yRing for the Nurse(22)

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."