‘Oh, I’m fully recovered, thank you, Matron,’ Sister Sutton dismissed. ‘It was really a lot of fuss over nothing.’
‘Not according to Dr McKay. He says your kidney infection was very severe. He’s surprised you didn’t have any symptoms earlier?’
‘Well, you know me, Matron. I’m as strong as an ox.’
Are you? Kathleen wondered. The Home Sister certainly looked strong enough, her bulky body filling the doorway to her flat. But there was something oddly vulnerable about her that Kathleen had never noticed before.
‘That’s a relief, at any rate.’ She smiled. ‘May I come in?’
Sister Sutton looked startled. ‘Come in, Matron?’
‘I thought we might have a cup of tea together. If you have time, that is?’
‘Well, I do have to supervise that new maid –’ Sister Sutton’s hands twisted together, betraying her tension. ‘But of course, Matron,’ she said, remembering her manners. ‘Please come in.’
She seemed even more agitated inside her flat, ordering tea from the maid and fussing around plumping up cushions, even though her sitting room was immaculate.
‘Please don’t stand on ceremony on my account,’ Kathleen said. ‘This is purely a social call.’
‘Is it?’ Sister Sutton’s eyes were sharp.
‘Of course. Why else would I be here?’
The maid arrived, bringing the tea tray. Kathleen smiled to herself as Sister Sutton inspected it: snapping at the girl for not remembering a tray cloth, and sending her to fetch a clean spoon.
‘How is she settling in?’ Kathleen asked, when the maid had gone.
Sister Sutton sighed. ‘She tries hard, I suppose. But she’s not terribly quick on the uptake. Not like . . .’ She abruptly stopped speaking.
‘Not like Jess Jago?’ Kathleen finished for her. ‘You miss her, then?’
Sister Sutton nodded. ‘Very much. She seemed so bright and willing to me, I always thought some of the students could have learned something from her. But as it turned out, I was wrong.’ She stared down at the dog at her feet. ‘I still can’t quite bring myself to believe it,’ she said.
Neither can I, Kathleen thought. She had dismissed Effie O’Hara’s pleas from her mind, too preoccupied with other hospital matters to give them much thought. But she couldn’t forget what the student nurse had said. The idea that Jess Jago might have been unfairly accused played on her mind.
And since she had spoken to Dr McKay the previous evening, it had been weighing even more heavily on her.
Her gaze drifted up to the mantelpiece. ‘You have a lot of treasures,’ she remarked.
Sister Sutton smiled shyly. ‘I do like my little keepsakes,’ she said. ‘I know it’s a silly indulgence, but I’m rather fond of them. And I think they brighten the place up a bit.’
‘They certainly do. May I?’ Kathleen rose to her feet to inspect them. ‘I suppose you remember them all?’ she said.
‘Yes, of course,’ Sister Sutton replied. ‘Each one was a gift from a friend or a grateful patient, or else a souvenir of a place I’ve visited. They’re all memories, which is why I treasure them.’
Kathleen’s eye moved along the crowded rows of figurines, coloured glass and miniature models of landmarks, until she found what she was looking for, nestling behind a pair of coy-looking china children holding hands.
‘What about this one?’ she asked, picking up the leprechaun. ‘Was this a gift?’
Sister Sutton put down her cup and reached for her spectacles. ‘I’m not sure,’ she said. ‘I suppose it must have been, since I’ve never visited Ireland . . . yes, I think it was a present.’ She frowned at the figure in Kathleen’s hand, her face troubled. ‘How odd that I can’t recall who it was from. I can remember all the others perfectly.’
‘I don’t wonder you can’t recall it, since it was never given to you.’
The Home Sister’s head went back. ‘Whatever do you mean, Matron?’
‘I mean this ornament was taken from Nurse O’Hara’s room some time ago.’
Sister Sutton’s tiny dark eyes filled with alarm. ‘I hope you’re not saying – you don’t think I stole it?’
‘No, Sister, I don’t think that at all. But I do think you might have taken it without realising. And I think you might have taken other things, too.’
The Home Sister unhooked her spectacles and rubbed her eyes. Kathleen watched her carefully. She had expected her to react with outrage, but Sister Sutton seemed unsurprised, almost resigned.
‘Do you think you might have taken it, Sister?’ Kathleen prompted her gently.
‘I – I don’t know.’ Sister Sutton’s voice faltered. ‘I might have, but I really have no memory of it. My thoughts have been all over the place lately. I’ve found myself saying and doing the most extraordinary things . . .’ When she looked up at Kathleen, her broad face was creased in fear. ‘You’re right, Matron. I believe I did take those things. I have no recollection of it, but since Jess was accused, I have begun to wonder more and more whether she found the items and decided to return them to their owners.’
‘So she was telling the truth when she said she was putting them back?’ Kathleen spoke her thoughts aloud.
‘I believe she did it to protect me. And that’s why she didn’t speak up to clear her own name.’ Sister Sutton’s mouth trembled. ‘I’ve been so troubled by it, I wondered if I should say something myself. But having no recollection, I didn’t know if I was mistaken.’ She looked at the china leprechaun. ‘But I suppose this proves it,’ she sighed heavily. ‘I am a thief, and Jess Jago was innocent all along.’
Kathleen watched as Sister Sutton lumbered to her feet, her movements slow and stiff. The Home Sister seemed to have aged twenty years in the last five minutes.
‘I will hand in my resignation at once,’ she said with dignity. ‘I know I have no right to ask it of you, Matron, but I wonder if you would allow me some time to pack my belongings and find somewhere else to live? Although I will understand if, under the circumstances, you would prefer me to leave straight away.’
Kathleen stared at her in astonishment. ‘Sister Sutton, what are you talking about?’
‘Obviously I will have to leave now my – disgrace has come to light.’ Sister Sutton stood before her, holding herself upright, every inch the proud nurse. ‘You cannot have a thief in charge of the students. It would sully the respected name of the Nightingale Hospital.’
‘Sister, please sit down. I know you’re not a thief. You said yourself, you don’t even remember taking those things.’
‘And that makes it all the worse!’ Sister Sutton’s jowls wobbled. ‘Even if I am not a thief, then I am certainly no longer competent to do this job.’ There was a catch in her voice. ‘You don’t want an old woman like me here, blundering around, forgetting things and causing trouble. I have always said, the day I am more of a hindrance than a help is the day I hang up my uniform for the last time.’ Her hands shook as she fumbled with the strings of her apron. ‘I had hoped that wouldn’t be for some while. I’d always thought I might be able to live out my days here, being useful. But I can see now I was mistaken.’
‘Sister Sutton—’
‘Please, Matron, I don’t want any pity. I accept that this is the way things must be. You need a younger, more conscientious woman for this job. One whose mind isn’t letting them down.’
‘Sister Sutton! Will you please be quiet for a moment and listen to me?’ Kathleen cut her off. The Home Sister shut up immediately and stared at her, startled.
Kathleen took a breath, calming herself. ‘I don’t want you to go anywhere,’ she said. ‘Not just because the Nightingale is your home, but because I simply can’t imagine where I would find a woman who is more conscientious than you when it comes to looking after the students. And as for your mind letting you down, that was due to illness, not age. I had a word with Dr McKay last night, and he confirmed that it’s highly likely the kidney infection caused your confusi
on. Now you’re recovered, everything should return to normal.’
Sister Sutton looked perplexed. ‘So I’m not losing my marbles?’
Kathleen smiled. ‘I’m not sure Dr McKay would approve of that medical terminology, but no, you’re not losing your marbles. In fact, I daresay you’re sharper than the rest of us put together.’
The Home Sister was silent for a moment, considering this. ‘I can stay here then? I won’t have to leave?’ Her expression was dazed. ‘I was so worried about having to go to the home for retired nurses. I wasn’t sure how I’d cope . . .’
‘You won’t have to go anywhere, Sister Sutton,’ Kathleen reassured her. ‘This is your home for as long as you want it to be. As I said, I can’t imagine anyone who could keep order among the students better than you.’
‘Thank you, Matron. That means a great deal to me.’ Sister Sutton’s voice was choked.
‘I’m glad that’s settled, then.’
As Kathleen turned to go, Sister Sutton said, ‘What about Jess?’
Kathleen took a deep breath. ‘Ah, yes. I think we still have some amends to make to Miss Jago, don’t you?’
Chapter Forty-Seven
‘THERE YOU ARE, love. I reckon you’ll enjoy that one.’
‘I will if it’s anything like the last one you recommended.’ The woman smiled as Jess handed over the book, wrapped in brown paper.
‘And don’t forget, if you bring it back you can have a penny off the next book you buy.’
Jess turned to give the coins to Sam, who was watching her admiringly.
‘Do you have to do that?’ he asked.
‘What?’
‘Make me look bad.’ He grinned. ‘You’ve already doubled our takings in three weeks. My dad will give me the sack if you carry on like that.’
‘You’ll be leaving anyway once you pass those engineering exams.’
Jess turned away from him to sort out the box of books Sam’s father had dropped off that morning. It amazed her that neither he nor Sam had thought of grouping together books by the same author. How was anyone supposed to find their favourite if they were all muddled up together?
‘I mean it,’ Sam said. ‘You’re a natural.’
Jess pretended to study the spine of a book so he didn’t see her blush. ‘It was kind of you to offer me the job,’ she said. ‘There’s not many round here would give a chance to a thief.’
‘You ain’t a thief,’ he said. ‘Anyway, I couldn’t care less what other people say. I told you before, I make my own mind up about people. And I made my mind up about you a long time ago.’
Jess caught his admiring look, and smiled back at him. She still wasn’t sure if they were courting, but he’d taken her to the pictures – ‘just to cheer you up,’ as he’d said. She sensed he was going slowly, not sure how to approach her.
‘Are you all right?’ he asked.
‘’Course I am. Why do you ask?’
He shrugged. ‘You’ve always got a smile for the customers, but you seem so sad when you don’t think anyone’s watching.’
‘I’ve just got a lot on my mind, that’s all.’
‘Is it your family giving you trouble? Because you know my mum thinks the world of you. She’d be happy for you to lodge with us . . .’
‘What, live and work with you, you mean?’ Jess teased. ‘I dunno if I could stand it!’
‘I ain’t that bad!’
Jess shook her head. ‘It ain’t my family,’ she said. ‘I reckon I can put up with them by now.’
That had been the worst thing for her, having to go back to the hatcheries. Of course, Gladys had loved every minute of Jess’ humiliation, and never stopped crowing about it.
‘How the mighty are fallen, eh? What’s the matter, did your posh mates turn their backs on you? I said they would, didn’t I? I’ve a good mind not to take you in, after the way you’ve treated me.’
In the end she’d relented. Mainly because her aunts and uncles had pointed out that Jess was a Jago and belonged there, but also because Gladys knew she still owed Jess for saving her son’s life.
But that didn’t stop her humiliating her stepdaughter at every turn. ‘You’re a dark horse, ain’t you?’ she kept saying. ‘All those times you’ve made out you’re better than the rest of us, when it turns out you’re as light-fingered as our Cyril. You’re a true Jago all right, girl – your dad would be proud of you!’
‘So what’s wrong?’ Sam asked Jess. ‘Don’t tell me you’re bored of my company?’
‘Bored of standing here in the cold all day, listening to you flirting with the customers? Not likely!’
Jess stamped her feet and blew on her gloved hands to warm them up. September had brought a nasty chill to the air.
‘Tell you what, why don’t you go and have a cup of tea, warm yourself up?’ Sam said. ‘You might as well take a break before the rush starts.’
Jess looked up and down Columbia Road, near empty of shoppers on this grim, cold autumn afternoon. ‘Ta, I will,’ she said. ‘Let me know if all those customers get too much for you, won’t you?’
‘I’ll try not to be trampled in the rush,’ he joked.
She made her way to the café at the end of the street. Inside, the tables were crowded with stallholders like her, all trying to get warm. The room was enveloped in a pleasant fug of steam, and the smell of coffee and fried bacon hung in the air. It felt blissfully warm after being out in the cold. Jess took off her gloves and wrapped her hands around the steaming cup of tea.
She enjoyed working with Sam, and knew she should be grateful to have a job at all. But she dearly missed the hospital. She missed the order and routine, and the chatter of the nurses going to and from duty. She missed Sister Sutton and Sparky, and her bedroom lined with books. Most of all she missed being part of the whole Nightingale world.
She shook herself. This won’t do, Jess Jago, she thought. All that’s in the past, you can’t turn the clock back. It was only memories that made you sad.
There was a tall woman at the bookstall, browsing through the books. She didn’t seem like their usual class of customer: smartly dressed in a rust-coloured coat, a stylish felt hat pulled down low over her eyes.
Sam turned to greet Jess as she approached. He looked very pleased with himself, she noticed.
‘What are you smiling about?’ she asked. ‘Don’t tell me you’ve sold a book while I was gone?’
Sam’s grin widened. ‘Better than that. You’ve got a visitor.’
He jerked his head in the woman’s direction. As she turned, Jess found herself looking into a pair of calm grey eyes, and felt a shock of recognition.
‘Matron?’
‘Hello, Jess.’ Kathleen Fox smiled at her. She looked younger and more approachable out of her starched black uniform.
‘What are you doing here?’ A terrible thought struck her. ‘It’s not Sister Sutton, is it? Don’t tell me she’s ill again?’
‘Sister Sutton is quite well,’ Miss Fox assured her with a smile. ‘It’s you I’ve come to see.’
‘Me? Why?’
Before she could reply, Sam pulled off his leather money belt and handed it to Jess. ‘I’m going to take my tea break now. Leave you two to have a chat.’
‘Thank you, Sam.’ Matron smiled at him.
Jess frowned. Sam, was it? He’d obviously been getting acquainted with their visitor. She hoped he hadn’t tried flirting with her.
Jess watched him sauntering off up the street. And then she and the visitor were alone.
‘I suppose it must be a shock for you, seeing me here?’ Matron said.
‘I wasn’t expecting it, that’s for sure.’ Suddenly nervous, Jess rearranged the books in front of her, making sure their spines all faced the same way. Anything rather than stand still and look Matron in the eye again. ‘What can I do for you?’ she asked.
‘I came to apologise.’
Jess looked up sharply. ‘What for?’
‘For the way you w
ere treated. We misjudged you, and I’m very sorry for that.’ She paused. ‘We discovered it was Sister Sutton who took those items.’
‘It wasn’t her fault!’ Panic made Jess gabble. ‘She didn’t mean to do it, I know she didn’t. You mustn’t get rid of her, the Nightingale is her whole life. I don’t know what she’d do if you put her out to grass in some old folks’ home . . .’
‘Calm down, no one is sending anyone to an old folks’ home, least of all Sister Sutton!’ Matron regarded Jess consideringly. ‘That’s why you covered up for her, isn’t it? You were worried she would lose her job.’
Jess lowered her gaze. ‘I knew she wouldn’t have stolen those things on purpose,’ she said quietly. ‘She just couldn’t remember doing it.’
‘I know,’ Matron agreed. ‘It was her illness that made her do it. Fortunately, she has made a complete recovery. But she feels terrible, as do I, about the dreadful miscarriage of justice that occurred. You should never have been dismissed, Jess.’
‘It’s done now,’ she mumbled, embarrassed.
‘Perhaps, but it was very wrong of us. We misjudged you, and we are deeply sorry. Sister Sutton is particularly remorseful, since she has always maintained you are a girl of excellent character.’
Jess glanced up at Matron, her expression uncertain. ‘She said that – about me?’
‘She is most impressed with you, as am I,’ Matron said. ‘That’s why I hoped you might consider returning to the Nightingale?’
Jess’ mouth fell open. ‘You’re offering me my old job back?’
‘Not quite.’ Jess saw Matron’s grave expression and her heart sank. She might have known it was too good to be true. ‘We have engaged another girl in your place. But I think I have another position you might be interested in?’
There was something about the glint in those grey eyes that Jess didn’t quite understand.
‘What did you have in mind?’ she asked.
Lucy barely recognised her father.
Sir Bernard wasn’t the dapper man he’d once been. He’d lost so much weight his suit jacket hung limply from his shoulders. His neatly trimmed beard was overgrown, and there were dark shadows under his eyes.
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