Swimming Home

by Mary-Rose MacColl

Louisa did a run of routine excisions, then saw three patients and caught up on paperwork. She looked at the clock. It had just gone eleven. She went out to the waiting room and said to the nurse on the reception desk, ‘Can you ask Dr Luxton to pop into the office as soon as she’s free?’

  Then she returned to her desk and started writing up case reports on the morning’s patients.

  Ruth soon came in. ‘You look tired,’ she said.

  ‘Thank you,’ Louisa said. ‘Just what I need to hear. Did you know that being told one looks tired does nothing for one’s wellbeing?’

  ‘I’m sorry.’ Ruth sat in the chair at the side of the desk. ‘You do look tired, though—all the time lately.’

  ‘I have a problem.’

  ‘The inspector.’

  ‘Two problems then. Do you know an American businessman, Manfred Lear Black?’

  Ruth shook her head.

  ‘He seems to think I should go to Baltimore to visit a clinic he funds. Harry did some work for them, and he knows Alexander. He also saw Catherine’s swim. He says it was extraordinary. They swim in America, apparently. Women, I mean. They won at the Olympics.’

  ‘Last year, yes they did,’ Ruth said.

  ‘Well, I didn’t know that. I don’t keep up with women’s swimming. Anyway, he seems to know about swimming, and he has a group in New York that Catherine could swim with.’

  ‘And?’

  ‘I can’t leave here.’

  ‘Why not?’

  ‘What would happen to the patients?’

  ‘They’d see another doctor? If the clinic’s all that’s stopping you, Louisa …’

  ‘He’s offered money.’

  ‘Who?’

  ‘Mr Black. He’s rich, and he’s virtually told me to name my price. We’d have a chance with the inspector coming.’

  ‘I see. So a wealthy American has offered you an opportunity to help him with a clinic. He also knows a way to help your niece to swim, which, apparently, is what she loves to do. And he’s offered to get us out of a real pickle we’re about to be in. And you can’t see your way clear to going.’

  Louisa nodded. ‘I see your point.’

  ‘Louisa, darling, this is a marvellous idea. I agree. You haven’t had a proper holiday ever. When you went off to get Catherine, you had all those worries about what it would be like. Now, you’re finally learning what she needs. Of course you should go. You should go for six months, a sabbatical. There’s that young doctor at the London I’ve been trying to convince to come to us. She wants full-time work. So we’ll give her full-time work. Easy. Mr Whatsit can pay her salary.’

  ‘Women’s swimming is the next thing, apparently,’ Louisa said, not really listening.

  ‘Well, perhaps it is. Wouldn’t that be marvellous?’

  ‘Would it?’

  ‘Oh, yes, wouldn’t it? Do you remember Lily Smith?’ Louisa shook her head. ‘Before your time, the swimming suffragist. Her idea was that she’d swim the Channel to prove women could do whatever men could do and so should have the vote. It’s true she put the cause behind by ten years but her failure was an enormous success. It got women swimming. My daughters all swim. I insisted. It’s something about our bodies being able to do things. And also, floating. I think floating is marvellous.’ She tilted her head and regarded Louisa. ‘New York! That young American girl was in shouting distance of Dover when they pulled her out yesterday, apparently, and look at Gleitze. She’ll manage it one of these times. She’s a typist, you know, who saves up enough money each year to get herself a coach and tugboat …’

  Louisa hadn’t really been listening. She’d been thinking about Mr Black. Earlier that morning, she’d telephoned Alexander,

  who’d said that yes, he knew Manfred Lear Black. ‘Outstanding fellow,’ Alexander said. ‘Big in the Democratic Party, I believe. They say he might run for office one day. We’re about to propose a major partnership with his Baltimore company. It will see us into the US passenger route. But why do you ask?’

  ‘He’s interested in our clinic,’ she said.

  ‘Oh, yes, he has a similar setup in Baltimore, I think. Harry did some work for them. That’s how he met Julia. It would be great for me if you could help him, Louie. He’s a tough businessman, ruthless on price. Maybe you can charm him.’ Alexander laughed as if the notion that Louisa might charm anyone was a hilarious joke.

  She told Alexander that Mr Black wanted her to help with his clinic. ‘I’ll take Catherine out of school, I think,’ she said slyly. Alexander didn’t say anything. He’d seen Catherine’s picture in the paper, had asked Louisa what the devil she was doing, but hadn’t realised Catherine had been expelled. Louisa decided she’d rather keep it that way. The last thing she needed was Alexander on her back.

  Louisa had thought the swimming was part of the problem with Catherine. She’d never have dreamed of letting the girl take off her clothes and get in the river like that. She might have sent her up to the ponds in the summer, though, if she’d thought about it more thoroughly. Ruth seemed to think swimming wasn’t the problem, that swimming might help. Mr Black had said women’s swimming was a field of endeavour now. Louisa wasn’t convinced but if it’s what the girl wanted to do, then why not let her do it?

  When Louisa had gone along to the march with the Pankhurst girls, it had been against her mother’s advice. Louisa was all of twenty and it was so exciting to be part of the movement. Her mother said they were shrill, those Pankhurst girls, Millicent’s worst criticism of anyone. But exciting was how Louisa described the feeling of freedom she’d had that day. She’d meant to break the window. She wanted to see what would happen. She was arrested with twelve others and thrown in Holloway prison. Six weeks, she served; a surprisingly rewarding experience.

  ‘Violence is never the answer, Louisa,’ her mother said. ‘You resorted to violence.’

  ‘I broke a window,’ Louisa had said, ‘in full knowledge, Mother.’

  ‘I had a meeting this week,’ she said to Nellie that evening after Catherine had gone to bed. ‘A chap named Black, an American businessman. He wants me to go to America. He has a clinic and he needs advice. It would be for a month or two, probably early next year. Catherine’s father did some work for them, and this Black fellow knows Alexander. I’d want you to stay here and take care of the house and dogs, just as you did when I went to Australia.’

  ‘Of course,’ Nellie said. ‘But what about Catherine?’

  ‘That’s the thing. Mr Black is interested in women’s swimming.’

  ‘Oh, yes,’ Nellie said with a look.

  ‘No, not like that. I think he may be quite sincere. He seems very certain Catherine could be a competitive swimmer.’

  ‘Where would she swim?’

  ‘There’s a group of women in New York, apparently. It’s not what you’re thinking, Nellie. I think he may just be a good person.’

  ‘Do you believe in fairy godmothers, Louisa?’

  ‘No, Nellie, I don’t.’

  ‘Neither do I,’ Nellie said.

  15

  THE DECK IN FRONT OF THEM WAS LIT UP WITH STRINGS of coloured lanterns. They looked beautiful reflected in the water, Catherine thought. The weather had held through the week and tonight it was warm enough to go about in sleeves, Louisa had said before they’d left. Best take a shawl in case, though, she added. It can be chilly down on the river.

  Louisa had decided they would go to the party. They were to meet Mr Black, she said, who had asked Louisa to visit his clinic in America. Louisa had said yes. She was going to take some time off from the clinic, she’d told Catherine the night before. Dr Luxton and the other doctors would look after her patients. She would take Catherine with her. ‘You’ll be able to swim there,’ Louisa said. ‘If swimming’s what you want to do, you’ll be able to swim more easily there.’

  But all Catherine heard was that they were going to America. America, where her mother’s family had come from. Oh, yes, she could swim. But perhaps, too, sh
e could find her people. Mr Black was related to her mother, Louisa said. His mother had been a Freebody, ‘or something’.

  Louisa had also said that, in the meantime, Catherine wasn’t going back to school. She could come to the clinic and help the nurses some days, and once a week, if she wanted, she could go with Nellie up to Hampstead ponds to swim. When they were back from America, they’d work out what to do about school. Catherine wasn’t to worry, Louisa had said. She was sure they could get through this difficulty. She’d been very kind.

  In front of them now was Mr Black’s ship, the Aloha, its main deck festooned with those lovely lanterns. Mr Black had sent a car to collect them. The driver had opened the door for Catherine and had called her Miss Quick. It had made Louisa smile. Now they were met by a footman, who led them down a small gangway and along the deck to a set of wooden doors. Catherine could hear a band playing and when the footman opened the doors the music was suddenly louder, like someone’s face lighting up when they noticed you. Jazz, Louisa said, that’s the new jazz music. You can’t help but feel happy when you hear it.

  They went inside and found themselves on a landing looking down to an enormous room, the length of the deck. There were more than a hundred people down the stairs, men in tuxedos, women in long gowns, and waiters in white jackets with trays.

  Red, white and blue streamers were strung from a central chandelier to each corner. A red carpet led down the stairs. ‘It matches your red dress,’ Catherine said to Louisa. Her own dress was of a velvet in a deep shade of green. Catherine had never felt anything so soft that wasn’t alive, she’d thought when she first tried it on at the dressmaker in Sydney. She wore ivory slippers and a wrap they’d borrowed from Ruth Luxton’s daughter. When she’d come down the stairs before they left home, Louisa had said, ‘You look a picture, Catherine.’

  Louisa looked so graceful, Catherine had thought, the red silk dress, her hair piled into a chignon, a simple string of pearls around her neck. She looked beautiful. But when Catherine said this aloud, Louisa laughed. And then Louisa had asked was she happy. Catherine had said, ‘Yes, I believe I am happy,’ because she saw the look on Louisa’s face, of expectation, desire to please, and she’d felt sorry for her aunt suddenly. And she was happy. She was looking forward to tonight. Andrew Mackintosh would be here, he’d said, and Catherine hoped she’d see him again.

  At the top of the stairs was a fellow in tails and white gloves. He had a staff in his hand, and as Catherine and Louisa approached he struck the staff on the floor three times. The crowd hushed. Then he boomed, ‘Ladies and gentlemen, I present Dr Louisa Quick and Miss Catherine Quick of London.’

  People looked up and smiled, then the party resumed and the footman led Louisa and Catherine down the stairs. ‘Oh goodness,’ Louisa said. ‘It’s quite an affair, isn’t it? Mr Black said it was a little party. I’m glad now we dressed up.’

  Just then Catherine saw Andrew Mackintosh heading towards them from the other side of the ballroom. She waved.

  ‘Who’s that?’ Louisa said.

  But before Catherine could respond he was with them. ‘Dr Quick, Miss Quick. Mr Black is so terribly sorry he’s not here to greet you.’ Andrew looked flustered, Catherine thought. ‘He’s been called away temporarily on an urgent matter, and he’s asked me to look after you. Come over and we’ll get out of the thoroughfare and find the chap with the drinks.’ As he said drinks, his eyes widened and he smiled. He turned to Catherine. ‘Did you swim here?’

  ‘Of course,’ Catherine said.

  Louisa looked at Andrew Mackintosh. ‘Have we met?’ she said.

  ‘Oh, yes, yes we have,’ he said. ‘But I was about this tall.’ He used his hand to gesture at knee height. ‘I’m so sorry. It’s been quite a day. You know my mother, Dr Quick. Ada.’

  ‘Ada Mackintosh?’ Louisa said.

  ‘The same.’

  ‘Donald.’

  ‘No, Donald’s my brother. I’m Andrew, the younger one.’

  ‘Of course. You were the handful.’

  ‘I was the bright spot in my mother’s day was the way she mostly put it. But you’re quite right. She told me not to touch anything on your desk.’

  ‘And you broke …’

  He was nodding. ‘A vase, yes, expensive. And we bought you a new one and you said it was better than the old one, which was terribly kind of you.’

  ‘It’s possible the new vase was actually better,’ Louisa said.

  He laughed. ‘Ah yes, entirely, if my mother was involved in its purchase. She has marvellously good taste, unlike her offspring. Come, here’s my man to fetch us a drink, which will make everything better.’

  He’d led them over to one side of the room, with doors out to the deck. ‘Just give me a moment to work out what I do here. I’m not used to all this.’ He took from his pocket a wad of bills and peeled off two to give to the drinks waiter, who smiled widely. ‘Mr Black insists I take care of “tipping”. Do you know what that is?’ Catherine shook her head. ‘We give money to the staff. I have a hundred pounds, which I’m to ensure everyone gets a little of. I’m not very good at it, I’m afraid. I gave the same chap a pound three times. Thank goodness he’s honest. Anyway, it’s so lovely you could both attend. I know you’re busy, Dr Quick. Mr Black very much wanted to be here to greet you himself.’ He turned to Catherine. ‘And so, have you been back in the drink?’ he said.

  ‘You know Catherine too?’ Louisa said to him.

  ‘I delivered the invitation for tonight. I work for Mr Black,’ he said, gesturing for them to go through a doorway out onto the deck. ‘Quieter out here,’ he said. There was a gentle breeze now that made the little lanterns swing from side to side. It was all so beautiful, Catherine thought. The white-coated waiter was back and Andrew took a champagne for Louisa, a punch for Catherine, and a champagne for himself. ‘Slainte, as we say in the old country,’ he said, taking a sip. ‘I love an employer who appreciates the finer things of life.’

  ‘Catherine mentioned someone had delivered the invitation,’ Louisa said, ‘but she didn’t say the name. I thought you were at Oxford.’

  ‘Past tense, I’m afraid. I just wasn’t suited to the life, I suspect,’ he said. ‘And the week I came down, Mr Black was inquiring about recruiting an Englishman to help him while he’s here. One of my father’s friends put two and two together. I must say, Dr Quick, Mr Black is awfully glad you could come. And he is amazed by Miss Quick’s achievement, that’s for sure. He’s been following the Channel swimmers these last weeks.’

  Black had bought the Aloha from the US Navy, Andrew told them. ‘But he came across on the Transylvania with Captain Bone, which is why we’re having this party, to thank the good captain, who’s somewhere over there, I think—’ gesturing to the left of the ballroom ‘—and the captain’s brother brought the Aloha.’

  Just then, the crowd parted for a middle-aged man with silver hair slicked back from his forehead. He was frowning slightly, as if concentrating on something down and to his left. He was about Catherine’s height, small next to Andrew.

  ‘Now, Mr Mackintosh,’ he said, ‘are you taking good care of my special guests?’ His eyes, a deep brown, sparkled as he smiled. Around them, Catherine saw, conversations had paused as people watched him. It was Manfred Lear Black, she realised.

  ‘I’m doing my very best,’ Andrew said. ‘Mr Black, Dr Quick, whom you know, and her niece, Miss Quick.’

  ‘Dr Quick,’ he said, leaning in to kiss Louisa on the cheek. He turned towards Catherine and looked at her briefly before his eyes slid away. He nodded. ‘Miss Quick.’

  Catherine didn’t know what she’d expected but nothing about the man in front of her was familiar in any way. Had she thought he might remind her of Julia? He didn’t, and Catherine felt disappointed suddenly.

  ‘Mr Black, this is quite a party,’ Louisa said, looking at Catherine and frowning. ‘My mother used to say she didn’t often throw parties, but when she did, they were good ones. But this
is extraordinary.’

  Mr Black surveyed the room. ‘Well, thank you, Dr Quick. We’re very honoured to have you among us.’ His eyes flicked to Catherine again. ‘And to have a swimmer of such calibre. You,’ he said, smiling. ‘What a swim!’

  ‘Mr Black, Aunt Louisa said you’re related to my mother,’ Catherine said.

  ‘Yes,’ he said, ‘and therefore to yourself. But I couldn’t swim like that, Catherine.’ He smiled widely. There was nothing about him that Catherine felt affinity with, she thought again. He could be anyone.

  ‘Mr Black flies, Catherine,’ Louisa said, looking at her niece again.

  ‘Well, I do, Dr Quick,’ Mr Black said. ‘But at functions like this, I keep my wings tucked under.’

  Louisa laughed. ‘Well, Catherine doesn’t show her scales either.’

  ‘Of course not. She’d be smarter than that. That would be showing off. But you have the makings of a champion.’ He was still looking towards Catherine, but slightly to her left. ‘What do you think of that?’ He raised his head slightly, as if peering over spectacles, although he wore none.

  Catherine didn’t know what to say. She felt a little deflated suddenly. She’d hoped to see Andrew Mackintosh again and he really was very sweet. But she’d also thought that Mr Black would be someone she’d know, and yet, he wasn’t at all.

  ‘Catherine is a little embarrassed, Mr Black,’ Louisa said. ‘We’re still discussing with the school what might be done.’ This was what Louisa had told her they would say.

  ‘I’d give them a piece of my mind if you were my daughter,’ Mr Black said, still looking at Louisa. ‘Schools here in London wouldn’t know what to do with you, Catherine. And I have some sympathy with that point of view.’

  ‘You didn’t enjoy school?’ Louisa said.

  ‘I did not,’ he said. ‘I failed mathematics, as it happens, and yet I’m a banker. I failed English and I’m a newspaper publisher. I think schools are overrated, Catherine. What do you think?’ He was still looking at Louisa.

  ‘Well, I didn’t much like Henley,’ Catherine said. ‘I didn’t fit in there.’ She appreciated his standing up for her. Perhaps the Freebodys would be more accepting of her than the Quicks were.