Ring for the Nurse (14 page)

“
All right—then just hand over the writing materials. I hope I can produce a legible scrawl with this utterly useless hand.
”

A surge of misery enveloped Felicity as she made her way with dragging steps through the ward. She had done the right thing she told herself, surely she had acted wisely. She
knew now that Guy Brenton
’
s happiness and welfare meant more to her than anything else in the world. Yet to have deceived him, even for his own good, filled her with unhappiness. Now, as the swing doors of the ward
close
d behind her, she knew a sudden fear of the hours which stretched ahead of her; she had intended to have an early supper, then to bed. Now the prospect appalled her
...
those hours alone, lying in bed thinking
...
thinking ... she couldn
’
t bear it; somehow, somewhere she must find distraction. Almost unconsciously her steps turned towards the operating theatres, there was just a chance Diana was free that evening, she
’
d just
have
to
be, Felicity thought with rising panic, she couldn
’
t remain alone with her tormenting thoughts.

“
Nurse Weste—is she anywhere about?
”
Felicity asked the white-coated porter on duty in the corridor outside the operating theatres.

“
Yes, Miss, I just see her come out of number two, I reckon she may be in the sterilizing room.
”

“
Thanks.
”
Felicity walked along the corridor past the theatres. The bustle of the day had died down but through the small glass panels in the doors she could see that two of the theatres were still in use—there must have been a long operation list; perhaps, after all, Diana wouldn
’
t be off duty yet. Unconsciously hurrying her steps, Felicity opened the door of the sterilizing room, the hiss of steam muffled her footsteps and she had reached Diana
’
s side before the other girl had realized her presence. Pulling down her gauze
m
a
sk
and letting it dangle at her throat, she turned eagerly.

“
Hallo, what are you doing here? Don
’
t tell me that Mason
’
s has an
‘
emergency
’
for us, we
’
ve just about had it down here, couldn
’
t
f
ace another thing!
”

“
Nothing like that!
”
Felicity laughed reassuringly.
“
I
’
ve just come off duty, I wondered if you were free this evening,
I
don
’
t feel I can face dining-room supper and an earl
y
night.
”

“
Half a moment, I can
’
t hear a word.
”
Diana lowered a facet controlling the steam, then turned again to her companion.
“
Did you ask me if I was free this evening?
”

“
Yes—couldn
’
t we eat out somewhere—what time will you be off?
”

“
Right now if I know anything about it!
”
Diana twisted her arms round to the back of her neck to unfasten the long white overall.
“
Here, give me a hand with this,
”
she begged, turning her back to Felicity, then, twisting her head round, continued,
“
I
’
m nearly half an hour late as it is. MacFarlayne
’
s so slow, he just puts the whole list back hours— thanks,
”
she interposed as, the tapes undone, she flung off her overall.
“
Yes
, let
’
s go out, can
’
t say that the prospect of a dining-room meal thrills me either—it
’
s corned bee
f
night, after eight hours on my feet I couldn
’
t face it, corned feet I
’
ve got already and I don
’
t need the beef to match.
”

“
That
’
s grand! I
’
ll wait for you in the hall—don
’
t let
’
s change, it
’
s such waste of time, couldn
’
t we just run into the
‘
Kettle
’
, it
’
s near and the food
’
s not too bad, it seems so late to go into town.
”

Half an hour later the two girls were seated at a small table over an appetizing dish of fish
au gratin.
There was something so warm about Diana
’
s presence that Felicity was already beginning to feel more at ease. The happenings of the day seemed less real, they were dissolving away like a bad dream.

“
What made you change your mind about an early night?
”
Diana asked casually as she helped herself to another portion of fish baked to a beautiful golden brown.

“
I was worried—I felt I wanted to talk to you,
”
Felicity, admitted, then suddenly diffident about saying more, lapsed into silence.

“
Go on, tell me what it
’
s all about, I thought you seemed a bit mournful.
”
Diana
’
s calm voice took on a teasing note as she added,
“
Fretting about Brenton leaving?
”

Felicity choked back the denial which sprang to her lips and with unsteady fingers fumbled for the menu.
“
What will you have next? Coffee? Or how about a sweet? I see there
’
s apple-tart.
”

“
Never mind about food, tell me what
’
s up,
”
Diana persisted, but the mocking note had left her voice and her serene expression was sympathetic.

The urge to share her burden was too strong for Felicity to resist. Leaning towards her companion she began.
“
I must tell you something—about Alaine Jason—she waylaid me yesterday afternoon and poured out the most amazing story.
”
Felicity paused, then assured of her companion
’
s
attention went on with her narrative while she found herself anxiously—almost fearfully—watching Diana
’
s reactions.
“
I didn
’
t know what to say at first, I was horrified at the idea of taking anything from a patient
’
s pocket, it seemed unthinkable, preposterous!
”
A deep sigh escaped her.
“
I tried to see the thing reasonably, I just had to believe, what she told me, that if Mr. Brenton found the ring it would seriously upset him.
”
She lifted her head anxiously.
“
You do believe me, don
’
t you?
”

“
Goodness, what a teaser!
”
Diana ejaculated. Then, pursing her lips, she silently contemplated her friend
’
s reve
la
tion.
“
You say you found the ring just where the girl said? You
’
ve given it back to her now, I presume?
”

“
Yes, this afternoon.
”
Felicity spoke with obvious distress.
“
Don
’
t tell me you think I did wrong.
”

“
Heaven alone knows!
”
Diana shrugged her shoulders.
“
I suppose that one
’
s duty is to protect a patient from unnecessary excitement or distress, in that way you were right. It was certainly an odd sort of position to find yourself in and I suppose you acted wisely
...
always assuming that minx was telling the truth,
”
she ended meaningly.

“
Oh, it sounded true enough, but she is such an actress, one never knows how much is an act or how much is genuine. She was almost in tears—surely one can
’
t fake that
?
— she seemed to care so much, to be deeply concerned that he shouldn
’
t be hurt.
”

“
Don
’
t worry, I don
’
t see that you—or anyone else for that matter—could have behaved differently, you had to accept her word and I expect there must be some truth in the fact that, assuming he had forgotten all about the row, finding his engagement ring back in his pocket would have been a nasty shock. I really think you were right, honestly I do.
”
Diana repeated trying to add conviction to her words.

“
If only I knew—if
o
nly I could understand.
”
Felicity
’
s tone was more relaxed but there was an obvious longing for enlightenment.
“
I just can
’
t make out the relationship between Miss Jason and Guy Brenton.
”

“
They are engaged, darling, didn
’
t you know?
”
Diana asked with a burst of satirical laughter, then, becoming serious, added,
“
I wouldn
’
t trouble your head about it, you
’
ll never really know. You
’
ve done what you thought best for your patient and that is as far as a nurse is supposed to go,
”
she ended practically.

“
It
’
s been a relief to tell someone,
”
Felicity admitted, then went irrelevantly,
“
How did you know Guy Brenton was leaving?
”

“
I heard in theatre this morning, can
’
t remember who
told me.
”

“
There must be a grape-vine system at St. Edwins, I never knew news get around so fast anywhere.
”

“
I suppose you won
’
t be sorry to see the back of him, will you? It must have been awful nursing him, Philip says it
’
s marvellous how you
’
ve managed.
”
Diana spoke with admiration.

“
I
’
m sorry he
’
s going,
”
Felicity acknowledged.
“
It
’
s odd, but you know I
’
ve enjoyed nursing him.
”

There was a moment
’
s silence during which Felicity was uncomfortably aware of her friend
’
s searching glance.
“
I
’
ve often pulled your leg about Guy Brenton—we all did—I mean before the accident—tell me the truth, Felicity—you know you can trust me—do you seriously care about the man or something?
”

“
I like him—admire him—more than anyone.
”
There was, despite her effort at nonchalance, a note of intensity in her voice.

“
Good heavens!
”
At any other time Felicity would have been driven to laughter at Diana
’
s expression of mixed awe and horror.
“
You—you seriously mean that?
”
She broke off, searching vainly for words.
“
You really care about him, and I never guessed for a moment.
”
She relapsed into silence.

“
I know it must sound crazy but don
’
t misunderstand me. I
’
m not a schoolgirl harbouring a secret passion, it
’
s just that I once believed I could never care for any man again, that Peter was, and always would be the only man in my life. I know now that isn
’
t true. I loved Peter, but I was so young and Guy Brenton has shown me that I could forget.
”