The Seaside Angel

by Evie Grace

  ‘I am sorry. I should have thought about how it looked. I should have considered how it would affect you as well; your position at the infirmary; your friends’ regard for you if it became common knowledge.’

  ‘Thank you for the apology. It means a lot to me.’

  ‘I wish you’d stop talking now. You’re giving me a headache,’ Ruby grumbled.

  ‘You’d better go and lie down, then.’ Hannah watched as her sister dragged herself up from the floor and headed for the bedroom. The ham and parsley sauce stood forgotten, no longer inviting.

  A little while later when Ruby was tucked up asleep in bed, Hannah took a walk down to the beach. She gazed at the water and listened to the sea breathing, the waves washing softly across the sand. What was she going to do? Ruby hadn’t actually promised that she wouldn’t see the lion tamer again, although Hannah felt that now she had been found out, she would think twice about allowing anyone to ruin her reputation. She needed occupation and distraction, but what would keep her out of trouble? Hannah didn’t know. She was afraid she was out of her depth.

  Chapter Thirteen

  The Powers that Be

  It was a few days after the fête and Ruby appeared to have taken Hannah’s words of warning to heart, because she didn’t mention Mr Milani once. She devoted herself to reading, writing letters to Stepmother and Miss Fellows, and keeping their rooms clean and tidy. Hannah had taken to returning home during her breaks now and again to check on Ruby’s whereabouts, but today, she’d decided to stay at the infirmary for lunch.

  ‘May I have a word,’ Doctor Clifton said, catching up with her as she sat on the balcony, eating her food in peace and quiet. ‘I’m sorry for disturbing you, but we haven’t had a chance to talk.’

  She looked up at him. ‘Take a seat,’ she offered, putting her knife and fork down.

  ‘You haven’t finished.’

  ‘I’ve had enough.’ She pushed her plate aside. ‘What is it you wish to discuss?’

  ‘I was delighted to see that Charlie’s mother turned up with Mr Piper. The boy’s health seems much im-proved.’

  ‘He’ll be going home soon,’ she said. ‘Thank you for the extra donation you made, by the way – I noticed.’

  ‘In for a penny, in for a pound. I heard that Beckett won the prize.’

  ‘He shared it with everyone on the ward, which was very sweet of him, but the boys were all overexcited afterwards.’ She smiled fondly at the memory of having to tell Charlie, Beckett and Samuel off for making an effigy of Sister Trim. ‘Don’t you think he’s too well to be an inpatient, taking up a bed?’

  ‘It turns out that his father is paying generously for him to be here, so the powers that be, the ones who hold the purse-strings, are keen to keep him here for as long as possible. Before you say anything, I’ve already put my medical opinion forward …’

  ‘I see. Was there anything else?’

  ‘No,’ he said. ‘That is all. Um, have you had a meeting with Mrs Knowles yet?’

  She shook her head.

  ‘Then Sister Trim is in with her now.’ He checked his pocket watch. ‘I’d better go – I have a clinic booked for two o’clock.’

  Followed by dinner with Miss Osbourne-Cole? she wondered as she watched him go. She checked her thoughts. She had better things to do than mope about like a lovesick ninny.

  Back on the ward, she started on the weekly chore of cleaning the windows which involved washing the glass, then polishing it with a cloth dipped in vinegar to remove the smears. She had only washed one pane before Sister Trim came rushing in.

  ‘Nurse Bentley, you are to go to Matron’s office immediately,’ she said.

  ‘Is it good news?’

  ‘I shall have to think about it before I can decide. Go on.’

  Hannah hurried away to meet Mrs Knowles who was sitting at her desk, waiting for her.

  ‘Take a seat,’ she said lightly, and Hannah sat down.

  ‘Normally, I wouldn’t pry, but I do need to ask you a question,’ Mrs Knowles said, making Hannah catch her breath. How could she possibly know about Ruby’s indiscretion? ‘It’s been observed by some that Doctor Clifton pays you particular attention,’ Matron went on.

  ‘I can assure you that there’s nothing in it,’ Hannah said quickly, relieved that she wasn’t asking about her sister. ‘I believe that he’s soon to be engaged to—’

  ‘Miss Osbourne-Cole. I’d noticed their affection for each other and I’m glad you’ve confirmed my suspicions. I do so hate losing any of my nurses to matrimony. Anyway, Sister Murch has left the house – her mother has taken a turn for the worse, so I’ve asked Sister Trim to take over responsibility for her ward, which means there’s a vacancy on the Lettsom. I’d like to offer you the role of ward sister. What do you say?’

  Her heart leapt.

  ‘Thank you, Mrs Knowles. I’d be delighted to accept.’

  ‘Then it’s done. You’ll start first thing in the morning. Any problems, report to me. Is that clear?’

  ‘Yes, Matron.’

  Hannah returned to the ward, her excitement tempered with a little trepidation as she wondered what Sister Trim thought of Matron’s changes.

  ‘Congratulations, Sister Bentley,’ Trimmie said, somewhat icily.

  ‘Sister?’ Charlotte asked.

  ‘That’s right – she’s only been here for five minutes.’

  ‘Well done, Hannah,’ Charlotte said.

  ‘It will all go to pot, you mark my words. You can’t treat your nurses as friends – I’ll be watching with interest.’

  Hannah refused to let Sister Trim’s doubts spoil the day. Charlotte was happy for her, and Ruby, who appeared to have stayed indoors all day, was delighted.

  ‘My sister is a Sister at last,’ Ruby smiled. ‘We should go out and celebrate with ice cream or cake on your next day off. What do you think?’

  ‘That’s a wonderful idea,’ Hannah said, pleased that Ruby seemed to have seen sense. She didn’t mention the lion tamer once, and, she noticed, hadn’t suggested that they should celebrate with an outing to the Hall by the Sea. She felt reassured, but not entirely complacent.

  The next morning when she walked on to the ward, she surveyed her new kingdom. She would make a few changes; she would make her mark.

  She was responsible for two nurses: Nurse Finch and a new member of staff, Nurse May, who’d had little experience of nursing before, having kept house for her father, who was a captain in the merchant navy, while he was away at sea. It meant that much of the hands-on nursing would still fall to Hannah for a while – at least until she’d trained her up in the ways of the house.

  She allocated Nurse May three patients and gave her a list of simple tasks to carry out before the doctors turned up on their rounds.

  ‘Do you think she’ll be any good?’ Charlotte was helping Hannah change Samuel’s dressing. ‘I can’t believe Mrs Knowles sent her to us.’

  ‘I can’t speculate on her suitability for the work.’

  ‘I’m sorry – I keep forgetting that you’re Sister now. Where is she anyway?’

  Hannah glanced around the ward. There was no sign of her.

  ‘Shall I see if I can find her?’ Charlotte asked.

  ‘I’ll go. You carry on …’ Hannah felt mean. She and Charlotte used to use any excuse for a few minutes away from the ward, but she couldn’t be seen to be encouraging that now. What was Nurse May thinking of, disappearing when there was work to be done? She began to feel a little anxious, knowing how impatient Mr Anthony was if his patients weren’t ready.

  She headed into the corridor, where the door to the sluice was open. As she drew closer, she heard sobbing.

  ‘Nurse?’ she said in a low voice as she went inside. ‘Whatever’s the matter?’

  Nurse May was standing at the sink, scrubbing her skirt. She turned to face Hannah, her cheeks glistening with tears.

  ‘I tried to carry too much in one go – I dropped the bedpans.’

 
Hannah couldn’t help smiling. ‘Never mind. It’s happened to us all at one time or another.’

  ‘I stink – it’s disgusting. And look at the mess I’ve made in here! I don’t think I’m cut out for this kind of work.’

  ‘Calm down. One of the maids has a store of clean dresses and aprons – go and get changed, take a few deep breaths and come back. Nurse Finch will help you clean this up.’

  ‘Do I have to?’ Charlotte complained when Hannah sent her to the sluice.

  ‘Yes, you do.’

  ‘What about the ward round?’

  ‘I’ll deal with it. Off you go.’

  Charlotte gave a half-smile, saying, ‘I think the power is going to your head,’ before leaving the ward just as Mrs Merry arrived wanting to take Charlie for his bath.

  ‘You can’t have him yet,’ Hannah said.

  ‘I can’t ’ang about, waitin’ for the doctors.’

  ‘I’d be most grateful’ – Hannah spoke firmly – ‘if you would start with one of the other wards today.’

  ‘Oh, I don’t know. I always do ’em in the same order.’ Mrs Merry stared at her before going on, ‘Sister Bentley, when Sister Trim was ’ere, she let me have free rein to organise the baths as I wished.’

  ‘I don’t think she did,’ Hannah said. ‘In fact, I’m sure she didn’t. I think you’re trying it on, Mrs Merry.’

  ‘I don’t want to go stomping off to the other end of the ’ouse when I’m already ’ere, do I? It’s very inconvenient.’

  ‘Then I suggest you have a word with Mr Anthony or Mr Pyle.’

  ‘I don’t like to bother ’em with somethin’ so trivial. I’ll make a start on my ladies instead.’

  Hannah smiled to herself as the bathing attendant lumbered away. She knew that Mrs Merry wouldn’t brave speaking to the doctors, considering herself to be many rungs below them.

  ‘Good morning, Sister,’ Mr Anthony said when the doctors appeared on their round half an hour later.

  ‘Congratulations on your promotion,’ Doctor Clifton added. ‘You deserve it.’

  She thanked them before adding pointedly, ‘You’re putting us all behind today.’

  ‘There was an emergency,’ Mr Anthony said, sounding irritated. ‘One of the kitchen maids sliced through a finger instead of the bread.’

  ‘Whereas I have no excuse except that I overslept.’ Doctor Clifton turned away and yawned to prove the point, and Hannah had to fight off an image of him sitting up late at night with Miss Osbourne-Cole. ‘Where’s Nurse Finch?’

  ‘She’s showing our new nurse the ropes.’ Hannah led the doctors to Charlie’s bedside.

  ‘How are you today?’ Doctor Clifton asked him.

  ‘Very well,’ he smiled.

  He was becoming quite a handful, Hannah thought, running around and disturbing the other patients. Sister Trim had been right – when they were well enough to cause trouble, it was time for them to go home.

  ‘Would you like to go back to London soon?’

  ‘Yes please, Doc,’ he said. ‘Ma needs me.’

  ‘I hope you thanked Sister Bentley for arranging your mother’s visit.’

  ‘I didn’t know. I thought Mr Piper did it.’

  ‘Oh no, it was Sister’s idea.’

  ‘Was it?’ Charlie turned to her. ‘I don’t know what to say, ’cept for … you’re the best nurse in all the world. Thank you for ’elpin’ me get better, for bringin’ Ma to see me and for bein’ so cheerful. Thank you for everythin’.’

  ‘I’m very glad that it’s worked out for you. You’re a dear boy.’

  ‘You have a ticket for a while longer,’ Doctor Clifton said, ‘but I don’t think it’s necessary to keep you here. I’ll write to Mr Piper.’

  Hannah felt torn about sending Charlie back to the poorhouse at St Pancras, but as much as she’d grown fond of him, they couldn’t keep him at the infirmary, wrapped in cotton wool for the rest of his life.

  It was the beginning of the second week in August when arrangements had been finalised for Charlie’s return to his mother, and Hannah was busier than ever on the ward.

  ‘It would have been quicker to do it myself,’ she grumbled lightly as she helped Nurse May mop up the river of suds which was spreading across the floor.

  ‘I’m s-s-sorry,’ she stammered. ‘I didn’t mean to—’

  ‘I know.’ Hannah picked up the bucket and squeezed the water from her mop. ‘Finish clearing up here, then you can help Nurse Finch change Samuel’s dressings. Where is Nurse Finch?’

  Nurse May looked at her as if she thought she was slightly touched. ‘It’s her afternoon off.’

  ‘Oh yes, I’d forgotten.’ She felt rather stupid, but she had too much on her mind, what with the prospect of the weekly meeting with Mrs Knowles and the other ward sisters, a complaint from one of the parents about how their son’s coat had gone missing from his bedside locker, and a request to put in to Mr Cumberpatch about a repair. She knew what he’d say, that she was to blame for letting the boys bounce on the beds. ‘What are you waiting for?’

  ‘I’d be very grateful if you’d show me how to do the dressing – I haven’t done it before.’

  ‘Nurse Finch was supposed to have shown you.’ Hannah sighed inwardly. Charlotte hadn’t been the same since she’d announced that Mr Hunter had invited her to the infirmary ball. Her head had been filled with her plans for her gown and other adornments, and she’d arranged to call on Ruby this afternoon, considering her the oracle when it came to the latest fashions. ‘Let me demonstrate, then you can do the next one.’

  They had just finished when Doctor Clifton came to say goodbye to Charlie.

  ‘I have some news for you, Master Swift. I’ve put a good word in for you with your sponsor.’

  ‘The gentleman who gave me the ticket?’ Charlie asked.

  ‘That’s right. If you go to school every day – he’ll be checking on you – he’ll place you with an ostler at one of the coaching inns.’ Doctor Clifton smiled. ‘I recall how much you liked seeing the animals on the ward, and I thought it would suit you very well. You’ll be paid to look after the horses after lessons: feeding them; mucking out; cleaning their harness … What do you think?’

  Charlie’s eyes lit up. ‘I’ll make yer proud, I promise.’

  ‘I have something else for you.’ Doctor Clifton handed him a package wrapped in brown paper and tied up with string.

  ‘What is it? I’ve never ’ad a present before.’

  ‘Open it.’

  He fumbled with the knots, and Hannah had to fetch a pair of scissors so he could cut them away and dive in, tearing the parcel apart.

  ‘Barley sugar! And socks! Thank you!’

  ‘You may put the socks on,’ Doctor Clifton said when Charlie had calmed down a little.

  ‘I don’t want to spoil ’em – they’ll get ruined and go into ’oles like the old ones.’

  ‘Are you sure you won’t wear them for the journey home?’ Charlie nodded as the doctor continued, ‘Promise me you’ll work hard and keep your nose clean.’

  ‘Yes, Doc. I mean, Doctor Clifton. I’ll make ’em ’orses shine.’

  ‘Perhaps one day you’ll come back and see us,’ Doctor Clifton said, just as Hannah heard the lady volunteer speaking from the entrance to the ward. ‘Time and tide wait for no man – or boy, for that matter.’ He smiled as he shook Charlie’s hand.

  Hannah hugged him, wishing him good luck before they watched him stride out of the Lettsom with his belongings.

  ‘That’s what makes all this worthwhile. I can’t imagine any better reward than to see him walk out of here like that,’ Doctor Clifton said, and Hannah had to agree.

  She took her break at midday, having a bite to eat before strolling along the beach to clear her head. It was on occasions like this that she found herself reflecting on her decision to stay in nursing. She’d made a difference to Charlie and would do so for many other children, something she wouldn’t have been able to achieve, ha
d she given it up for marriage. She couldn’t help thinking about the ball, though. She could have gone dancing with Doctor Clifton as his fiancée, even his wife, but now he’d be going with Miss Osbourne-Cole.

  On her way back to the Lettsom, she came across Mr Fry wandering along the corridor.

  ‘How lovely to see you.’ He’d forgotten who she was, she thought, as he stared at her blankly. ‘I wish it were in better circumstances, of course. You’ve come to see Miss Huckstep.’

  ‘Ah yes. You’re Nurse Bentley.’

  ‘It’s Sister now,’ she said.

  ‘You’ve been promoted.’ He looked her up and down again, making her feel uncomfortable. ‘My congratulations.’

  ‘Thank you. Alice will be delighted to see you …’

  ‘Pray tell me where I can find her.’

  She showed him to the ladies’ ward. ‘She’ll be outside on the balcony.’

  He hesitated, one hand in his pocket. ‘I’ve come to do the right thing, you know.’

  ‘Then don’t waste any more time – go and speak to her,’ Hannah said, pleased that whatever she thought of Mr Fry, Alice would get her wish at long last. The prospect of marriage to the man of her dreams would be of much benefit to her health, giving her something to look forward to – for however long it lasted. She headed back to the Lettsom, not wanting to intrude on their reunion.

  By encouraging Alice to write again, she had played her part in making sure that the course of true love ran smoothly – she could do no more – but it wasn’t long before Mr Fry came and accosted her on the ward, his cheeks scarlet with anger and embarrassment.

  ‘Sister Bentley, I am here to say goodbye.’

  ‘Please, not in front of the children,’ she said, leading him back out into the corridor. ‘Keep your voice down.’