It seemed strange to Felicity that there could have been any question of minding, but matching her mood to Sister’s she spoke. “Of course not.”
“Apparently Matron has agreed to your stopping until Mr. Brenton is quite settled. You must try not to mind this unavoidable break in your work, in the same way as I shall have to manage without you—it’s extremely upsetting for me, short-handed as we are, but Matron is kindly allowing Nurse Mendel from Perins Ward to come and help me.”
“I’m sure you will manage quite well,” Felicity murmured, feeling that some comment was expected from her.
“I’ll miss Mr. Brenton, the poor lad has been a wonderful patient, a bit irritable at times, but then we know how men resent any sickness or disability. I’m sure that, although he says so little, he has appreciated all we have done for him, it’s been—”
The rest of Sister’s eloquence was entirely lost to Felicity, she knew that she would go on interminably unless she could find some way to divert her. Seizing a chance to break in, Felicity began, “In case we leave in the morning, there are quite a few things I must clear up first, you wanted me to help you change number nine’s bed, didn’t you?—and that splint of Tyler’s, we said we’d do it tomorrow, would you like to get it fixed tonight?”
“Yes, yes of course, dear, I’d quite forgotten—we mustn’t waste time talking, you don’t know how I’m going to miss you. Nurse Mendel is all very well but she doesn’t know my methods and I expect I’ll have to run round her the whole time—”
Felicity was subjected to a long discourse on the merits and demerits of other staff nurses while she and Sister Robinson attended to the matters on hand. Apart from an occasional word to the patient which usually consisted of some childish coaxing or encouragement, the discourse was unbroken and when that subject was exhausted Sister fell back bemoaning Felicity’s imagined fate in having to leave the sheltered atmosphere of John Mason Ward for the unknown terrors of Buckinghamshire!
At last Felicity was free to round off the last tasks of the day. Sister’s endless chatter had slowed down the work and now it would be a real scramble to get finished; she was still flushed from her efforts when she entered Guy Brenton’s room and was infinitely relieved to find that O’Brien had got the patient back to bed and left everything reasonably shipshape.
“Sorry I couldn’t get along before,” Felicity apologized as she advanced to Guy Brenton’s side. “But I see that you haven’t been neglected. I wanted to give Sister a hand with one or two things as I’ll not be here tomorrow.”
“Well, the excuse is at least a new one,” Guy Brenton grumbled. “I’m rather tired of hearing the usual explanation about Sister’s half-day, she seems to be off most days according to you.” The smile which accompanied the words belied their meaning.
“Nonsense, anyone would think you were neglected, you are the most spoilt patient in St. Edwin’s,” Felicity retorted as she straightened the sheet and gave it an extra tuck.
“Leave me alone and stop messing the bed about,” he protested. “Thank goodness I’ll be out of this place by this time tomorrow, although I’ll still have you fussing round me—so it won’t be quite as peaceful as I’d hoped,” he interposed, then added as if as an afterthought, “I can’t think what possessed me to suggest taking you along.”
“Just a momentary flash of genius.” Even as she spoke Felicity was struck with the amazing sense of ease she could now feel in this man’s presence. It seemed unbelievable that she had ever stood in awe of him; although not so scared as most of her fellow nurses, she had still had to admit to a certain degree of fear. He would always instil a deep respect, he was that type, but she knew she had come to a closer understanding of him than she would ever have believed possible.
“I hope you realize that from the moment I shake the dust of this place from my heels, then—no more coddling. What’s more, I refuse to be taken home like an ailing child or a halfwit. In other words I won’t tolerate your tender solicitude, I’ll make no touching picture of a side man supported by the strong arm of a devoted nurse. Kindly discard uniform, behave like a normal woman and for the time being try to forget your noble calling.”
“Yes, sir,” Felicity agreed demurely. “I promise, but I do hope you’ve been getting on your feet a bit today, you remember the steps down from the main hall are fairly steep and I’d hate to see you stumble, an undignified exit from St. Edwin’s would be quite out of character.” Without giving him a chance to reply she crossed to the door. “You seem to have all you need for the night. If you’ll excuse me, I still have several things to do. Nurse Jones will bring in your supper tray...” She paused, and throwing off the air of levity she had been adopting, spoke more seriously. “Please don’t bully her, she was nearly crying after she brought in your tea—you’ve got her so scared she just doesn’t know what she’s doing.”
“That red-headed girl?”
“The colour of her doesn’t matter, the trouble is that her eyes match her hair every time she has been near you.”
“She is utterly clumsy and inefficient.”
“She is frightened, that’s all—shouting at her just makes her worse.”
“Oh well”—he heaved himself up against the pillows and threw Felicity a disarming smile—“can’t you explain to the girl how harmless I am really?”
“It wouldn’t be entirely true.” Felicity’s tone was firm but Guy Brenton’s smile had entirely melted her and at that moment it was difficult to make herself believe that any nurse could be flustered by such a completely amicable and charming personality.
CHAPTER TEN
Since Diana was quite as eager as Felicity to get on with the latter’s packing it was more or less by mutual consent that what was to have been a celebration meal ended up by being a plate of tepid sheperd’s pie in the nurses’ dining hall. They hadn’t even lingered in the Common Room for a coffee and a chat with their fellow nurses, but had immediately repaired to the privacy of Felicity’s bedroom.
“I don’t believe the news has leaked out yet,” Diana commented as she stubbed out the end of her cigarette and opening Felicity’s cupboard door critically surveyed the rows or clothes hanging neatly on hangers. “You’d have been bombarded with questions if it had. St. Edwin’s is slipping up, what’s happened to the news service?” she enquired with a laugh, then, not awaiting Felicity’s reply and suddenly recalled to the task in hand, exclaimed with enthusiasm: “What a wonderful collection of clothes, why, I can’t believe my eyes! Three—no, four, suits—dresses galore and even a choice of evening clothes! You lucky thing, where do you get them all?”
“I had so much when I first came—a lot of things were ready for my trousseau, fashions haven’t changed so much, especially in tailor-mades—and even the dinner frocks are much the same for that matter.” Felicity crossed the small room to stand beside her friend at the open cupboard. “I haven’t had much chance to wear my clothes, one seems to spend one’s life in uniform, except for odd week-ends and a yearly holiday.”
“What lovely things!” Diana exclaimed with admiration as she fingered a heavy floral silk, then passed on to the closer scrutiny of a slickly cut suit in fine barathea. “You are lucky, you must have had heaps of money what on earth made you take up nursing?”
“I thought you knew. I suppose we were what people call wealthy, but I couldn’t stay on at home after Father died. Neither Tony nor I cared for our stepfather. I only remained on after Tony went abroad because I was expecting to marry, but when Peter died, I had to earn a living. All my father’s estate was willed to my mother during her lifetime and Tony and I had just a small allowance. Now Tony keeps sending me money, although I’m constantly telling him I don’t need it.”
“Heard from him lately?” Diana enquired conversationally while still engrossed in examining each garment in turn.
“He never misses writing once a week.” Felicity smiled and there was warmth in her voice as she continued, “His last letter was
absolutely thrilling, he says he is keeping all his real news as a surprise but there is no doubt the farm is a success.” She paused and there was a far-away expression in her blue eyes as she went on, “I can easily read his secret between the lines, I believe that he’s doing marvellously and I feel sure that, before long, he’ll be asking me to join him.”
The unexpected statement took Diana’s attention momentarily away from the cupboard. “You mean you will go out to him? Oh, how wonderful, a fruit farm in California, it would be my idea of heaven!”
Felicity was silent while she pulled an empty suit-case from beneath her bed and slowly threw back the lid. “I want to see Tony again more than anything in the world, I’m thrilled that he has done so well.” She paused, obviously trying to put her thoughts into words. “It’s rather difficult to explain—of course I should never tell him—but sometimes I wonder if I could ever be really happy away from England. If only his farm were here, here in the heart of the English countryside.” There was an obvious note of longing in her voice.
Diana laughed at her companion’s intensity. “Don’t be silly, you don’t know how lucky you are, you’ll love it once you get there. I was brought up in the States; true I was only a kid when I left, but I remember enough to know I’d give anything to get back.” Diana, tiring of the subject, turned her attention back to the matter of clothes. “Now tell me, what do you think you ought to take?”
“Certainly not much,” Felicity laughed. “A couple of frocks, and ‘one and one off’ of everything else! I’ll only be there a day or two and although Mr. Brenton stipulated that I should travel in mufti, he’ll probably expect me to don uniform once I’m in the house.”
“Yes, I suppose so.” Diana was obviously giving the matter close thought. “Still, you can’t be sure about that, nor, for that matter, how many days you’ll actually be there, there will be loads of room in that suit-case, so you may as well be prepared for all emergencies.” She ran her eyes speculatively along the row of hanger. “I suggest you travel in that black suit—it’s neat but not gaudy, as they say”—she laughed, then went on—“and I suggest a dinner frock for the evenings, then perhaps one evening dress—after all, you never know,” she added hastily as she saw that Felicity was about to protest.
After considerable good-natured argument Diana got her way about most things; it seemed much easier to give in and she obviously so enjoyed her role as packer and adviser that Felicity hadn’t the heart to remonstrate. There were further cries of admiration from Diana as she went through Felicity’s trunk, closely packed with those dainty articles of her trousseau which had obviously been quite unsuitable for hospital wear. “I just couldn’t take that,” Felicity protested feebly as Diana commenced to fold a soft blue velvet house-gown and its slippers to match.
“Why not? The trouble with you is that you’ve forgotten what it’s like to live in high society—how you’ve had the strength of mind to keep these things hidden away all this time I just can’t think.”
“It was ages and ages before I could even bear to look at them,” Felicity admitted. “Then, I just made myself be sensible and unpacked the trunks in which I’d stowed them away. But there hasn’t been much opportunity to wear any of them, even on holiday they weren’t any use, don’t forget we’ve spent our last two holidays hiking in Wales—crepe de chine undies and a velvet house-coat would have been horribly out of place in a rucksack!”
“You’re hopeless!” Diana laughed. “I’d have found an opportunity to wear things like this somehow or other. You are lucky, you can’t imagine how I envy you.” There was no real malice in her words, only good-natured banter.
“I wish you’d have some—here, take this—and these.” Felicity thrust a satin slip and some hand-embroidered chiffon garments into her hands. “Do take them, they’ll only rot if I keep them packed away much longer.”
“You really mean it?” Diana’s creamy skin flushed with pleasure. “You angel! I only hope you didn’t expect a polite refusal because you aren’t going to get it!” She smoothed out the garments and folding each one separately placed them carefully on one side. “Now what about the rest of your things, what undies are you going to take?”
“I should leave the rest, you must be tired and I’ll have plenty of time in the morning.”
Without rising from her kneeling position before the suit» case, Diana turned to address her companion. “What did Matron have to say when you saw her this evening?”
“Full of good advice, of course,” Felicity smiled. “Told me all the ‘do’s and don’ts’ of private nursing, most of which I think I knew. She obviously highly disapproved of any nurse other than her special outdoor staff doing the job, but I suppose she could hardly refuse Mr. Brenton. She graciously granted me tomorrow morning ‘off and said I was to be ready in the entrance hall at two—oh, of course, she disapproves of mufti but relies on my good sense to behave myself as becomes a member of her staff.” Felicity’s cheeks dimpled provocatively, as she mimicked Matron’s tight-lipped voice. “I didn’t enjoy one single moment of the interview except the bit when she said we wouldn’t leave until after lunch and I could have a free morning.” She paused, then went on, “You see, I’ll have heaps of time to finish the last bits myself, you’ve been such a help, but I really think you ought to get off now—do you realize it’s nearly eleven?”
Diana stretched her arms above her head in a prodigious yawn as she rose to her feet. “I think I will turn in—I suppose I ought to say au revoir, I doubt if I shall see you tomorrow, we’ve got a formidable theatre list and I’m due for first lunch. I expect you’ll have a ‘lie-in’, I won’t get a chance to come over and I’ll be back in theatre by the time you leave.”
After an affectionate farewell and all sorts of advice serious and otherwise, Diana departed, leaving Felicity to her own devices. Mechanically she tidied up the littered room, lifted her half-packed suit-case to a chair and set out her clothes ready for the morning.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
“Mr. Brenton’s car is ready, Miss, and I’ve put the suitcases in the back.” The hospital porter addressed Felicity as she stood ready in the entrance hall.
“Then please ring through to Sister, John Mason Ward and tell her,” Felicity instructed him. “She’ll let Mr. Brenton know.” While the porter turned to his desk to carry out her request, Felicity walked towards the wide-opened doors. She felt ridiculously nervous, she couldn’t imagine why, but for the first time in her life she would have given anything to be wearing her familiar uniform, there was after all something comfortably inconspicuous about her worn navy coat and the plain felt hat which when pulled well forward could practically screen her face. The black suit, which a few moments ago had seemed so neat and suitable, now felt far too well fitting, the heels of her black shoes appeared to have grown inches higher and she was certain the discreet touch of lipstick must be obvious to all. With nervous tread she walked to the top of the broad stone steps. That must be the hired car, she hoped it had a careful driver, she wouldn’t dare caution him in front of Guy Brenton, that might be suggestive of the fussing he deplored, but since his concussion he was still liable to headaches and fast driving mightn’t be too good for him.
“So you are all ready?”
Felicity turned with an almost guilty start at the sound of Guy Brenton’s voice. It was so long since she’d seen him outside the confines of his small room that his tall figure, with an overcoat flung across his shoulders leaving the bandaged arm free, made him appear strangely unfamiliar, She was deeply conscious of his eyes appraising her, a knowledge which did nothing towards putting her at her ease.
“I hardly knew you—odd what a difference clothes made.” The words carried a hint of amusement but there was no mistaking the underlying note of admiration.
Sister Robinson retained a tight-lipped silence, but her very air of disapproval had the happy effect of strengthening Felicity’s flagging spirits. Guy Brenton had asked her not to look like
a nurse, well, she didn’t and her appearance out of uniform was nothing whatever to do with Sister Robinson! With an assumed attitude of nonchalance she turned to Sister. “Good-bye, Sister, I do hope Nurse Mendel will turn out all right, anyway, I expect I’ll be back quite soon.”
In spite of his very definite instructions, Guy Brenton made no demur when, descending the steps, Felicity put her hand lightly beneath his elbow. It was only when he had safely completed the descent that he seemed aware of the car.
“But this is my own car—I ordered a Daimler Hire!—”
He broke off to stare in complete amazement as the car door opened and Alaine Jason slipped from the driving seat and touched her hat mockingly, her face wreathed in smiles.
“Darling—isn’t this a wonderful surprise? I just had to keep it a secret! When I knew you were ready to leave St. Edwin’s, I hurried the garage up with the repairs so you should have your own car to go down in. I knew you couldn’t drive with your arm all tied up and I guessed. Nurse couldn’t, so I’ve fixed to have time off and I’m going to drive you down myself!”
Perhaps Felicity imagined it but she was sure that Guy Brenton stiffened beside her, and, as for herself she felt she had been suddenly plunged under a cold shower. She couldn’t imagine why it should matter so much, but it was as if Alaine’s unexpected appearance had suddenly blotted out the spring sunshine, as if clouds had gathered for a storm!
“Well, darling, say you’re glad,” Alaine, her face still alight with laughter, went on as she opened the door of the car. “You sit in front beside me, I’ve put my suit-case on the back seat but I’ve left plenty of room for Nurse—and a rug too, see, I’ve thought of everything,” she went on, as having seen him settled in the front seat, she slammed the door and turned her attention to Felicity who still stood as if rooted to the pavement beside the car! “You get in the back. You do look nice!” she added, staring at Felicity as if seeing her for the first time. “What a lovely suit—and that hat too, it’s just right! I said you were far too attractive to stick to the dreary job of nursing: with my practised eye, I spotted you were a beauty even in that hideous uniform.”
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