by Evie Grace
‘Why didn’t Alice go to her mother’s?’ Ruby asked.
‘Because she can’t leave the lady she’s looking after – she’s too unwell.’
‘That’s dedication to duty.’
‘When your patients are sick, you can’t just walk away—’
‘Oh, look,’ Ruby exclaimed as they stepped into the reception hall where the scent of carbolic mingled with the aroma of pine. ‘A tree!’
A spruce fir stood in the middle of the room, adorned with flags and ribbons.
Mr Mordikai stepped out from behind it. ‘Merry Christmas, ladies.’
‘And the same to you,’ the sisters said in unison.
They ate breakfast in the dining hall, then exchanged greetings with the night nurse. The patients who were left had had a peaceful night, although some of them were already up and dressed, impatient for the celebrations to begin.
‘Anyone would think it was a special day,’ Doctor Clifton said, entering the ward for his round.
‘It is special.’ Ronald was skipping up and down the aisle between the rows of beds. ‘It’s Christmas and Nurse Finch is marrying Mr Hunter, and we’re going to have plum pudding for dinner.’
‘Well, I never knew.’ Trying not to smile, Doctor Clifton glanced towards Hannah and their eyes locked.
‘Happy Christmas,’ she said as Ronald bent over and started coughing, his breath coming in sharp gasps. Hannah hurried over to him and grasped his heaving shoulders. ‘Sit on the edge of the bed.’ She sat down beside him and held his hand as the coughing began to subside and Doctor Clifton listened to his chest.
‘May I venture an idea?’ Hannah said.
‘Go on.’ Doctor Clifton looked up.
‘When I was at the Hospital for Sick Children, one of the physicians used steam inhalation to clear the lungs – it helped some of our patients breathe more easily.’
‘It’s worth a try,’ he smiled. ‘I’ll see if I can find some suitable apparatus to deliver the steam containing a few drops of Friar’s balsam.’
‘I think you’re making it far too complicated. A kettle, bowl and towel to place over the head to trap the steam are perfectly adequate.’
‘Thank you, Sister,’ he said wryly. ‘I can always rely on you to find a practical solution.’
‘I can still go to church with the rest of them, and play games afterwards?’ Ronald interrupted.
‘I don’t see any reason why not,’ Doctor Clifton agreed, and after the patients had eaten breakfast and washed, they moved to the chapel where Hannah caught sight of James standing with Henry’s family in the pews behind the patients’ trolleys. The chaplain gave the Christmas sermon before the organist struck up a wedding march. Everyone’s eyes turned towards the doors which opened to reveal Charlotte on her father’s arm, and a gaggle of young bridesmaids.
‘She looks beautiful,’ Ronald whispered from where he was sitting beside Hannah.
‘She does indeed.’ A tear pricked her eye as she watched the bride, wearing a veil and pale blue gown trimmed with lace, walk down the aisle. Hannah noticed the pride and admiration on Henry’s face as he turned to look at Charlotte when she reached the altar. The chaplain said a few words before James stepped up to hand over the ring. Hannah wondered how he was feeling – she prayed that he’d put her rejection firmly behind him.
‘I now declare you husband and wife,’ the chaplain said after the couple had exchanged their vows. ‘You may kiss your bride.’
Henry lifted Charlotte’s veil, smiled and gave her a chaste kiss on the cheek, making her blush, before taking her hand and walking her back down the aisle. Suppressing a frisson of envy, Hannah turned to Ruby who was sitting beside Oliver whom she’d brought in a bath chair. To her relief, her sister appeared cheerful.
They returned to the ward with Alice and the festivities began with a dinner of roast goose, potatoes, sprouts and gravy, followed by plum pudding and custard. Having cleared up and made sure that all the patients had taken their midday medicines, they pushed the beds to one side and prepared to play games, but before they could start, two ladies arrived on the ward: the Misses Osbourne-Cole.
‘Good afternoon,’ Letitia said, a ring glinting from her finger as she held up a flute. ‘We’ve come to play for you – you can join in with the singing, if you wish.’
Letitia played while her sister sang – the children took up the strains of ‘O, Little Town of Bethlehem’ and ‘Once in Royal David’s City’. They didn’t know all the words, but it didn’t matter. They sang like angels.
‘Can we play games now?’ Ronald asked when they had gone.
‘You’re feeling better?’
‘If we’re playing games, then yes. A lot better.’
‘You’re too cheeky for your own good,’ Hannah jested. ‘What shall we play first, Nurse Huckstep? What do you think, Ruby?’
‘How about “Hide the Slipper”?’ Alice said. ‘No run-ning, though.’
They played with one of Oliver’s slippers, the game interrupted now and again by visitors, coming to see their loved ones or leave gifts of nuts, oranges and apples for the staff and patients.
‘Hannah – I mean Sister – it’s Doctor Clifton.’ Alice nudged her as she was showing Ronald how to peel an orange and divide it into segments.
‘I’m sure I’ve asked you this before, Doctor,’ Hannah said archly, ‘but don’t you have a home to go to?’
‘My housekeeper is away.’ He looked flushed as if he’d partaken of a little too much wine. ‘I left the wedding breakfast where I toasted the happy couple with champagne, then wondered what I should do next.’
‘Weren’t your family there?’ Hannah asked.
‘I’m meeting my parents and sisters for dinner at their hotel tonight. This might sound strange, but I couldn’t suffer my mother’s expressions of disappointment for a moment longer.’
‘She’s disappointed in you?’ Hannah left Ronald with his orange and headed across to help Oliver deal with his. James accompanied her while Alice kept control of the nutcracker, breaking open nuts for each boy in turn, and Ruby peeled and cored apples with a sharp knife.
‘In my situation,’ he said. ‘I hope you don’t mind, but I came here on the promise there would be fun and games.’
Hannah couldn’t help raising an eyebrow at the thought of their respected doctor running around with her patients. ‘You wish to join in?’
‘If you’ll allow it.’
‘I suppose so,’ she said. ‘It is Christmas, after all.’
They played charades until the boys asked to try another game.
‘How about “Squeak Piggy Squeak”?’ James suggested.
‘Use this.’ Ronald fetched a pillow and thrust it into his hands.
‘You’ve obviously played this before, young man,’ James said.
‘With my aunts and uncles. We need a blindfold as well.’
‘I’ll sacrifice a clean bandage, if I may, Sister,’ Alice said, smiling as she collected one from the trolley and handed it to Hannah, who made to hand it to James.
‘You’ll have to help me put it on.’ He grinned. ‘I don’t want anyone accusing me of cheating.’ He held out his hand and helped her on to a chair. She stood behind him and wrapped the bandage around his head twice, making sure his eyes were covered, then secured it with a reef knot.
‘No peeking.’ Chuckling, she grasped him by the shoulders and spun him round several times, while the children took their places. She stepped down from the chair and led him to the middle of the circle of piggies.
‘Where am I?’ he laughed, making a play of staggering about.
Hannah guided him to the first piggy – Ronald – and helped him place the pillow on Ronald’s lap.
‘I realise that it’s part of the game to sit on the piggy, but I don’t want to squash anyone, so I’ll just say, “squeak piggy squeak”.’
Looking relieved, Ronald squeaked.
Doctor Clifton scratched his head. ‘Who is it? Coul
d it be Nurse Huckstep?’
‘Noooo. It’s—’
‘Don’t give it away,’ Hannah said.
‘Could it be Sister Bentley or Miss Bentley?’
‘Noooo.’ The boys screamed with laughter. ‘Try again.’
Ronald was laughing so hard that he began to cough, giving himself away.
‘Ah, it’s Ronald,’ Doctor Clifton said. ‘It’s your turn to be the farmer.’
They played until dusk fell outside, and the kitchen maid came in with their tea.
‘I’d better go,’ Doctor Clifton said. ‘My mother will be waiting.’
‘Thank you for entertaining us,’ Hannah said. ‘I think you went into the wrong profession – you should have been a clown. Merry Christmas, James.’
When he had gone and the patients were in bed, Hannah sat with Alice and Ruby, drinking glasses of mead while they waited for the night nurse to come on duty. It had to be one of the best Christmases ever, she thought, and it wasn’t just because James had graced the ward with his presence. It had been an occasion of many ‘firsts’: her first as Sister; her first for a long time with Ruby; her first with Alice at the infirmary. She wondered what next Christmas would bring.
Storms heralded a freezing January when icicles formed on the railings on the balcony at the house, and showers of hailstones blustered across the patients’ blankets when they were outside. Alice remained well, and Doctor Clifton managed to control Oliver’s pain with the judicious use of opium and extract of willow bark. Ronald continued to have bouts of coughing, and Mr Piper came from St Pancras with more patients, and news of Charlie who sent his regards. With assistance from his sponsor who’d visited him at the poorhouse, he’d moved to private lodgings with his mother. He was doing well at school and had started working in his spare time for the ostler whom Doctor Clifton had mentioned.
Doctor Hunter joined his cousin as a visiting physician and they looked forward to seeing him on the ward, while Charlotte visited several times to read to the boys, revelling in her new status.
Hannah’s only real concern, apart from the health of her patients, was Ruby, who was growing fat and fleshy on the good food at the house. Although her spirits had rallied over Christmas and into the New Year, she’d fallen into another spell of moping by February.
It was the fourteenth of the month and Ruby’s day off. There was an icy draught gusting through a crack in the window at their lodgings. Having tried to seal it with paper and glue, Hannah lit the fire before she dressed for work. Ruby stirred when she knocked the poker against the grate.
‘Morning, sleepyhead,’ Hannah said brightly.
‘I don’t think you realise how annoying you are,’ Ruby sighed. ‘How can you be as cheerful as a lark at this unearthly hour?’
‘I like mornings.’ Hannah tipped her head to one side, catching sight of her reflection in the mirror. She looked very well – even her freckles had faded a little. ‘In fact, I like afternoons, and evenings too.’
Ruby rolled on to her side. ‘It’s too much,’ she muttered.
‘You can always find something to be happy about.’
‘It’s Valentine’s Day. Is that why you’re so chirpy? Have you sent a card to Doctor Clifton?’
‘Of course not.’
‘Then you are expecting to receive one?’
‘It’s never crossed my mind.’ Hannah placed her hands on her hips. ‘I suppose the sight of cards in the shops has reminded you of what passed between you and Mr Milani.’
‘Antonio, yes, but he’s never out of my thoughts. I bought him a card, but I don’t know where to send it. Even Mrs Allspice doesn’t know where he is.’
‘You’re still in touch with her?’
‘I meet with her occasionally—’
‘When? When did you last meet her?’
‘Last week. You’re frowning at me. It’s none of your business what I do on my afternoons off. I don’t have to tell you everything!’
‘Oh, Ruby, you mustn’t associate with the likes of Mrs Allspice,’ Hannah said hotly.
‘I shall do as I please. She’s kind to me. She understands my suffering, and I know something of hers. Mr Allspice has much in common with our father and his controlling ways.’
‘That’s all the more reason for you and his wife not to be acquainted. How long has this been going on for?’
‘Antonio introduced us, and then I talked to her a few times when she was visiting her husband at the house. Since he went home, I’ve called on her two or three times at their lodgings in Ramsgate.’
‘You can’t have anything in common with that poor woman. You’re only befriending her so you can find out if she’s heard from her brother. I’m not stupid!’ Except that she was, Hannah thought with regret. Having assumed that Ruby’s connection to Mr Milani had been broken, she’d lapsed into a false sense of security. This revelation that she was visiting Mr Milani’s sister made her vulnerable to further scandal. ‘Why don’t you drop into the Lettsom today?’ she went on. ‘You can read to the children or take them for a walk along the beach.’
‘What would I want to do that for? It’s my day of rest and it’s the middle of winter, and I’m not standing around in the cold, minding those naughty boys.’
‘All right.’ Hannah was sorry for suggesting it. ‘There’s some sewing you can do to while the time away.’
‘I don’t feel like doing anything – I caught myself with the needle last time.’
‘You must try. Occupation is good for the mind and spirit.’ Hannah couldn’t help offering advice, despite having promised herself not to try to jolly her sister out of her gloomy mood. It was against her instincts to leave her alone.
‘Please don’t tell me to pull myself together – it doesn’t work. There’s nothing you or anyone can do …’
‘Why don’t I have a quiet word with Doctor Clifton?’
From the pit of her bed, Ruby stared at her in abject misery. ‘He treats children with scrofula – he can’t cure the mind. Nobody can.’
‘I wish I could stay and keep you company.’
‘So you can spy on me? I’m not going anywhere today, I promise.’
‘Can I trust you?’
‘Yes. Now go. You’re driving me to distraction. I know myself – this will pass.’ Ruby forced a tearful smile. ‘I’ll feel better tomorrow. I’ll see you later.’
Hurrying to the house, Hannah fretted over her sister’s state of mind. Over the past few months, she’d watched Ruby’s mood fluctuate from high spirits to the deepest despair, and she was at a loss as to how to help her. As for this strange friendship with Mrs Allspice, it had to stop, whether Ruby liked it or not. She resolved to keep a closer eye on her in future.
When she arrived on the ward and the night nurse had left, she looked along the rows of beds. All was well. Everything was in its place, except Ronald.
‘Where is Ronald?’ she said crossly.
The boys peered out from under their blankets. Somebody sniggered, which was reassuring, she thought.
‘You must think I was born yesterday …’ She hastened towards one of the long windows and turned the handle to raise the blind. A set of toes, then a pair of ankles came into view. She lowered the blind again and walked away. ‘If Ronald isn’t here, he’ll miss breakfast,’ she said out loud.
‘He’s there, behind you,’ Oliver said with glee, pointing towards the window. Hannah turned and made a show of looking.
‘I can’t see anyone.’
‘He’s there.’ Another boy joined in.
‘No, he isn’t.’
‘Yes, he is. On the windowsill.’
‘Surely not?’ Hannah went over to raise the blind. ‘Oh, there he is!’
‘I’m not goin’ to miss breakfast, am I, Sister?’ Ronald stammered.
‘Not if you get down straight away, and promise you’ll never play tricks on me again.’ She tried to keep a straight face, but it was impossible. Grinning, she took his hand and helped him dow
n. ‘Back to bed, young man. The doctors will be here soon.’
‘Do you know what day it is?’ Ronald asked.
‘I do have an idea,’ she said.
‘The rose is red, the violet’s blue, the honey’s sweet and so are you.’ Blushing, he gave her a small bow and returned to his bed, pulling his covers up over his face.
‘Thank you,’ she said solemnly.
‘I know the rest of it,’ she heard Doctor Clifton say from behind her, the sound of his voice like Cupid’s arrow piercing her heart. ‘Thou art my love and I am thine; I drew thee to my Valentine: The lot was cast and then I drew, and Fortune said it should be you.’
‘You’re a better physician than a poet, and that’s saying something,’ Mr Anthony commented.
‘It’s a traditional verse,’ Doctor Hunter joined in. ‘He hasn’t the imagination to create his own rhymes. What do you think, Sister? Did he deliver it like Romeo speaking to his Juliet?’
‘I have no idea,’ she said dismissively. ‘I’d be very grateful if we stopped wasting time. Some of us have a busy day ahead of us.’
‘I’m sorry,’ Doctor Hunter said. ‘We won’t hold you up any longer.’
‘I’m glad to hear it.’
The doctors agreed that Ronald should continue his treatment, but they were still concerned about the state of his lungs, while Oliver’s spine was growing more curved every day. They took Hannah aside.
‘He will have to go into a whole-body cast,’ Doctor Clifton said. ‘We’ve put it off for long enough.’
‘The poor boy will hate it,’ Hannah said.
‘It’s a better option than surgery,’ Mr Anthony said. ‘Putting him under the knife would be a last resort.’
‘Who will tell him?’ Doctor Clifton asked.
‘I will.’
‘Thank you, Sister,’ he said, sounding relieved.
She went to speak to Oliver. ‘I have good news and bad news. Which would you like to hear first?
He frowned. ‘Is the bad terribly bad?’
‘Fairly.’
‘Then I’ll hear that first.’
‘The doctors have said that you need complete bed rest while your body is held in a cast to encourage your spine to grow straight.’