20
In the outside world King Edward’s less ebullient heir, George, had come to the throne. Apart from a brief celebration this had had little effect on life at the house in Fulford Road. Miss Bytheway remained as domineering as ever, the long-suffering maid continued to lug pail after pail of hot water up four flights of stairs for her mistress’s bath, ever in fear of the old lady’s demise, and Oriel, unaware of being shadowed by her father, went dutifully to secretarial college, where she found that to be with girls of her own age made up for the denial of her primary ambition, at least for the moment. The earlier isolation from her peers did not cause any great difficulty, quite the opposite. Oriel thrived on all this new company and the invitations to other people’s homes. The girls at college might seem immature, giggling at the silliest things, but Oriel accepted them for what they were and in joining their antics she found much freedom from the responsibilities she had taken upon herself at home. She had always felt as if she had to take care of her mother – and still did – but this daily separation, despite the mental effort it involved, allowed her the time to act like the young girl she was; to giggle with her friends at the sly winks from young admirers and to moon over some handsome teacher.
Bright had mixed feelings about her daughter’s entry to the outside world. On the one hand she was proud of Oriel and was grateful that her selflessness had prevented further rows with the old lady. On the other hand, she did not like the feeling of inferiority that her fifteen-year-old daughter’s achievement evoked in her, and worse still she was ever afraid that Oriel would come home crying after a fellow student had made a nasty remark about her lack of a father. Most frightening of all was the thought that now Oriel was prey to any man who might take a fancy to her.
Today, though, her child was safe. It was Saturday, there was no college and Oriel helped her mother with the household chores as had become her pattern, though Miss Bytheway was unaware of it. Bright herself made no complaint, for lately she had begun to think that what Oriel had said about Miss Bytheway driving her to an early grave might be true. She was not quite thirty-one, but the running of this big house took an awful lot out of her whilst Miss Bytheway, despite the more frequent bouts of invalidity, continued to mark time. This morning mother and daughter were chopping firewood in the back garden. A tree had blown down earlier in the year and though a man had sawn it into manageable logs it needed further reduction. Today was as good a day as any to replenish the kindling basket. Twixt comments, Bright swung the axe at the chopping block, her cheeks crimson and her brow glistening in the hot June sun.
Oriel, wearing an old dress and apron, elbowed her mother aside. ‘Come on, give it to me, you’re out of breath.’
Bright puffed, stood back and handed the axe to her daughter. ‘I won’t insult your kind offer by saying no.’ There were damp patches on the underarms of her bodice. ‘Oh, what I’d give to lie in bed all day like Miss B.’
Oriel indicated the chopping block and positioned the axe. ‘Stick your leg on there and I’ll try to oblige you.’ Both laughed, then Oriel added, ‘Did I tell you I’ve got a new one to annoy her? I keep saying “Oh, by the way, would you like so-and-so”, or “by the way, have you heard this?” It really gets her goat!’
Bright pursed her lips. ‘You’ll never go to heaven.’
‘Well, it’s a small way of getting my own back for the way she treats you.’ Her daughter brought the axe down on a log.
‘Yes, but she’s given you a lot of things that I never could. You really oughtn’t to tease her.’ Bright glanced up as a gypsy came through the back gate.
‘Would you be after buying some pegs off an old gypsy woman, lady? Tis a lovely face you have.’
Bright repossessed the axe. ‘Go get my purse, dear.’
‘Mother, you’ve got a drawer full of pegs in there! You fall for it every time.’ Oriel both despised and admired her mother’s kind nature. ‘No wonder people treat you like dirt.’
‘Shush! Go fetch it now.’ Bright paid the gypsy for the pegs and received her blessing. ‘The last thing I need is a curse putting on me.’
Oriel laughed as the gypsy shut the gate. ‘You’re cursed already and so am I, having to live with that one upstairs.’
With sufficient kindling having been chopped the two of them carried the basket of wood inside where Oriel, black hair all askew, put on the kettle for a cup of tea. ‘Mother, I’m thinking of applying to be a nurse – just listen! I know what I promised but I don’t see why I should have to kow-tow to her forever. I’m fifteen now, you don’t have to look after me. Once I’m accepted I can live at the nurses’ home.’
Bright was stunned by the unexpectedness of her daughter’s remark. ‘I don’t have to look after you, but what about me?’ she demanded. ‘I’ll still be out on the street when her ladyship finds out.’
‘Mother, you’re not thinking.’ Oriel was patient. ‘If you haven’t got me to look after no one even has to know I exist, you can go and get a job anywhere.’
Bright looked mollified. ‘Well, yes, I suppose I could… oh, but I couldn’t leave her, what would she do without me?’
Oriel gave an outraged laugh. ‘You’ve cursed the old faggot for fifteen years and now you don’t want to leave her!’
Bright laughed too as she made the tea. ‘I know, it sounds daft, doesn’t it? She’s made my life a misery sometimes, but she’s an old lady, I haven’t the heart to walk out on her – and she was the only one who’d take me in when you were born. But you go ahead with your plan, dear.’ She gave Oriel a resounding kiss. ‘You’ll make a good nurse, I know it.’
‘Oh, thank you.’ Oriel gripped her mother’s wrist. ‘I’m not quite sure to whom I should apply but I’m going down to the hospital this afternoon if you’re agreeable? Don’t tell her, she’ll only take it out on you. I’ll break the news when I come back.’ She hoisted her shoulders in glee.
After lunch Oriel put on a frothy white summer dress, a hat bedecked with flowers, and went down to the hospital, asking to speak to the matron. She was asked if she had an appointment and when she replied in the negative was then asked the nature of her business. When she said that she wished to become a nurse, she was told to leave her name and to return on Monday with her birth certificate. Disappointed, she went home and told her mother, saying that this would mean she would have to take time off college. Bright showed understanding; if Oriel would soon be leaving college anyway, one day’s absence was not going to matter.
On Monday, with maternal encouragement, Oriel once again donned her best outfit and returned to the hospital for her interview. There were other girls waiting in the tiled corridor. Oriel smiled at them, then stared straight ahead awaiting her turn and wondering if she would be able to bear the smell of her workplace. When her name was finally called she was shown into Matron’s office.
‘Sit down, Maguire.’ The hefty bespectacled woman pointed at a chair. ‘Now, why do you wish to be a nurse?’
Prepared for this question, Oriel gave her rehearsed speech which appeared to be to the Matron’s satisfaction. The interview lasted about twenty minutes and at the end of it Oriel felt that she had made a good impression. The matron actually smiled at her.
‘Well, my dear, no more questions.’ The matron’s starched bosom crushed against the edge of her desk as she reached over to a pile of forms and took one. ‘Let us just have a few details – have you brought your birth certificate with you, by the way?’
Whenever anyone issued the phrase by the way Oriel immediately thought of her benefactress and giggled mentally. What a row there would be when she confessed! ‘Yes, I have it here.’ She reached into her bag and handed over the document.
The woman gave a clipped, ‘Thank you,’ and unfolded it. ‘Oh dear, you’re very young!’ She had assumed from the confident manner that Oriel was older. Something else had caught her eye too, and she looked up at Oriel. ‘I’m afraid… we cannot take you.’
‘Because I’
m too young?’ Oriel’s smile became fixed.
‘Because you are illegitimate, my dear. The profession cannot take you. I’m sorry.’ The matron handed back the certificate. Lips apart, Oriel reached out to take it, but remained seated. ‘I’m sorry,’ repeated the woman, obviously waiting for her to leave.
Too dumbfounded to complain, Oriel stood, then went home. Somewhere along the way her shock turned to anger, whence she cursed her absent father. I hate you! All this is your fault. For years I’ve dreamed about making this my career and now I can’t, all because you abandoned my mother! For a second Oriel railed at her mother’s dumb loyalty – how could she have been so stupid as to believe he would come back? – but just as quickly she gave mental apologies. It wasn’t that poor, lovely woman’s fault that she had been betrayed. Oriel wished he were here now so that she could slap his face, punch and scratch him for ruining her life. The swine! But I’ll get you back, she issued dark warning with each determined footstep. I’ll teach you to hurt me and my mother.
‘Have ye been accepted?’ The moment her daughter entered the kitchen an eager Bright pounced – then saw the look on Oriel’s face and moaned. ‘Oh darlin’, I’m sorry!’ Expectant smile collapsed, she put her arms round the girl, who during the latter half of her journey had forced herself to regain composure.
‘Turns out Miss Bytheway was right after all, doesn’t it?’ Oriel removed her flowered hat, hoping her disappointed expression was masking the true bitterness she felt.
Face creased in sympathy, Bright stroked her daughter’s hair. ‘Oh well, never mind, it’s their loss. I’m sure there are many other people willing to employ an intelligent girl like you. What reason did they give for not taking ye?’
Oriel could never burden her dear mother with the true reason. ‘I’m too young.’ The straw hat hung at her side.
Bright rallied, holding her daughter at arms’ length to exclaim, ‘Oh well, ye can try again then!’
‘I don’t think so.’ Oriel wrinkled her nose. ‘I was very nervous at the interview. If I was nervous then I’d be no good in an emergency would I? Anyway, it’s all over and done with.’ The subjugation of her anger had exacted a price: repulsive black fingers of depression had begun to probe her mind. She had the urge to be alone. ‘I’ll just go up and get changed.’
Bright released her. ‘I’ll make you a cup of tea when you come down.’ She bustled off into the scullery, allowing her false cheeriness to dissipate now that Oriel had gone. What a disappointment.
‘Why is that girl not at college?’ Miss Bytheway had heard the conversation in the kitchen but in her geriatric state it had taken her all this time to make her way from the front room. She was just in time to catch a glimpse of Oriel’s devastated face before the girl went upstairs.
Bright turned from the hob, looking guilty. ‘Oh well, ye might as well know. Oriel went for an interview to be a nurse today – but she was turned down, so there’s no need for you to get excited! And I’d be grateful if you’ve anything to say you say it to me, she’s been upset enough.’
‘I can see she has.’ Miss Bytheway clutched her balled up handkerchief in fury. ‘And yes! I certainly do have something to say! Because if Oriel has been upset then you, Maguire, are responsible! Why do you think I wanted her to abandon the idea of becoming a nurse? Was it just to spite her? Of course not! I love that child! I have tried to protect her and I hope that in most aspects I have succeeded. I would have been wholly successful had it not been for her stupid idiot of a mother!’
Bright came out of the scullery, fearing that her employer was about to induce an apoplexy, for her face was crimson. ‘Miss Bytheway…’
‘Stupid!’ The eyes might be veiled with cataracts but the obvious anger burned through. ‘That girl has been upset needlessly. The reason she has been refused a nursing post is that she is illegitimate. Yes! And for that you are totally to blame, Maguire.’
Bright had taken the news like a slap in the face. ‘But… Oriel said it was because she was too young.’
‘Accept the word of one who is wiser than you, Maguire, if that girl was refused a post it was because she is illegitimate and for no other reason!’
Bright could not believe this cruelty. ‘If you knew she’d get turned down why didn’t you warn me?’
For a second the old lady adopted the ramrod stance of her youth. ‘Don’t try to put the blame on me! I had no wish to stigmatize the girl. Why do you think I turned to you for assistance? One would have expected a mother to have projected the outcome without having to have it smashed into her head with a lumphammer. I did everything I could to make you see reason but, no, in your pig-headed manner you thought you would do it your own way. Well, see how much heartbreak your stubbornness has caused. Heartbreak that could easily have been prevented if you had used your brain. I hope you’re satisfied.’ Having difficulty in maintaining her upright carriage, Miss Bytheway sufficed with a venomous look, before turning her back and retiring to the front parlour.
* * *
Unable to bear the fact that she was responsible for her daughter’s pain, Bright never asked Oriel for the truth, and simply tried to make some sort of reparation by means of little treats and favours. Strangely, Miss Bytheway too was chary of confronting the issue and it was never mentioned in the house again. Only when Noel called to attend his patient the following spring did Bright resurrect the subject, in order to protect her daughter’s feelings.
‘I’d appreciate it if you didn’t mention anything to do with nursing in front of Oriel,’ she whispered as she took his coat that afternoon. ‘She’s had rather a disappointment.’
Noel tugged at his shirt cuffs, then picked up his bag. ‘She’s applied then?’
Bright nodded, still whispering. ‘They turned her down.’
‘Oh well, she’s young, she can apply again.’
‘No,’ Bright curtailed him with a shake of head. ‘They won’t take her at all. It’s…’ She grimaced, then plucked up the courage to confide in Noel. ‘Well, it’s all my fault. Apparently the profession won’t take anyone who’s illegitimate.’ There, she had made the admittance.
Noel responded with quiet outrage. ‘I haven’t heard of that before! If I had I can assure you I would have saved her the hurt. I’m sure it can’t be right. Maybe if I have a word with someone.’
‘No, doctor, I beg you not to say or do anything.’ Bright guided him towards the staircase. ‘I couldn’t bear to see her hurt again. Oh, she was devastated.’
‘I’ll bet she was, but you’re not to blame yourself, and I hope Oriel didn’t blame you either.’ Noel took to the stairs after the maid.
‘Ah no!’ Bright held up her skirts, looking over her shoulder at him. ‘She never said a word. She’s a lovely girl. Even in her own misery she thought to protect her mother. I’m sure I don’t deserve such a daughter.’ Her sorrowful smile adopted a twitch of cynicism. ‘I’m certain Miss B would vouch for that too – twas she who told me the reason for Oriel being rejected. I was too much of a coward to have it confirmed.’
‘You’re not a coward.’ Damning Nat for his abandonment of this lovely creature, Noel allowed his hand to touch hers as it slid up the balustrade, a gesture of comfort.
Bright thought this an accident and removed her own hand. ‘Sorry, doctor. You’re very kind to say so, but I am to blame.’
They had reached the first landing. Noel repeated his claim. ‘No, you’re not… Bright, I’ve never liked to ask before, but I feel we’re good enough friends for you to regard what I am about to say not as interference but as a genuine wish to understand… is Nat Oriel’s father?’
Bright’s skin crawled. She felt the colour run up her throat into the roots of her hair. ‘Yes,’ she replied simply.
Despite this long-held supposition, Noel was assailed by a pang of jealousy at having it confirmed. However, he did not show his inner feelings to Bright, merely nodded. ‘I thought so. She’s very like him isn’t she?’
&nb
sp; Bright gave a sad smile and mirrored his nod.
‘Have you seen him at all?’ enquired Noel. She shook her head. They had both come to a halt on the staircase. For once the physician did not spring to Nat’s defence. ‘It’s unforgivable that he’s offered no help.’
She hesitated. ‘I think it’s because he’s frightened. I wasn’t being quite truthful, I have seen him – oh not to talk to, but I’ve seen him watching the house. Once he followed Oriel.’
‘Did he speak to her?’ Noel was alert.
‘No.’ Bright sighed. ‘I was afraid he was going to, but he’s been back several times and he’s never spoken to her. He just watches.’
‘Is she aware of who he is?’
‘She’s aware of her father’s name, but obviously she doesn’t realize just how close he is. I told her all about him when she was small, and she overheard you talking about him – no, it wasn’t your fault!’ She pre-empted his apology. ‘You weren’t to know and she shouldn’t have been eavesdropping. But when she found out he was in York and hadn’t been to see us, well, she was very upset.’ As upset as I was, thought Bright, but could not imagine the true depths of Oriel’s melancholy, for the girl had no wish to upset her mother by raising the subject. ‘I’m afraid I may have painted too rosy a picture and she’s always expected him to come back. I wasn’t lying, I truly thought… well, I don’t know what to do for the best now. If I tell her he’s been watching her she might get her hopes up again. What if it’s just idle curiosity on his part and he doesn’t want any further contact?’ When the doctor sympathized she began to move on.
Noel was angry with Nat. He had grown fond of Bright and did not wish to see her hurt. As the mention of his very name seemed to cause discomfort Noel did not refer to Oriel’s father again but instead returned to the topic of Miss Bytheway’s contribution. ‘If Oriel herself didn’t tell you of the real reason she was turned down for the nursing post how on earth can Miss B know? Maybe it was just conjecture designed to wound.’
Shoddy Prince Page 47