“I know.” Ruth had been watching his face carefully. “One doesn’t like to believe this sort of thing about anyone, least of all of one in Nurse Cavendish’s responsible position. But, you see, this is not the first time such a thing has happened.”
Dr. Grainger made no comment, and after a moment Ruth went on, “Mr. Wrinch, the firm’s accountant, is an old friend of Nurse Cavendish’s. At one time, in fact, he was deeply in love with her and indeed, asked her to marry him. But just the same thing happened. She was perfectly willing to flirt with him, but marriage—no! She simply laughed at the idea.”
Dr. Grainger stood up.
“If it is bad taste for a woman to encourage a man she does not intend to marry, then, in my opinion, it is equally bad-mannered for a man to snivel about having been turned down. Ought to take it on the chin and hold his tongue. Come to think of it, he’d be a fool to do anything else. After all, a rejected suitor isn’t a very heroic figure.”
Ruth made a helpless gesture that to the doctor seemed singularly out of keeping with what he knew of her character.
“I see what you mean, Dr. Grainger, and in a way, I agree with you. But the point is that where Noel is concerned, I’m in a very difficult position. I think you will agree with me that the best possible thing is for the two young people concerned not to see one another any more. But this is Noel’s home. He can’t be expected to leave it, can he? So...” She shrugged her shoulders.
Dr. Grainger deliberated. He simply couldn’t believe Nurse Cavendish was the sort of woman Mrs. Baylis made her out to be. On the other hand, it was pretty clear that Ruth had got her knife into her. It might well be that it would be better for Kit to get out as quickly as possible.
“In the natural course of events I should be discussing the question of how long Mr. Baylis needs a nurse with Dr. Heathfield in the near future. I can, if you wish, do that at once. Or, if you prefer to make a formal complaint about Nurse Cavendish, you are, of course, within your rights.”
“Oh, no!” Ruth rejected the idea unhesitatingly. “Not that, for Noel’s sake. But if you will have a word with Dr. Heathfield...”
“Very well,” Dr. Grainger agreed shortly. “I will do that.” He made his escape, feeling uneasily that quite against his will he had somehow or other been cozened into playing this woman’s game for her.
Thank heaven, though, the final decision doesn’t rest with me, he thought as he drove off. That’s Heathfield’s pigeon! Later that evening he called Jason.
“That you, Heathfield? Good, glad I caught you in. I’ve just been to Moneyhill, and Mrs. Baylis wants to know when she can get rid of Nurse Cavendish.”
“When Mr. Baylis no longer needs her,” Jason replied promptly. “I made that clear ... and also that it’s for you to decide when that is. Trouble is, she wants to know now.”
“Oh?” Jason’s voice sharpened. “What’s the hurry?” And then, as Dr. Grainger hesitated he insisted, “Come on, Grainger, out with it. They could afford half a dozen nurses if it was necessary, so it’s not the financial angle. So what is it?”
“I received the impression that Mrs. Baylis hasn’t really taken a liking to Nurse Cavendish,” Dr. Grainger explained guardedly.
“No?” Jason said dryly. “I doubt if the lady would like anybody who is such an extremely reliable little watchdog—and utterly incorruptible. But she must have given you some reason for her attitude, or more likely hinted in a way that was quite unmistakable, but couldn’t be brought home against her later.”
“Actually, she was pretty outspoken,” Dr. Grainger said reluctantly. “But frankly, Heathfield, I’d sooner not repeat what she said.”
“As bad as that?” Jason said sharply. “Well, I’m sorry, Grainger, but I must ask for details—in fairness to everybody, particularly Nurse Cavendish. Surely you can see that. But if you really feel you can’t, then I’ll make inquiries for myself.”
“Oh, very well.” Dr. Grainger agreed unwillingly. “But mind, Heathfield, I don’t believe a word of it myself. I’ll swear Nurse Cavendish isn’t—”
“I’ve an appointment in five minutes,” Jason told him. “So if you could come to the point...”
“Well, it’s this. According to Mrs. Baylis, Nurse has been encouraging young Noel’s advances, but with no intention of marrying him. She substantiates the statement by saying that Wrinch—you know, the accountant chap—had the same experience with her some years back. Pretty beastly, and as I said, I don’t believe it, but...” He paused and waited. “Hello?” he said sharply. “Yes, I’m still here.” Jason’s voice was completely toneless. “Will you tell Mrs. Baylis that I will have to see her husband again before making a decision? I fancy Thursday will suit me best. Wait a minute. Yes. Thursday at three. Suit you?”
“All right by me,” Dr. Grainger confirmed.
“Right, I’ll note that. Goodbye.”
“Goodbye,” Dr. Grainger echoed and hung up. There was a dissatisfied expression on his face.
Cold-blooded devil, he thought irritably. Not a word in defense of that nice girl! Surely he doesn’t believe ... He pondered, and remembered something Kit herself had told him—that she and Heathfield had known each other when they were both at St. Magnus’s. But surely there wasn’t anything ... He pushed his chair back violently and said aloud, “Oh, confound that Baylis woman! A born troublemaker if ever there was one, and all the more dangerous because there’s usually a grain of truth in her lies.”
CHAPTER TEN
Kit heard of Jason’s impending visit, and the reason for it, from Mrs. Baylis.
“Dr. Grainger is so pleased with my husband’s condition that he feels anything more than ordinary home care will shortly be unnecessary,” she explained smoothly. “I hope you’ll understand, Nurse, when I say that I’m overjoyed at this news. It does mean so much, doesn’t it? Of course, great though my respect for Dr. Grainger’s abilities is, I had to make it clear that I felt it would be wise to have another opinion before making a definite decision, so Dr. Heathfield will be coming here about three on Thursday.”
“I see.” Kit appreciated that there was nothing she could do but accept the situation, but there was one question she had to ask. “Does Mr. Baylis know the reason for Dr. Heathfield’s visit?”
“Oh, no,” Mrs. Baylis said reproachfully. “We—Dr. Grainger and I—felt that it would be wiser and kinder not to say anything beforehand in case we’re going to be disappointed. Oh dear, that does sound rude to you, but I’m sure you know I didn’t mean it that way!”
“Of course not,” Kit said quietly. “Thank you for telling me, Mrs. Baylis. I’m very glad that Mr. Baylis is so much better.”
Glad, yes. But not satisfied. She had formed a high opinion not only of Dr. Grainger’s ability, but also of his discretion. Consequently, in view of the close association that Jason had had with this case, she simply could not believe that Dr. Grainger would dream of taking it on himself to make such a statement without first consulting Jason. Of course, he might have done that, but even then, surely it was unlikely that he would have said anything about it to Mrs. Baylis until after Jason had seen Mr. Baylis. No, the more she considered it, the more convinced she was that it had been Mrs. Baylis’s idea.
Jason and Dr. Grainger arrived together punctually at three o’clock on Thursday. Kit had thought it possible that before seeing Mr. Baylis they would want to speak to her alone, but neither of them suggested it. Indeed, it would have been rather awkward to do so since Mrs. Baylis shepherded them straight into Mr. Baylis’s room, and Kit, waiting on the landing to receive them, had no choice but to follow. Kit wondered fleetingly whether that had been done purposely, but once the examination had begun, she had no time to think of anything but that.
It was an exhaustive examination, not only of Mr. Baylis’s physical condition, but also of his state of mind. Indeed, Jason laid so much emphasis on it that several times Kit saw Dr. Grainger look surprised, and she concluded that at least some of the com
plications in the Baylis family were unknown to him.
Perhaps that was natural enough, seeing that much of what Jason knew was no more than hearsay he might be reluctant to repeat. But what did surprise Kit was that knowing the decision to be made, Jason made no request for at least a brief discussion with Dr. Grainger in the adjacent room before making it. Dr. Grainger, too, seemed a little put out when Jason gave his opinion with only the briefest hesitation.
“Well, Mr. Baylis, the time has undoubtedly come when we can safely allow you a little more rope,” he said quietly.
“Good,” Mr. Baylis said heartily. “How much?”
“That, of course, is the point.” Jason sat down and pondered for a moment. “From now on, so much depends on your common sense. I believe you realize that—”
“I certainly do,” Mr. Baylis agreed. “And I may be able to convince you of that when I tell you that I realize what a fool I’ve been to try to keep everything under my own thumb instead of delegating responsibility. Well, that won’t happen again, I assure you. In fact, having been forced to admit that I’m neither as young nor as fit as I was, I’ve come to the conclusion that it’s about time I enjoyed the fruits of all my years of hard work, if I’m ever going to do so at all. In other words, I intend life to be something of a holiday from now on.”
For a moment sheer amazement kept them all silent. Such complete capitulation was the last thing anticipated.
Jason nodded and stood up.
“Excellent!” he approved. “And now, there’s another point we must get settled. In the circumstances, as of course. Nurse Cavendish will be the first to appreciate, the time is very shortly coming when it will no longer be necessary for you to have the care and attention she has given you.”
Kit looked at him sharply. Was it her imagination or was he not only quite deliberately avoiding looking at her but was also speaking in an oddly stiff, unnatural way? But why should he do that? They both knew that sooner or later she would be leaving Moneyhill, and though that meant being farther away from Jason she had felt she would not mind. For until they were free of the feeling of tension that close association with the Baylis family had induced, it had seemed to Kit, and to Jason too, she had believed, that their own happiness must wait. It just wasn’t the right atmosphere for love to flourish.
Sick at heart, she hardly noticed what was being said until Jason spoke in a voice sufficiently loud to suggest that he was repeating something that he had already said once.
“If it’s agreeable to you, Nurse Cavendish, Mr. Baylis suggests that you finish this week and one more complete week before leaving. Does that suit you?”
“If it won’t inconvenience anyone, I would sooner leave at the end of this week,” Kit said woodenly.
Mr. Baylis looked surprised and even a little hurt. What Jason might be thinking or feeling Kit didn’t know, for she was careful not to look at him.
There was a brief silence. Then Jason said in a voice entirely devoid of expression, “Are you agreeable to that, Mr. Baylis?”
“What? Oh, yes, yes, if that’s what Nurse would like to do,” Mr. Baylis said absently.
“That seems to be that, then, Nurse,” Jason said coolly.
Dr. Grainger, who had not spoken for some time, seemed suddenly to come to life. He turned to Kit.
“I’d like to take this opportunity, Nurse, of saying how much I’ve enjoyed working with you,” he said firmly and more loudly than necessary. “I’m quite sure that your care of him has contributed in no small measure to Mr. Baylis’s return to health. And I’m sure he will be the first to agree with that.”
“I do, indeed,” Mr. Baylis said kindly. “I could not have had a kinder or more sympathetic nurse. Thank you, my dear!”
Kit smiled tremulously at him ... and waited.
But Jason, it seemed, had nothing more to say.
The promise of spring, which had been in such evidence for the past few weeks, had been temporarily vanquished by a chilling east wind.
But Kit, sitting in the unheated waiting room at Minsterbury station, hardly noticed the physical discomfort. The chill she felt came from the heart, and that nothing could have warmed.
Since his visit to Moneyhill she had neither seen nor heard anything of Jason. It was true, of course, that only two days had passed since then, but Jason had known how short a time was left. Yet hadn’t she been foolish ever to expect that he would get in touch with her? What else could his cold manner toward her and his completely formal farewell at Moneyhill have meant except that he had once again lost interest in her?
Kit shut her eyes and shrank into herself. If only she’d never come back! If only all those years when she had striven to forget Jason had not been wasted! Why, she had even told herself that if, by chance, they ever did meet again her heart would not miss a beat. Yet look what had happened! As though those years had never been, she was as deeply in love with him as ever.
“And he cared a little bit,” Kit thought in self-defense. “Only not enough—”
“Kit!”
She started at the sound of a man’s voice, and for one blissful moment imagined that, after all, Jason had come. But when she opened her eyes, it was Victor who stood there. She stared at him blankly.
“Kit, I had to see you,” he said urgently. “I’ve only just heard that you were leaving—and why—and I had to do something—”
“What do you mean?” she asked without interest. “I’m leaving because Mr. Baylis no longer needs a nurse, that’s all.”
Victor sat down heavily beside her.
“I wish that was all,” he said bitterly, “and that I hadn’t had anything to do with it—not, of course, that I’d any idea she’d ever—” He stopped short, his face twitching.
Kit sighed. She wished Victor hadn’t come, and still more she wished he’d go away. But it was clear he had something on his mind that only telling her would satisfy.
“You’d better tell me, I suppose,” she said wearily.
“Well,” Victor began awkwardly, “right from the beginning she—Mrs. Baylis—didn’t really take to you.”
“I know. The door wasn’t quite closed when she began to say that she wasn’t at all sure I would be satisfactory.”
“She realized you had too strong a character to be fooled,” Victor explained gloomily. “And from time to time since then, I’ve been getting the rough edge of her tongue on the subject. But when she came back from the Continent, it came to a head. She was furious because, in her absence, everybody seemed to have changed.”
“Yes,” Kit agreed. “They had. They were happier and they felt more free—even Mr. Baylis.”
Victor nodded.
“Yes, that was it—though of course she didn’t put it that way. She said everybody had become slack, and she blamed you for a lot of it. So she made up her mind you had to go.”
“I thought it likely that the idea had originated from her, although she told me that it was Dr. Grainger’s suggestion.”
Victor laughed shortly.
“Grainger? Not on your life! No, she put him in the deuce of a spot, except, of course, he passed the buck to Heathfield.”
Kit turned on him so sharply that he jerked away.
“What do you mean?” she demanded urgently. And then, as he hesitated, she said, “You’ve told me too much not to tell me everything now, Victor. What did Mrs. Baylis say to Dr. Grainger?”
“Well, she told him that though she had no complaint to make against you regarding your nursing abilities, you were not ... not a desirable person to have in one’s house,” Victor said, carefully not looking at her.
“She said that!” Kit exclaimed. “But what on earth did she mean? She couldn’t have made a statement like that without some explanation.”
“Oh, she gave one all right. She told him that, well, young Noel had fallen in love with you and wanted to marry you, but that though you led him on, you were only, well, anyway, you wouldn’t take it seriously.”
/> Kit stared at him incredulously.
“But that’s absolutely absurd!” she said indignantly. “Why, Noel is—” She stopped short, remembering that Noel had said he and Sue were not telling anyone but her about their engagement for the time being. “Noel isn’t in the least bit interested in me, nor I in him! There has never been anything that could justify her in thinking that.”
“She says she saw him kiss you,” Victor said gloomily. “And of course Dr. Grainger and Dr. Heathfield believed that.”
“I suppose it sounded pretty circumstantial,” Victor said lamely. “Particularly as she also told Grainger that you had played the same trick on me, years ago—”
“She could only have said that if you had told her so,” Kit said, her eyes blazing.
“Well, I didn’t. I told her that I’d been in love with you and that I could never get you to take me seriously, and she made up the rest,” Victor explained sulkily.
So that was it! All very circumstantial, as Victor had just said. And perhaps one could not blame Dr. Grainger, who was, after all, a stranger, if he believed it. But Jason ... that was different. He had known her too well, surely, ever to believe such a story! And yet, clearly, he had. It explained, as nothing else could, why his manner toward her had changed.
“Victor, why did you contrive to get me to Moneyhill?” she asked dully. And then remembering that this was something she had never found a satisfactory explanation for, she repeated her question in a way that demanded an answer. “Why did you?”
“I’ll tell you, Kit.” He sounded quite relieved that she was giving him this chance to explain. “And it’s the honest truth. For a while I was furious with you for turning me down. It ... hurt my vanity, I suppose. Then—oh, I don’t know—it was about that time that I gave up my private practice and joined Baylis. I was terrifically busy and it was all new and interesting, so I suppose I forgot you. But then this business about a private nurse cropped up.” He paused and drew a deep breath. “I was scared, Kit. You see, Ruth had taken over, and she was convinced that the old man would never be fit enough again to come back. And she made it very clear indeed that if I wanted to keep my job, I had to take my orders from her. And they were, as briefly as I can put them, to work out how expenditure could be cut and at the same time efficiency and output increased. Oh, it can be done, if you regard every worker simply as a machine. It was done, before the end of the year. And, of course, it all showed in the annual report. That’s why she didn’t want him to see it.”
Kit Cavendish-Private Nurse Page 12
