Ring for the Nurse (2 page)

The few splashes of plaster of which Sister had complained seemed a trivial matter compared with the white mass which now lay at Nurse Jones
’
feet, and dismayed completely by Guy Brenton
’
s rebuke, she was now ineffectually spilling plaster over everything within range.

Guy Brenton
’
s temper was rising fast as he half turned to address Sister.
“
What do you think you are here for, just an ornament? It
’
s been difficult enough to straighten this limb, I don
’
t intend losing the alignment now. You can see Nurse Dene is occupied, go and give a hand with the plaster.
”

At long last the limb was smoothly encased and Guy Brenton stood upright. Felicity was glad to stretch her back which ached from the awkward position she had been forced to adopt. She held out her hand to take the surgeon
’
s overall.
“
Will you be sending Mr. Elver up to fix the extension?
”
she queried.

“
Yes, he can do it.
”
Guy Brenton glanced at his wrist watch which he had taken from his pocket, then he laid it aside as he pu
t
on his jacket.
“
I shall have to be getting along, I have an appointment. Nurse Dene, when you get back to the ward, ring Mr. Elver and tell him, I expect you
’
ll find him in Casualty.
”

“
Very well, sir.
”
Felicity barely waited for the surgeon
’
s departure before she crossed to the window.
“
May I open up, Sister?
”

“
Yes
...
and then you and Nurse Jones had better stay and clear away. I can
’
t ask my staff to stop on at this time of night.
”
She picked up the cuffs she had previously removed and slipped them over her wrists, then with a brief
“
good night,
”
she walked towards the door and disappeared.

It was not until both the anaesthetist and the radiographer had removed their respective equipment and departed that
Nurse Jones gave vent to her pent-up feelings.
“
Thank heaven, that
’
s over; What a devil that man is. He
mak
e
s me so nervous I don t know what I
’
m doing. You seem to be the only person who ever gets a civil word and even you didn
’
t get much change out of him today, he seemed ruder than ever!
”
She paused to draw a deep breath, then went on.
“
Why should
Theatre Sister expect us to clear up, why can
’
t her own pros, do it? You a Staff Nurse too, and after all I m a second year—it
’
s disgusting!
”
she concluded indignantly.

“
I expect the theatre staff are off by now. She
’
s quite right, we can
’
t leave the place like this,
”
Felicity explained resignedly.

“
I was going to a picture too—oh, dear, it is a nuisance, I did so want to see it,
”
Nurse Jones lamented as she tucked a wisp of reddish hair under her cap, then as she prepared to retrieve some of the debris from the floor, she looked up to continue.
“
You know, Mr. Brenton has got me into such a state, I still feel half
-
paralyzed.
”

“
It
’
s silly of you to show you mind, that only makes him worse. If you nurses would behave like human beings instead of scared rabbits, you
’
d find him much easier to deal with.
”

“
It
’
s all very well for you
...
he never goes for you. Even poor Sister Robinson dithers more than ever when he s around. You must have some special immunity or something.
”
She stooped to gather up an armful of blankets, then went on.
“
Do you think we
’
ll be long? The picture starts at seven fifteen and I
’
d hate to miss the beginning.
”

“
You get off, I can manage alone.
”
Felicity rolled her sleeves above the elbow.
“
Look here, go and hurry the porters to take the
patient up to Mason
’
s—then ring Mr. Elver about the extension—leave the case notes for Night Sister— and then you can get away.
”

“
You mean that?
”
Nurse Jones beamed.
“
Sure you can manage?
”
She was already at the door before turning back to add:
“
Here are the porters now—I
’
ll phone Mr.
Elver directly I get to the ward. Thanks awfully—good night.
”
With ill-concealed impatience, Nurse Jones waited for the porters to lif
t
the still unconscious figure on to the stretcher, then hastily followed them from the theatre.

Left alone, Felicity methodically set about her task. It was no mean effort to clear up such a devastating mess after an already tiring day. The plaster, as was its habit, seemed to cling to the most inaccessible spots and the patch which Guy Brenton had made on the floor needed all her vigour to erase. His temper really was formidable—if he
’
d had to clear up himself he might think twice before throwing things about.

“
Hallo—why, what in heaven
’
s name are you doing?
”
Diana Weste stood in the doorway viewing her friend
’
s exertions with surprise.
“
Since when have you been promoted to cleaner?
”

Felicity looked up from her kneeling position, then sank back on her heels.
“
Just a little
joke of Sister
’
s—seemed to think that if Mr
.
Brenton chose to use theatre as late as this, then it was up to Mason
’
s nurses to do the clearing.
”

“
Then why not get a pro on to it?
”

“
You seem to have forgotten the time! Don
’
t wait for me, I
’
ll be at least another half-hour.
”

“
I
’
ve only just finished myself.
”
Diana perched herself on the edge of the operating table. The hair which peeped from beneath her cap was deep brown and although there was beauty in the calm serenity of her expression and well
-
moulded features, she lacked
the
animation which was Felicity Dene
’
s charm. Fumbling in the pocket beneath her apron, she drew out a crumpled packet of cigarettes.
“
Here—have one?
”

“
What
...
smoke in here? I daren
’
t—and don
’
t you either—for goodness
’
sake, Diana, don
’
t dare—supposing Sister comes back and catches you?
”
Felicity exclaimed with horror.

“
Rubbish, she won
’
t come back, she
h
as left me to lock up, no one will come along now. I
’
m off duty—so are you by rights, here, come on, don
’
t be a fool.
”
Diana had lighted her own cigarette and threw the packet across to her friend.

Felicity ignored the crumpled packet lying on her lap as she glanced in dismay at her friend.

“
Go on—don
’
t be such a prig, you are much too conscientious,
”
Diana protested.

Felicity was not at any time very keen on smoking, she never seized on a cigarette as Diana did; but, no doubt spurred to action by her friend
’
s words, she drew one from the packet and leaned forward for Diana to light it.

“
There, that
’
s better, isn
’
t it? Nothing like a whiff when one
’
s tired and on edge.
”
Diana expelled a cloud of smoke with satisfaction.
“
I should think you could do with a bit of soothing after a spell with Brenton, wasn
’
t he awful today? I warned you, didn
’
t I? We had three cases with him this morning and by the time he
’
d finished, we didn
’
t know if we were on our heads or our heels
!”

“
He was pretty scathing to Sister—and poor Jones, she got a ticking off too,
”
Felicity admitted.

“
Oh well, I ought to be going.
”
Diana turned towards the door.
“
I
’
ve locked up everything except the outer door; if I leave the keys with you, will you see to that? Pop them on the board in Matron
’
s office as you go up to Mason
’
s.
”

“
All right—see you later.
”
Felicity waited for her friend to disappear then glanced round the still disordered room. She certainly hadn
’
t time to indulge in smoking, she couldn
’
t enjoy it any way. Perhaps Diana had been right, she was too conscientious, she always tried to stick pretty rigidly to the rules, her troublesome conscience wouldn
’
t allow otherwise. She had already turned towards the window with every intention of flinging away the cigarette when the sound of footsteps held her rooted to the spot. Who on earth could it be?—
p
erhaps Diana was returning—perhaps a stray porter who had seen the outer door unlocked? She was not left long in doubt, Guy Brenton
’
s appearance so quickly followed the warning sound of footsteps, that she still stood immobile as his figure blocked the doorway. Never had he seemed so tall, never so forbidding, yet she felt unable to move and only some warning instinct forced her to conceal the cigarette behind her back, although she knew full well that nothing on earth would, conceal the guilty flush which had mounted her cheeks.

“
I came back for my wrist, watch—I wonder where I put it? I remember now, over there on the ledge.
”
Apparently unaware of the shock his arrival had caused Felicity, he walked nonchalantly across the room, picked up his watch and began to strap it round his wrist. In fact he seemed scarcely aware of her presence and although miserably conscious of the wretched cigarette still burning between her fingers, Felicity was just beginning to breathe again when he turned to address her. Whatever he had been going to say died on his lips, and for a tense moment he stared at
her in silence. Slowly his expression hardened and she knew there could be no further evasion.
“
Somewhat against rules smoking on duty, isn
’
t it?
”

Felicity nodded mutely, she felt utterly incapable of speech, wholly submerged in shame. Something akin to fear quickened her pulses. She had committed a flagrant breach of the rules, what would he say about it—what would he
do?

“
Such behaviour scarcely befits your position as Sta
ff
Nurse. I believe you are expected to set an example to your juniors, you are obviously not sufficiently reliable to hold a post of responsibility.
”

The stern criticism did nothing to temper Felicity
’
s anxiety as she visualized the possible result of her thoughtless action. He
’
d tell Matron and she
’
d lose her job—the senior position for which she
’
d worked so hard for the past three years. Despairingly she scanned his face but she could detect no vestige of sympathy.

“
I
’
m sorry,
”
she faltered, then realizing the futility of any excuse or appeal, she lapsed again into silence. What a fool she
’
d been, what a complete fool. Even at this moment of her own dire predicament, she was deeply aware of Guy Brenton
’
s magnetic attraction, of his dominant personality which threatened to submerge her, then, with a determination not to cringe but to match her strength with his, unfalteringly she met the steely penetration of his gaze and unconsciously tilting her chin a trifle higher, waited resolutely for him to speak. She tensed herself for the words she dreaded to hear and then—when he was about to speak, the door was pushed open and, to her horror and amazement, Theatre Sister stood on the threshold.

“
Oh, Nurse Dene, I am looking for my Staff Nurse. I saw the outer door was unlocked, I thought she might still be here.
”
She paused and sniffed the air, wrinkling her nose suspiciously.
“
What on earth
...
”
she broke off in some confusion as, apparently for the first time, she perceived the surgeon
’
s presence.
“
Oh—Mr. Brenton—I didn
’
t see you at first—I
’
m sorry, sir, I was wondering if Nurse Weste was anywhere around.
”

Before Felicity had the remotest idea of Guy Brenton
’
s intention, he had moved swiftly to her side and, to her alarm, she felt him draw the cigarette from between her nerveless fingers. Unconsciously she squared her shoulders preparing for the onslaught of words, then smothered the exclamation which had sprung to her lips as she saw him turn deliberately to the window and fling the cigarette outside.

“
Sorry to be smoking in your sacred precincts, Sister,
”
Guy Brenton gave a short laugh.
“
If I
’
d found any of the students smoking here I should be the first to censure them.
”

“
It doesn
’
t matter
one bit, sir,
”
Sister protested.
“
We
’
ve closed down for the day. Well, I must be running off. I
’
ll see if Nurse Weste is over in the Home. Mind you lock up properly, Nurse Dene,
”
she admonished as she disappeared.

The unexpected turn of events completely robbed Felicity of all initiative and for the moment she could only stare at her companion in silent perplexity. What did it all mean, why hadn
’
t he said anything? Surely he hadn
’
t been trying to cover up for her? The idea was too absurd, as if Guy Brenton were likely to do anything like that! It was completely out of character and quite unconsciously a mirthless smile played momentarily round her lips.

“
You seemed amused.
”
The words were rapped out and hardly served to add to Felicity
’
s confidence.

“
I
’
m not, would you be?
”
There was a ring of defiance in her voice and at that moment she found herself strangely indifferent to the consequences. Her previous good record gave her little experience of trouble but at least her action threw no discredit upon her work. She had never failed in any responsibility, and if a silly infringement of the rules was to cost her her position as Staff Nurse, then it was grossly unfair and a little further indiscretion hardly seemed to matter.
“
It isn
’
t even as if I enjoyed smoking—but then Matron is hardly likely to take
that
into account.
”

“
What has it got to do with Matron?
”
He raised his eyebrows questioningly.

Felicity, who had expected her show of defiance to be followed by some scathing comment which would completely rob her of her assumed bravado, was dumbfounded at the question—not only the question but the hint of a smile which had curved his lips, softening his whole expression.
“
I suppose you intend to report me to Matron?
”

“
I didn
’
t say so, why jump to conclusions?
”
He turned towards the door as if tiring of the discussion, and now there was no mistaking the amusement underlying his words.
“
You anticipate trouble, all you nurses do that, cry out before you
’
re hurt. They say there is no smoke without fire, perhaps it
’
s lucky for you that you managed to display both!
”