For the past three months, Audra had held the firm conviction that something would turn up eventually, and now, as she came to a stop outside Matron’s office, she wondered if it finally had materialized. She tugged at her cuffs to straighten them, smoothed her hands over her starched white apron, then knocked on the frosted-glass panel of the door. At Matron’s bidding she went in.
Margaret Lennox sat behind her large, paper-strewn desk.
She was wearing the navy-blue tailored dress and small white muslin cap that signified the highest nursing rank in the hierarchy of every hospital, and she seemed more formidable than ever. But Audra knew from experience that this stern-looking woman had generosity and warmth and the kindest of hearts.
Matron raised her eyes. She smiled at the sight of Audra, who was a particular favourite of hers, for whom she had a great deal of respect and not a little admiration. She was fully aware of Audra’s history from the hospital files, and she never ceased to marvel at this girl’s strength of character.
‘Ah Audra,’ she began pleasantly, ‘do come in and sit down. I have a matter to discuss with you.’
‘Yes, Matron.’ Audra stepped up to the desk briskly, and lowered herself onto the wooden chair where she sat straight-backed as always, her hands clasped in her lap. Her wide blue eyes were riveted on the matron’s face.
Margaret Lennox glanced at the letter in her hand, then put it down on the desk. ‘Well, Audra, I think I might have a position for you in Leeds.’
A look of delight flew onto Audra’s face and she opened her mouth to speak.
But before she could say anything, Matron lifted her hand, exclaimed, ‘Just a moment! Don’t get too excited… at least not yet. I must explain that this is not the type of nursing job you’ve been looking for, Audra. It’s not in a hospital, I’m afraid.’
‘Oh,’ Audra said. ‘I see,’ and her face fell.
‘I know you’re disappointed that I have not been able to get you situated somewhere appropriate,’ Matron went on in a sympathetic way. ‘However, I do think you should consider this private position, especially since you are so very anxious to move to Leeds.’
‘Of course I will, Matron.’
‘Good girl. Now, Audra, I have had a letter from a Mrs Irène Bell, who is the wife of a well-known Leeds solicitor. She’s looking for a nanny, and has contacted me about finding a suitable candidate here at the hospital. Naturally, Audra, I thought of you at once.’
Matron Lennox then went on to explain that she had originally met Mrs Bell through her work with the suffragette movement before the Great War, and that they had remained friendly over the years. Then she continued, ‘I cannot speak highly enough of Mrs Bell. She is a unique woman and I have a strong feeling you and she would be most compatible. In any event, from what she says in her letter, it’s not a difficult job. There is only one child to look after, a little boy of five years. The other three children are grown up, away at school I believe.’ Matron’s brow lifted questioningly. ‘What do you think, Audra? Are you interested?’
Audra had been listening avidly, and she knew she would be foolish if she turned down this opportunity without investigating it further. So she immediately said, ‘Yes, I am, Matron.’
Matron nodded, as though confirming something to herself, and said, ‘I am confident you can handle a job such as this with the greatest of ease.’ She sat back, brought her hands together and steepled her fingers, contemplated Audra over them for a few moments, before remarking: ‘You have such a wonderful way with children, I know you will do well as a nanny. But you are an extraordinary nurse, Audra, a true healer, and that’s rare. Don’t ever forget that you have this remarkable ability… one might even call it a gift.’
‘No, I won’t,’ Audra said, flushing with pleasure. She murmured her thanks to Matron for her kind words and the confidence she expressed in her.
Margaret Lennox went on, ‘I did have special plans for you here at the hospital, Audra, and I had envisaged promotions coming your way quickly.’ She smiled at the young woman with obvious fondness, then lifted her shoulders in a small resigned shrug. ‘Well, there we are… I for one shall be most sorry to see you go, if you do decide to leave, Audra. But, as I’ve told you all along, I would never presume to stand in your way.’
‘Yes, I know that, Matron, and I do appreciate everything you’ve done for me.’
Matron half-smiled, finished in a more businesslike tone, ‘I will call Mrs Bell today, and arrange for you to go over to Leeds for an interview. I’ll let you know the details as soon as I have them. In the meantime, you had better return to your duties on the ward, Audra.’
‘Yes, Matron,’ Audra said, standing up. ‘Thank you again.’
***
She was on her way to Leeds.
To meet Mrs Irène Bell of Calpher House, Upper Armley.
Audra had the feeling that this was going to be an auspicious occasion. She laughed at herself under her breath. It was only an interview for a job after all. On the other hand, if everything went well there would be big changes in her life at long last. It might even be the beginning of a brand new life.
This thought brought an extra spring to her step as she crossed the Market Place in Ripon, making her way towards the small country railway station on North Road. Audra’s eyes sparkled with such radiant light, and there was such a glow on her fresh young face this morning, several people turned to look at her as she passed them by. But she did not notice this. Nor was she conscious of the weather. It was a harsh day, exceptionally cold, and the sky was sullen, laden with snow. But it might have been the middle of spring for all she knew, or cared, so intent was she in her purpose. She was also filled with anticipation and excitement. A week ago she had never heard of the Bell family, and now, here she was, journeying half-way across Yorkshire to seek a post with them.
What if she did not like the Bells?
At this thought her step faltered, but only for a split second. Stepping out as briskly as before, she told herself she would make a polite excuse and leave at once if the people at Calpher House did not appear to be suitable employers.
The ticket collector at the station gave Audra a cheerful greeting as he punched her ticket and handed her the return stub. He touched his cap politely, and she nodded in acknowledgement, then hurried down the platform where the Leeds-bound train was already standing, puffing out steam and hooting. She boarded it swiftly and went into the first empty First Class carriage she saw. She took a corner seat near the window with only a few minutes to spare before the guard blew his whistle and the train shunted out.
Audra soon began to realize that it was warmer in the carriage than she had anticipated. She pulled off her grey woollen gloves and unbuttoned her coat, then settled back, making herself comfortable for the journey.
Audra knew she looked smart today.
For her trip to Leeds she had chosen to wear her best grey Melton topcoat. Although it had been purchased in a sale and was already two years old, it was still fashionable, a wrap-around style with long, rolled lapels fastening at the hip with a huge button. Underneath the coat she had on a straight skirt made of grey wool and a matching grey jumper that came down over her hips. Together they created a slender tube-like effect, and she believed that this long line and her black court shoes with Cuban heels made her look taller; this pleased Audra who was always trying to gain a few inches. Her only jewellery was her mother’s cameo brooch, which she had pinned onto the front of her jumper, and her treasured watch.
When Audra had been visiting Gwen in September, her friend had given her a cloche made of plum-coloured brushed felt. ‘My worst buy ever!’ Gwen had said when she had shown the hat to Audra. ‘It’s like a pea on a drum. I look awful in it, but I bet it suits you to a T, lovey.’ Gwen had been quite correct. The cloche was perfect on Audra, and she had been happy and grateful to accept it, had treasured the hat for a special occasion such as this.
But now she wondered if the hat was too frivo
lous for the interview with Mrs Bell, and she opened her bag, took out her mirror. Her reflection reassured her at once. The cloche, which was very much the rage, gave her a stylish up-to-date look, and the rich plum tone of the felt added just the right touch of necessary colour to her all-grey ensemble. Her clothes were sober and dignified, and she felt sure she would make a good impression on Mrs Irène Bell.
As the train rumbled on through the Dales towards Leeds, Audra’s thoughts stayed with the woman she was going to see; she began to review the few things she had gleaned about her from Matron, turning them over in her mind.
It was Audra’s understanding that Irène Bell was a successful business woman who had a strong intellectual bent and was something of a blue stocking. She was devoted to furthering the cause of women’s rights, and had always been a staunch disciple of the Pankhurst women who had done so much for female emancipation. According to Matron, Mrs Bell was also a great admirer of Nancy Astor, the American married to Lord Astor who was the first woman to sit in Parliament. Actively involved in politics herself, Mrs Bell was seemingly a tireless worker for the Tory Party in Leeds, with many of her own political ambitions—especially regarding Parliament.
There was no doubt in Audra’s mind that she was obviously an unusual and interesting woman, and one who was quite different from any she had ever met. Except for Margaret Lennox, of course, who was a true original, and whom Audra revered, even idealized.
Gazing out of the train window, hardly aware of the fields and hedges speeding by, Audra attempted to visualize Mrs Bell in her mind’s eye. Since she had been a friend of Matron’s for many years and had grown-up children, Audra reasoned she must be a woman in her middle forties. Instantly she was confronted by the image of a stern and somewhat severe person, perhaps resembling Matron, and one who was a model of organization and efficiency.
Audra arrived at this last conclusion because of the tone of the letter she had received from Mrs Bell earlier in the week. It was detailed and explicit, and her instructions for getting to Calpher House, Upper Armley, left nothing whatsoever to chance. It struck Audra, and for the second time in the last few days, that Mrs Bell must be an exceptionally thoughtful woman, since she had sent her a First Class rail ticket instead of a cheaper one, as might have been expected under the circumstances. This was a truly considerate gesture, and one which certainly seemed to augur well for the future, at least to Audra’s way of thinking. She suddenly realized how curious she was about Irène Bell, and just how much she was looking forward to meeting her.
***
Punctuality was one of Audra’s strong suits, and she always became agitated if she was late. Throughout the journey, she had glanced at her watch, praying that the train would be on time. Much to her relief it was. It pulled into Leeds City Station at exactly one minute to two, early, in point of fact, by sixty seconds.
Once she had left the bleak and grimy railway station, Audra was plunged into a whirl of traffic and pedestrians hurrying about their business. For a second or two the strident noise and the feverish bustle of the greatest industrial city in the North of England startled and overwhelmed her. The cacophony of sounds was a deafening contrast to the bucolic calm of sleepy, rural Ripon.
But since nothing ever fazed Audra Kenton for very long she adjusted relatively quickly to her surroundings. After only a brief pause, she sucked in her breath, threw her shoulders back and brought her head up to a proud angle, ready and set to brave anything in this exciting new world awaiting her.
Tucking her handbag tightly under her arm, she walked purposefully across the road to City Square, where the statue of the Black Prince on his charger dominated the scene. She found the tram stop she wanted without any difficulty, and after a ten-minute wait in a small queue she followed the people ahead of her onto a tramcar going to Whingate. This was the terminus in Upper Armley where the tram turned around to go back to the city. Mrs Bell had told her to stay on the car all the way to the end of the line.
Half an hour later, Audra alighted from the double-decker tram, which she had thoroughly enjoyed riding on, and she stood for a moment, looking around her with burgeoning interest. After all, she might soon be living here.
To her right was the tiny wedge of a park enclosed by spike-topped black iron railings and a neatly-clipped privet hedge; Mrs Bell had said that it had the curious name of Charlie Cake Park. To her left was a huge red brick building, sprawling out behind a low brick wall, and she assumed this to be West Leeds Boys’ High School.
Audra knew exactly which way she had to go now.
She began to walk ahead at a brisk pace, glancing at the scenery and taking everything in with keenly observing eyes. She saw at once that the village of Upper Armley was picturesque and that it had a quaint Victorian charm. And despite the darkly-mottled sky, sombre and presaging snow, and a landscape bereft of greenery, it was easy to see how pretty it must be in the summer weather.
Following Mrs Bell’s instructions, which she had committed to memory days ago, Audra hurried up Greenhill Road in the direction of Hill-Top, the area where the Bell home was located.
It was a nippy afternoon, very blustery, and she had to hold onto her little cloche as she struggled forward, buffeted by the wind that whistled down over the hill with icy ferocity. Audra was shivering when she reached the crest of the hill and drew to a stop in front of a pair of tall and imposing wrought-iron gates upon which hung a large lozenge-shaped plaque. This was made of brass that had been rubbed up to a glittering sheen. It was inscribed with the name Calpher House in fancy scroll letters and it told her she had reached her destination.
CHAPTER 7
Mrs Irène Bell bore no resemblance to the image Audra had conjured up in her mind. The woman who walked towards her down the long stretch of luxurious Turkey carpet was tall, lissom, very smart, and she had the brightest, reddest of auburn hair. This had been cut in a sleek and fashionable bob, then shaped into a fringe above pencilled brows and velvety brown eyes that shone with great brilliance. High cheekbones and a slender aristocratic nose were peppered with freckles; a rather wide mouth was outlined in scarlet lipstick.
Irène Bell was stunning; and she had an arresting personal style that was highly dramatic.
She took swift strides through the handsome blue-and-white living room, filled with antiques, where Audra stood waiting, and there was something reminiscent of the bold tomboy in her manner, the way she moved. In fact, her looks had a marked hoydenish quality; she also appeared to be much younger than a woman in her mid-forties. The red wool-jersey dress she wore underscored her intrinsic youthfulness with its long, loose-fitting bodice and pleated skirt, rather short, that swung around her splendid legs.
Audra, sharp eyed, recognized the dress at once. She had seen a photograph of it only last week in an old summer issue of Harper’s Bazaar, which she had bought at the second-hand bookstall in Ripon market. It had been designed by a young French couturière called Gabrielle Chanel, who was currently all the vogue.
‘Hello! Hello!’ Mrs Bell exclaimed, gliding to a stop, thrusting her hand towards her visitor. ‘So very pleased to meet you, Miss Kenton.’
Audra took the proffered hand, then found her own being squeezed in the tightest of grips. ‘Good afternoon, Mrs Bell. I’m happy to meet you, too.’
Giving her a warm and winning smile, continuing to hold her hand, Irène Bell drew Audra forward to the two huge sofas which were positioned opposite each other in front of the fireplace. ‘So very good of you to travel all this way, Miss Kenton. And in this frightful weather. Yes, so very good of you indeed. Do, do sit here. Yes, yes, next to the fire. Warm yourself after your journey. Cook is preparing hot chocolate. Cora will bring it up shortly. I do hope you like hot chocolate. Would you prefer tea? Or coffee, perhaps?’
‘The chocolate would be lovely, thank you very much,’ Audra said, seating herself tentatively on the edge of the blue velvet sofa. Her keen eyes rested on Mrs Bell, who sat down on the other one.
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Now that she was seeing her close up, Audra realized that she had not been wrong about Irène Bell’s age after all. She was definitely a woman in her mid-forties, but very well preserved and exquisitely groomed. Although there were tell-tale lines of age around her eyes and her mouth, these were fine, hardly discernible; she had kept her figure and there was no visible grey in her fiery hair, which was quite obviously natural, not dyed. And her vivacity, her energetic way of moving and speaking with intensity and swiftness, somehow added to the impression of youthfulness she projected.
Intuitively, Audra knew that she was going to like this woman, even though she had only been in her presence for a few minutes. There was something open and easy, honest and down-to-earth about Mrs Bell, and Audra found herself responding to her on a variety of levels. She sat back, instantly relaxing, feeling suddenly comfortable here at Calpher House. And she, who was usually so shy, so reserved with strangers, was perfectly at ease with Mrs Bell.
Irène Bell crossed her long and elegant legs, and focused her dark intelligent eyes on Audra, assessing her, yet without really appearing to do so.
She said in her light, gay voice, ‘In some ways I do feel rather foolish, Miss Kenton. Asking you to come for an interview like this. Matron Lennox spoke so highly about you, gave you such a wonderful reference, I actually thought of engaging you over the telephone. Without even bothering to meet you personally.’
Laughing as though at herself, her velvet eyes glowed with humour as she added, ‘But then I realized how unfair that would be to you, Miss Kenton. After all, it is important for you to like us. For you to want to live and work here at Calpher House. I knew I must give you the opportunity to come here and look us over.’
Irène Bell laughed again, leaned back, rested one elbow on the pile of silk cushions, and continued to study Audra discreetly, not wishing to embarrass her. She was intrigued by the young woman who sat before her, who handled herself with such grace and dignity. Margaret Lennox had painted a charming verbal picture of her, and the Matron had obviously not exaggerated. Audra Kenton was smaller than she had expected her to be, even delicate looking, but she was not terribly concerned about physical stamina. Strength of character, refinement, morality and a pleasant personality were her chief considerations when it came to selecting and engaging a nanny. This girl had every one of these qualities, and more, according to Margaret, whose judgement she trusted.
Act of Will Page 7