Brides of Penhally Bay - Vol 2

by Various Authors

  In fact, Mrs Gillan was over the worst of the infection. Her fever was down. But she was very tired, still afraid, more in need of reassurance than anything else. Ed examined her, told her that she was over the worst and gave her something to help her sleep. Then he said that he and Maddy would stay with her for a while. He chatted to her but Maddy thought that his usual good humour wasn’t there, his words seemed a bit forced. Perhaps she should join in the conversation…

  ‘We’ve just delivered a baby,’ she told Mrs Gillan. ‘Not what you expect on a cruise ship—but these things happen.’

  Mrs Gillan looked vaguely interested. ‘I’m expecting my first grandchild in two months,’ she murmured. ‘I’m quite excited.’

  ‘It’s something lovely to look forward to,’ said Maddy. ‘Now, close your eyes and think of babies’ names like we did.’

  Shortly afterwards Mrs Gillan was sound asleep but Ed showed no wish to move from her cabin. Maddy looked at him, concerned. ‘You seem a bit low,’ she said. ‘Is going without sleep getting to you?’

  ‘I don’t need sleep, Maddy. I’m fine.’

  She noticed that he didn’t deny that his spirits were low. ‘Mrs Gillan here is fine and we’ve just had a very nice surprise with baby Flynn. The successful birth of a baby is usually one of the more enjoyable bits of medicine.’

  ‘So I understand.’

  ‘You understand? Is that all? Ed, what is the matter with you? In the past couple of hours you’ve changed. Something is hurting you—can’t you tell me what? We’ve shared a lot so far. Can’t you share this?’

  His voice was bleak. ‘All right, I’ll share, though it’s not something that usually I like doing. I’ll tell you but I don’t want to talk about it afterwards. Is that OK?’

  She felt that she’d achieved something with him. A barrier between them was coming down. ‘That’s fine,’ she said.

  They were talking in whispers as they didn’t want to disturb Mrs Gillan. ‘You guessed I’d been in the army and I’ve told you that I worked in Africa, that I supervised a so-called hospital where there was an epidemic of gastroenteritis.’

  ‘I know that,’ she said. ‘It must have been horrific. How could you cope? And how do you cope now?’

  ‘Same answer to both questions. Because I’m a doctor, it’s what we do.’ He paused, and she wondered what might come next, what could come next.

  ‘It’s the feeling of inadequacy,’ he said. ‘The anger at knowing that with a little more help you could do so much good. People around me were dying for the want of a few pounds’ worth of drugs. Especially children. I started off strong, determined to do what I could and knowing that I’d have to be satisfied with doing my best. But it was a poor best. And as the days passed and I got more and more tired and the death rate didn’t go down…well, it hurt. When I left that place I vowed that never again would I go back to an epidemic like it. But when I heard of this outbreak, I just had to come to see if I could cope.’

  ‘But you’re doing a fantastic job!’ She frowned and said, ‘But the memories are hurting, aren’t they?’

  ‘Something like that.’

  She thought over what he had told her. ‘But there’s more isn’t there?’

  The answer came back too quickly to be true. ‘No!’

  There was silence for a moment and then she said, ‘I’m interfering again, I know. But, please, would you tell me more about it some time? It would help me to know you better and I…I want to do that.’

  Another long silence and she stared at his forlorn face. Then he took one of her hands, squeezed it and then somehow managed to smile. ‘You’re the only person I’ve ever been tempted to talk to about it. Perhaps some day I will tell you. But now you stay here with Mrs Gillan while I go to check on a couple more patients.’ And he was gone.

  Maddy made a quick nurse’s check on Mrs Gillan and then sat down to think about what Ed had told her. Now she could understand him better. Every moment he had been on board he must have been reminded of that camp in Africa. She knew about battlefield trauma but she realised there was similar trauma for those who were not actually fighting.

  Now she knew so much more about his life. Only she had a feeling that he had held something back. And that he wanted to tell her, but he couldn’t let himself.

  The next question was why did she want to know more about him? She’d already decided that he wasn’t the kind of man she ought to care for. She didn’t really want to care for any man. Or did she?

  She remembered their kiss. How many hours ago had it been? Six, seven? Had it been as long as that? She had thought about it so often since. He had kissed her—without any encouragement at all. No encouragement? Well, she had put her hand on his arm. In a sense she had made the first overture. Just a little one, though.

  There was the gentlest of taps on the cabin door then Ed came in. She looked at him almost in surprise, as if he was the last person she had expected. She had just been thinking about him!

  ‘If Mrs Gillan’s OK, I could do with a hand on the next deck,’ he said quietly.

  ‘She’s asleep and she’ll stay that way. I’m coming.’

  They walked out of the cabin, along the deserted companionway, They came to a porthole, and for a moment both stopped to look at the dark raging sea outside.

  Once again, she put her hand on his arm. ‘You have to know I’m not like this,’ she said. ‘I’m off men, I don’t want any new relationship, I don’t really even know you. But we agreed. This is time out. We’re on a ship, what we do here doesn’t count. So I want you to kiss me again. Just for comfort, for you as well as me.’ She stopped a moment, looked up at him and asked hesitantly, ‘That is, if you want to kiss me.’

  She could tell that he did want to kiss her. One arm round her waist, one hand holding the back of her head, gently he leaned towards her. When their bodies were touching it felt so…so right. As if she were coming home, as if she belonged here. And there was no hurry. She wrapped her arms round his waist.

  He was stroking her, his fingertips caressing the soft skin of her throat and cheek. It was gentle but it felt so good.

  Then his lips touched hers. Softly at first, then, when she offered no resistance, harder, stronger, more demanding. What had started as gentle, cautious turned into something far more desperate, more passionate. She could feel her need for him growing within her. Suddenly her breasts were taut, her body feeling a warmth that had nothing to do with the air around them. And she knew he felt it, too, his need was all too obvious. And she liked it. Perhaps they could…

  And then he eased them apart. She whimpered softly, she didn’t want him to go. His reluctance was obvious, too. So why was he doing this?

  They stood facing each other, heads down, linked only by their still clasped hands. Her voice trembling, she said, ‘Remember, this is not serious. It’s a time apart, we’re both weary, we needed respite. It was so good—but it stops here.’

  ‘As you wish,’ he agreed. ‘We’ll forget it happened—or try to. Now, we have patients to look at.’

  She was confused, saddened a little. Did he have to agree so readily?

  An hour before dawn Ed told her to go to bed. ‘You’re flagging,’ he said gently. ‘You’ve worked hard and now you need a break. Maddy, don’t argue, go to bed and sleep. I can cope.’

  ‘But you need—’

  ‘I need you refreshed and alert, so go to bed. I can spare you for three hours.’

  She couldn’t help it, she yawned. ‘All right. I will go,’ she said, ‘providing you promise to wake me after exactly three hours.’

  ‘I promise. I need you.’

  She saw that he meant it and it made her feel good.

  She went to her cabin, decided to do as he had and have a quick shower. Then she heard movements from next door, wrapped a towel round herself and peered into the corridor. There was Kate, coming out of the little ward. ‘Everything all right?’ Maddy asked.

  ‘Everything is fine. Though
I’d like to get off this ship. It’s not the right place for a newborn. But mother’s doing well, the baby’s going to be called Marina and I’ve spent a fair amount of time reassuring the husband. It’s a good thing that men don’t have to have babies!’

  ‘You’re not the first midwife I’ve heard say that.’ Maddy yawned again. ‘Ed’s sent me to bed. Just for three hours.’

  ‘That man is a good doctor. Sometimes he reminds me of his dad, sometimes not.’

  ‘So you and Nick are good friends?’

  ‘We’ve known each other for years.’

  Maddy thought there was a peculiar inflection in Kate’s voice, but perhaps she was tired. ‘So, bed for me,’ she said.

  ‘Goodnight.’

  ‘Good morning.’ Kate grinned.

  The minute Kate got into her bunk she realised that she was sleeping in the same sheets that Ed had slept in. Mind you, he had slept in the sheets that she had…What did it matter? These weren’t easy times. But she thought she could detect just the faintest smell…as if his warm body were still in the bed. The thought excited her.

  Ed Tremayne. Eighteen hours ago she had never met him. Now they were colleagues, friends even. He had kissed her twice and she had enjoyed it, much to her surprise. She had to stop thinking! Ed Tremayne was just…

  She had only just shut her eyes—she thought. But there was a gentle hand on her shoulder and an enticing smell of coffee. Eyes still closed, she asked, ‘Three hours?’

  ‘To the minute,’ came Ed’s voice. ‘There’s coffee by your bed and…oh, there’s a message for you sent down from the radio office. Now I’ll leave you to get dressed.’

  She opened her eyes then stared at him. He seemed entirely undisturbed by his night awake. Perhaps the lines around his eyes were a little deeper, but he still looked confident, in charge of the situation.

  She sat up. Then she remembered that when she had gone to bed she hadn’t bothered with a nightie. Hastily, she scrambled under the sheets again. But not before she had seen the gleam of appreciation in his eyes.

  ‘I’ll go and talk to Kate until you’re ready,’ he said. ‘Or, more likely, I’ll shout down the corridor at her so as to keep things sterile. See you when you’re ready.’

  She drank half her coffee and then reached for the message. Who could it be from? She’d never had a cable before.

  Her morning was spoiled at once—the message was from ex-boyfriend Brian. Why couldn’t he leave her alone? She skimmed the contents, though she knew what they’d be. I can’t believe what you said to me…Remember what we had? Remember you telling me you loved me? This will go on for ever…I love you and that is all that matters…Need to get together so we can sort things out…You know you’ll have to see me…I’ll get a job and then…Madeleine, I am serious…

  The message was timed—how could he have sent a message at three that morning? Then she remembered that one of the things he did was to sleep during the day and contact her in the middle of the night. Just because he felt like it.

  She felt resentment and fear welling up in her. This was what happened when you put your trust in men. In love. One sad thing was that she did remember what they’d had. It had been so good and it had turned out so bad.

  So, back to her resolve. No more contact with men. Then she thought about Ed. Like Brian, he was determined, too. But Ed was different. He could see another person’s point of view. Couldn’t he?

  She screwed up the message, slid it into her bedside cabinet. Then she finished her coffee, though it didn’t seem so good now. She dressed and then felt the beginnings of a slight headache. Strange, she hadn’t had one before. Still, there was work to be done.

  She found Ed in the corridor. He turned to her and smiled but she couldn’t work up any enthusiasm to greet him. ‘What do you want me to do now?’ she asked.

  She might have guessed—he detected her change in mood at once. ‘Are you sure you’re all right?’ he asked. ‘You seem a little out of sorts.’

  ‘There’s nothing wrong with me,’ she snapped. ‘I’ve just got a job to do.’

  ‘Not bad news from your message?’

  ‘I told you, Ed, I’m fine, really. The message was from…an old friend. He wants to get in touch. Perhaps I’m just a bit tired still.’

  But she knew he didn’t believe her.

  They worked steadily for the next four hours and after a while she thought she saw some progress. Just a little, not much. Fewer people were now falling sick. One or two of the first to fall ill now appeared to be recovering. It was encouraging—just.

  They were still a good team but the old camaderie with Ed had gone. The message from Brian had scared her. She knew that no one could be less like Brian than Ed. But she had decided to abandon all hopes of an emotional relationship with a man and Brian’s call had reawakened this decision. So she and Ed worked well together, but there was no longer the old feeling of joy in their joint work.

  They ate when they could, apparently surviving on a diet of coffee and chocolate. And then, midmorning, Ed said, ‘I think we can take a fifteen-minute break. Things are easing up. We’ve been spending too much time in sickrooms and air-conditioned corridors. We need real air. We’ll go on deck for a while.’

  So they went on deck and it was exhilarating. The waves were breaking against the ship’s hull and the wind was as strong as ever. A gust made her stagger, and he put his arm around her back to steady her. It was just a friendly gesture, but his arm felt warm and strong and she liked it. And it seemed to stay there a little longer than was strictly necessary.

  ‘Look,’ he said, pointing to where there was a little gathering of white buildings on the coastline. ‘That’s Penhally Bay.’ Then he pointed to a little boat being bounced about in an alarming fashion by the waves. ‘See that fishing boat? Well, I’ll bet my father’s on it. It’ll be Jerry Buchan bringing him out, the man who brought Kate last night.’

  ‘Is it a good idea, coming out in this weather?’

  Ed grinned ruefully. ‘Probably not a good idea. And he could have done everything necessary by phone. But being Nick Tremayne, he has to come out in person. Especially as Kate is here.’

  ‘And you respect him for it, don’t you?’

  ‘I suppose I do. And I also suppose that in his shoes I’d have done the same thing. Look, he won’t be long getting here. Let’s go down to the landing platform and meet him.’

  As before, they were told by the crew to wait safely on deck, while crewmen helped Nick out of the wildly pitching fishing boat and up the steps towards them. Then Maddy witnessed the apparently emotionless meeting between the two men.

  ‘How’s the job going, Ed?’

  ‘We’re coping. We’ve had two deaths, one unrelated.’

  ‘Right. You’re tired?’

  ‘I’m still on top of things.’

  A curt nod from his father. ‘What I would have expected. Now, I’ve got to see the captain. Want to come with me?’

  ‘Maddy comes, too,’ said Ed. ‘This has been a joint effort.’

  ‘Of course she comes, too. Now, let’s go.’

  Maddy wondered if the two knew just how much they were alike. She also wondered if they ever showed the deep love that she suspected was between them. For the Tremayne family, it seemed that emotions were to be kept strictly under control. But she was sure they were there.

  But was it her business? Did she want to know more about Ed’s emotions?

  CHAPTER SIX

  NICK knew that probably it shouldn’t have been, but his first thought was for his son. Nick was one of the few men who could guess what Ed had just been through. Who could guess what hurt he must have felt. A gastroenteritis outbreak. The sights, the smell, the sounds, all must have come crashing back on him. Not a lot of men could have stood that.

  A small smile of paternal pride touched Nick’s lips as he looked at his obviously weary son. Ed might be weary but he was confident and he was in charge of the situation. He was a Tremayne.
Of course, Nick was not going to say anything. But he was proud of his son.

  They were now sitting in the captain’s cabin. They were handed coffee and then the captain said, ‘I’ve been in touch with our head office and with Dr Tremayne here. Dr Tremayne, I’d like you to review the situation.’

  Nick said, ‘I’ve been phoned by the relevant port authorities, and the ship must remain in quarantine for another forty-eight hours at least. Yesterday, last night and this morning I worked on trying to identify the cause of the disease. Ed was right. It is bacterial in origin, not a virus. But it’s a completely new strain, a very powerful one, there’ll be a lot of people taking an interest in it. Still, this makes no difference to the treatment. Now, I’ve come here in person to look around, help if possible and then accompany my midwife back to shore. The midwife I didn’t know had come out here.’

  He looked severely at Ed, who looked serenely back.

  Nick went on, ‘The Met Office has said that the gale has almost blown itself out and conditions should rapidly improve. The navy has offered to help. They’ve liaised with the cruise line and later this afternoon one of the navy’s smaller boats will come and take off the new baby and her parents. At the same time they’ll bring out a small team of nurses and another doctor.’

  ‘Who’s the other doctor?’ asked Ed.

  ‘A Dr Wyatt. Apparently she’s not long out of medical school, but she gained an excellent pass.’

  ‘What is her experience of dealing with an epidemic?’

  ‘As far as I know, none at all,’ Nick said flatly. ‘I didn’t procure the doctor. The cruise line did.’

  ‘This isn’t work for a new doctor.’ Ed said. ‘I think I should stay in charge for a while longer.’

  There was a silence and then the captain said, ‘I would like you to stay. It’d be foolish to change responsibilities in the middle of the situation. As head of the practice, do you agree, Dr Tremayne?’

  ‘I do,’ Nick said after a short pause. ‘Ed should stay a while longer. You can arrange this with the line?’