The rest of that afternoon held a quality of unreality for Felicity. She seemed to be walking on air and time seemed to fly on wings. Even Diana's message that both Philip and Bill were on duty that evening did nothing to lower her spirits. On the contrary she felt that a quiet evening with Diana would fit in far better with her exultant mood. Although there was a song on her lips she dared not even hum as she prepared Guy Brenton's tea tray, it would definitely be beneath her dignity as a Staff Nurse to be found singing on duty by one of her juniors. Neatly placing the thin slices of bread and butter on to a plate she added it to the tray, then, picking it up, turned towards the door.
"Just a moment, Nurse-Nurse Jones can see to that, I'd like a word with you." Sister's bulky figure blocked the doorway. "Come along into my room."
Felicity obediently set down the tray and followed Sister Robinson into her office; although she presented a quiet exterior she was aware of a deep sense of inward anxiety. Suppose something had gone wrong, could Matron have gone back on her word? Had Sister Robinson perhaps made some objection?
"I believe Mr. Brenton has told you that it's been arranged for you to accompany him to his home." A Sister's statement was such a relief after her momentary doubts, that Felicity was sure that her reaction must have been obvious.
"It's unusual, of course, Matron prefers to send one of our outdoor staff, but there, Mr. Brenton is a very special patient, so we mustn't mind, must we?" she asked archly.
It seemed strange to Felicity that there could have been any question of minding, but matching her mood to Sister's she spoke. "Of course not."
"Apparently Matron has agreed to your stopping until Mr. Brenton is quite settled. You must try not to mind this unavoidable break in your work, in the same way as I shall have to manage without you-it's extremely upsetting for me, short-handed as we are, but Matron is kindly allowing Nurse Mendel from Perins Ward to come and help me."
"I'm sure you will manage quite well," Felicity murmured, feeling that some comment was expected from her.
"I'll miss Mr. Brenton, the poor lad has been a wonderful patient, a bit irritable at times, but then we know how men resent any sickness or disability. I'm sure that, although he says so little, he has appreciated all we have done for him, it's been-"
The rest of Sister's eloquence was entirely lost to Felicity, she knew that she would go on interminably unless she could find some way to divert her. Seizing a chance to break in, Felicity began, "In case we leave in the morning, there are quite a few things I must clear up first, you wanted me to help you change number nine's bed, didn't you?-and that splint of Tyler's, we said we'd do it tomorrow, would you like to get it fixed tonight?"
"Yes, yes of course, dear, I'd quite forgotten-we mustn't waste time talking, you don't know how I'm going to miss you. Nurse Mendel is all very well but she doesn't know my methods and I expect I'll have to run round her the whole time-"
Felicity was subjected to a long discourse on the merits and demerits of other staff nurses while she and Sister Robinson attended to the matters on hand. Apart from an occasional word to the patient which usually consisted of some childish coaxing or encouragement, the discourse was unbroken and when that subject was exhausted Sister fell back bemoaning Felicity's imagined fate in having to leave the sheltered atmosphere of John Mason Ward for the unknown terrors of Buckinghamshire!
At last Felicity was free to round off the last tasks of the day. Sister's endless chatter had slowed down the work and now it would be a real scramble to get finished; she was still flushed from her efforts when she entered Guy Brenton's room and was infinitely relieved to find that O'Brien had got the patient back to bed and left everything reasonably shipshape.
"Sorry I couldn't get along before," Felicity apologized as she advanced to Guy Brenton's side. "But I see that you haven't been neglected. I wanted to give Sister a hand with one or two things as I'll not be here tomorrow."
"Well, the excuse is at least a new one," Guy Brenton grumbled. "I'm rather tired of hearing the usual explanation about Sister's half-day, she seems to be off most days according to you." The smile which accompanied the words belied their meaning.
"Nonsense, anyone would think you were neglected, you are the most spoilt patient in St. Edwin's," Felicity retorted as she straightened the sheet and gave it an extra tuck.
"Leave me alone and stop messing the bed about," he protested. "Thank goodness I'll be out of this place by this time tomorrow, although I'll still have you fussing round me-so it won't be quite as peaceful as I'd hoped," he interposed, then added as if as an afterthought, "I can't think what possessed me to suggest taking you along."
"Just a momentary flash of genius." Even as she spoke Felicity was struck with the amazing sense of ease she could now feel in this man's presence. It seemed unbelievable that she had ever stood in awe of him; although not so scared as most of her fellow nurses, she had still had to admit to a certain degree of fear. He would always instil a deep respect, he was that type, but she knew she had come to a closer understanding of him than she would ever have believed possible.
"I hope you realize that from the moment I shake the dust of this place from my heels, then-no more coddling. What's more, I refuse to be taken home like an ailing child or a halfwit. In other words I won't tolerate your tender solicitude, I'll make no touching picture of a side man supported by the strong arm of a devoted nurse. Kindly discard uniform, behave like a normal woman and for the time being try to forget your noble calling."
"Yes, sir," Felicity agreed demurely. "I promise, but I do hope you've been getting on your feet a bit today, you remember the steps down from the main hall are fairly steep and I'd hate to see you stumble, an undignified exit from St. Edwin's would be quite out of character." Without giving him a chance to reply she crossed to the door. "You seem to have all you need for the night. If you'll excuse me, I still have several things to do. Nurse Jones will bring in your supper tray..." She paused, and throwing off the air of levity she had been adopting, spoke more seriously. "Please don't bully her, she was nearly crying after she brought in your tea-you've got her so scared she just doesn't know what she's doing."
"That red-headed girl?"
"The colour of her doesn't matter, the trouble is that her eyes match her hair every time she has been near you."
"She is utterly clumsy and inefficient."
"She is frightened, that's all-shouting at her just makes her worse."
"Oh well"-he heaved himself up against the pillows and threw Felicity a disarming smile-"can't you explain to the girl how harmless I am really?"
"It wouldn't be entirely true." Felicity's tone was firm but Guy Brenton's smile had entirely melted her and at that moment it was difficult to make herself believe that any nurse could be flustered by such a completely amicable and charming personality.
CHAPTER TEN
Since Diana was quite as eager as Felicity to get on with the latter's packing it was more or less by mutual consent that what was to have been a celebration meal ended up by being a plate of tepid sheperd's pie in the nurses' dining hall. They hadn't even lingered in the Common Room for a coffee and a chat with their fellow nurses, but had immediately repaired to the privacy of Felicity's bedroom.
"I don't believe the news has leaked out yet," Diana commented as she stubbed out the end of her cigarette and opening Felicity's cupboard door critically surveyed the rows or clothes hanging neatly on hangers. "You'd have been bombarded with questions if it had. St. Edwin's is slipping up, what's happened to the news service?" she enquired with a laugh, then, not awaiting Felicity's reply and suddenly recalled to the task in hand, exclaimed with enthusiasm: "What a wonderful collection of clothes, why, I can't believe my eyes! Three-no, four, suits-dresses galore and even a choice of evening clothes! You lucky thing, where do you get them all?"
"I had so much when I first came-a lot of things were ready for my trousseau, fashions haven't changed so much, especially in tailor-mades-and even the dinner frocks are much the same for that matter." Felicity crossed the small room to stand beside her friend at the open cupboard. "I haven't had much chance to wear my clothes, one seems to spend one's life in uniform, except for odd week-ends and a yearly holiday."