,’ June said, running over and grabbing their hands. ‘You’re in the egg-and-spoon race. I’m sure you can run as fast as the boys.’
She was right. Not only could they run as fast, their balance was better and they kept their eggs firmly on their spoons. Maxine smiled at their intent expressions, wishing she could have persuaded Peter to join in. He’d refused point blank, and instead had gone off with Freddie to the vegetable plots – to do some weeding, he’d said.
It was while they were having their picnic that Maxine grabbed the opportunity to catch June for a few minutes. The young matron was spreading out the tablecloths on the grass and Maxine and the two kitchen maids were opening the sandwiches wrapped in their greaseproof paper and setting out plates and cups.
‘June, may I have a quiet word with you while the girls are sorting out the picnic?’
June looked surprised but all she said was, ‘Of course.’
‘I really wanted your advice,’ Maxine began. ‘It’s about my cousin Pearl.’
‘You sound serious.’
‘It is serious. I’m really worried about her.’
‘Go on.’
‘It’s hard to know where to start, though I suppose I’ll have to explain where I fit in with all this.’
By this time June was looking at her curiously.
‘After Johnny died,’ Maxine began, ‘I missed him more than I would ever have thought, even though we wouldn’t have seen much of one another with the war on. But I missed his letters. Knowing he was out there somewhere. I even missed worrying about him. But I wasn’t alone. There were plenty of other women who had children and had lost their husbands. You have to get on with it. And when a new surgeon came on to the ward and began to take an interest in me – well, more than an interest – I was flattered. He’s quite a few years older, very attractive, and highly respected. The other nurses were wild about him. Anyway, we became romantically involved—’ She closed her eyes for a second to try to shut out the pain of the outcome. ‘And he said he loved me. By this time I’d begun to think he was the one.
‘Then one evening when things had become really serious, he told me he was married with two children. You can imagine how shocked I was. I wasn’t going to get tied up with a married man, so we parted.’ Absent-mindedly she took out some bottles of orangeade from the basket and set them under a tree, desperate not to see any judgemental expression on the young matron’s face.
‘Anyway,’ Maxine went on, ‘Pearl wrote to me that she’d broken her leg falling into the orchestra pit – she’s an actress – and ended up in The Royal Infirmary, which is where I did my initial training. She finished the letter by saying her handsome surgeon was her only bright spot in the day, or words to that effect. I just smiled and thought nothing of it and went to visit her in hospital. But who should be her surgeon but my old boyfriend.’
June’s eyes widened. ‘Oh, my goodness. Did he speak to you?’
‘Yes, afterwards. He told me how lovely Pearl was and that he hoped to take her out when he was no longer her doctor.’
‘Does he know Pearl’s your cousin?’
‘Yes, I told him. He was a bit taken aback but still seems intent on pursuing her.’ She swallowed. ‘Pearl is vulnerable at the moment. She recently had a very sad experience, and now this leg has put her out of the show which is awfully disappointing for her. I would hate her to be hurt all over again – so I think it’s my duty to put a stop to this man. I was thinking of writing him a strong letter.’
‘What would you say?’ June sounded worried.
‘Stop seeing Pearl and causing her misery or I’ll report you to matron.’
‘I don’t think that’s wise, Maxine. He doesn’t seem like the sort who would appreciate being threatened. You say he’s older than you – and very senior himself in the hospital. Do you really think matron, whoever she might be, would believe you over him?’
Maxine hesitated. Should she tell June the only other step she could think of?
‘You’re probably right,’ she said finally. ‘But there’s something else … his wife … she must be here in Liverpool as well. Perhaps I should write to her instead.’
‘She’s probably used to his flirting and would find it amusing,’ June said. ‘I don’t think it’s enough for her to have a heart-to-heart with her husband.’
Maxine swallowed hard. Her chest was tight. Trying to release the tension, she breathed in deeply.
‘But what if the wife found out there was a baby involved as a result of his philandering and that he’d offered to pay for an illegal operation?’
June looked puzzled. ‘But he can’t have done anything with Pearl whilst she’s in hospital.’
‘I’m not talking about Pearl.’
June’s eyes widened in shock. ‘Oh, Maxine. Is that what happened to you?’
‘Yes.’ Maxine’s voice was almost a whisper.
‘What happened to the …’ June’s hand flew to her mouth. ‘Oh, Maxine, I mustn’t ask these questions.’
‘What happened to Teddy?’ Maxine said in a shaking voice. ‘I had to give him up for adoption. I wanted him to have two loving parents – give him the best start in life. He wouldn’t have had that with only me, working all day and some stranger looking after him. My mother couldn’t have coped, even if she’d offered – which she would never have done.’ She swallowed the tears that gathered in her throat.
‘Maxine, I’m so sorry.’ June stepped through the grass to put her arm around Maxine’s shoulder. ‘Don’t tell me anything more if it’s too upsetting.’
‘There’s not much more to tell,’ Maxine said, her eyes wet at the mention of Teddy’s name. She scr
ambled to her feet. ‘The children are coming over. I think they’re hungry. But, June,’ she looked at her new friend, ‘thank you for listening. Just knowing you know everything makes me feel better.’ She paused. ‘June, if I’d told you I’d had an illegitimate baby would you still have taken me on?’
‘It wouldn’t have made a scrap of difference,’ June said without a hint of hesitation. ‘I knew you were right for Dr Barnardo’s as soon as I set eyes on you. But you’ve asked me for my advice, so I’ll tell you, for what it’s worth. Don’t let him intimidate you. Go back to the hospital this Friday when it’s your day off. Tell your cousin right away – before it’s too late.’
Maxine approached Pearl’s hospital bed with trepidation. It had taken all her courage to step through the hospital entrance doors, knowing she might bump into Edwin at any moment. But June’s words had given her the spur she needed, and she sent her cousin a warm smile. Pearl was sitting by her bed and a nurse was removing a thermometer from Pearl’s mouth; the nurse peered at it, then gave a nod of satisfaction.
‘Normal, Miss Burton. And so was your blood pressure.’
‘Oh, good.’ Pearl spotted Maxine and beamed. ‘Max, I’m so glad to see you. Pull up a chair. I want to hear all the gossip.’
The nurse shook the thermometer and smiled at the two women. ‘I’ll leave you alone then,’ she said.
Maxine kissed her cousin’s cheek and laid a couple of magazines on the bed.
‘You look much better than last time,’ Maxine said. She studied her cousin. It was true. Pearl’s face was aglow with happiness. Her eyes were bright and sparkling and she looked like a woman in love. Maxine’s heart dropped. How could she destroy the magic Pearl was feeling?
An elderly woman in the next bed suddenly cried out, ‘I need a bedpan NOW!’
Maxine’s immediate instinct was to jump up, but Pearl put a restraining hand on her arm.
‘Nurse will go, Maxine. Stay and talk to me.’
They chatted for a while and Pearl told her about her parents visiting but Maxine realised this was not the right place to have a confidential talk.
‘Have they said when you’ll be out?’ Maxine asked.
‘Edwin … I mean Mr Blake, my surgeon – he says it shouldn’t be more than a week and then I can go home.’
‘That’s marvellous, Pearl. But you’ll need someone to help you manage.’
‘Mam said she’ll come and look after me. This accident seems to have brought us a bit closer together. When she came the first time to visit me she spoke to Sister, who told her I was really lucky – that I could easily have broken my neck and been a goner, or paralysed. Sister told me she went white.’ Pearl gave a wry smile. ‘I realise she’s my mother … only one I’ve got, so I’ll have to make the best of her. And she’ll have to do the same.’
‘I’m so glad.’ Maxine patted Pearl’s hand. ‘That really is the best news. I know she loves you.’
Pearl nodded. ‘How’s Aunt Edna and Uncle Stan?’
‘They’re the same. Dad seems to be stable. Mum’s always grumbling they don’t see me enough. The usual. But to change the subject, have you heard when you’ll be able to go back to the theatre?’
A shadow crossed Pearl’s face. ‘I don’t know. The latest was that they’d found a replacement – supposed to be temporary – but I have a horrible feeling they’ll keep her. Else why haven’t they been in touch?’
‘I expect they’re leaving you in peace to get better and for you to let them know when you’re ready to go back. Try not to worry.’ She hesitated. ‘Pearl, can we go somewhere private and have a chat?’ Maxine tried to make her voice natural but it sounded strained to her ears. ‘The patients’ common room?’
Pearl sent her a sharp look. ‘What’s up, Max?’
‘It’s just that we can’t talk freely in here.’
‘You’re right.’ Pearl began to shift herself in the chair and Maxine rose to help her. ‘Such a damned nuisance when I feel so well, but I need to have a walk round and we can gossip all we like.’
Maxine handed her the crutches and they made a painstaking walk to a gloomy, airless room off the corridor. It was sparsely furnished with a couple of tables and some upright chairs and a few shelves with books. Some empty cups had yet to be cleared, but to her relief the room was empty. She helped Pearl into one of the chairs and pulled one up for herself.
Pearl’s face broke into a grin. ‘I’m glad we’re out of the ward, Max. Good idea of yours. I’m bursting to tell you, but you may have already guessed – Edwin and I are crazy about one another. I can’t wait to get out of here. We obviously can’t have a proper relationship while I’m in a hospital bed, except when he comes to examine me and draws the curtains round.’ She giggled.
Dear God. This was worse than she’d thought. Maxine swallowed.
‘Pearl, there’s something—’
‘What’s the matter, Max? Don’t you approve? I thought you’d be pleased I’d found someone at last, especially after what I told you about that other bastard. And Edwin’s someone with a position. Someone I can be proud of. Think what Mam and Dad will say.’ She grinned. ‘That’ll make them look up. Take notice of me.’ She stopped as she saw Maxine’s expression. ‘Oh, I know what you’re thinking, Max. He was a bit abrupt when you came to visit me, but he’s not usually like that.’
‘It’s not that, Pearl. I do want you to find someone special. But I don’t want it to be Edwin Blake.’
Pearl gave a start, her eyes anxious. ‘Why do you say that?’
‘Because I don’t trust him.’
‘You don’t know him like I do. You’ve only seen him on the ward at St Thomas’ and I doubt you’d have got to know him then, being a nurse.’
Maxine drew in a long breath and slowly let it out. ‘No, Pearl. That’s where you’re wrong.’
Her cousin stared at her without blinking, then delved in her dressing gown pocket for her packet of cigarettes and pulled one out. Maxine noticed her hand shook slightly as she struck a match and lit it.
‘Are you allowed to smoke in here?’
‘I don’t know and I don’t care,’ Pearl said fiercely. ‘I need this. ‘And …’ she turned to Maxine, her eyes narrowing against the stream of smoke, ‘I’m not sure I want to hear anymore.’
‘You’ve already guessed what I’m going to say.’ Maxine’s eyes locked with Pearl’s. She drew in a deep breath to steady her nerves. It was now or never. In a low voice she said, ‘That he’s the father of my child.’
There was a deathly quiet. Then Pearl stubbed her hardly touched cigarette so hard in the ashtray she practically bent it in two.
‘I don’t believe it.’
‘You must believe it.’ Maxine heard her voice rise. ‘Remember I told you about Teddy’s hair? A beautiful dark auburn. Well, it’s the exact colour and shade of his father, the eminent surgeon, Mr Edwin Blake.’
Pearl’s eyes were bright. ‘My God,’ she said, her voice coated with fury. ‘The rotten stinking bastard. And from what I remember you telling me about him, he’s married with two children.’
‘That’s right.’
‘He had the nerve to tell me he was falling in love with me, but he can do nothing while I’m in hospital … though we do … did manage a kiss now and again when he pulled the curtains round us.’ She caught Maxine’s eye. ‘Sorry, Max, but I didn’t know – honestly.’
‘Of course you didn’t – how could you? So did he say he wants to see you when you’re out of hospital?’
‘Yes, he’s talked about getting to know one another and seeing where it leads.’ Pearl’s mouth turned down unattractively. ‘Not now, we won’t. Not bloody likely.’
‘What will you say?’
‘I don’t know. But it’s not going to be pleasant.’ She looked at Maxine sharply and frowned as if remembering something. ‘Did he follow you out when you left in such a hurry that time, because he rushed away from me almost as soon as you’d disappeared?’
> ‘He asked me to go to his office.’
‘Why?’
Maxine paused. Should she tell Pearl the details of that bitter conversation?
As though her cousin guessed what Maxine was thinking, Pearl said, ‘You owe it to me to tell me everything, Max. I have to know.’
‘He said if I told you he was the father of my child, or anyone else, he would make sure I lost my job at Dr Barnardo’s.’
Pearl had the grace to flush pink. ‘Oh, Max, I’m sorry I let it slip. You know when you first start liking someone and they want to know all about you. I was so proud of you being a nurse and all that, and helping the children, I never thought—’
‘It doesn’t matter,’ Maxine cut in quickly. ‘He showed me how low he could stoop. I seriously thought about telling his wife, but I’m not going to. He has two children and I wouldn’t hurt them for the world – or his wife, for that matter. She’s probably a really nice person.’
‘I agree with you,’ Pearl said, her hand to her face as she did when she was thinking. ‘But he’s not going to get away with this.’ She gave Maxine a sly look. ‘You don’t have to do or say anything. Just leave it to me. I’ll deal with him. This is nothing compared with what I’ve been through in the past. Mr Edwin Blake will wish he’d never set eyes on me.’
Chapter Twenty-Nine
‘Murray and I have set the date,’ June said one evening as she and Maxine were in the library chatting. Now, well into November, the nights were drawing in fast and Charlie had already pulled down all the blackout blinds and drawn the heavy curtains. He’d laid a fire and carefully set the heavy iron guard around it, telling June to call for him when it needed more logs.
‘About time,’ Maxine teased. ‘And that’s a most attractive blush, Junie.’
It was the first time she’d called her Junie. It had slipped out and she hoped June hadn’t minded, though she’d noticed June give a start at the affectionate nickname. It was just that June was turning out to be so much more than simply Matron. She’d become a real friend. The first one since Anna. Maxine swallowed.