“I’m sorry, sir.” There was genuine concern in Martin’s voice. “Of course I’ll carry on ... is there anything else I can do?”
“No, thanks.” Raynal was pulling on his raincoat as he spoke. “It will take me about an hour to run down and if there is any question of a fracture, I shall bring Christine back here.” He frowned. “I should like to have taken a nurse with me, but it’s too late to get anyone now; I’d sooner get off and perhaps I can get someone from the school to help if I do have to drive her back.”
“Would you like me to come?” Kay’s offer was so entirely spontaneous that she was scarcely aware of having spoken at all and was even shocked at her own words. She was even more alarmed when she heard Raynal’s ready acceptance.
“That would be most kind of you.” Before Kay had time to collect her thoughts, Raynal continued speaking. “Run and get a coat, it’s beginning to rain heavily and we’ve a fairly long run ahead of us. I’ll wait for you here.”
As Kay hurried across to the nurses’ quarters, her mind was in a whirl. Janet, who was following closely behind, entered her room with her and seating herself heavily on the bed, she gave vent to her feelings. “Well, Kay, you must be crazy! You’ve been on since eight this morning, you said you were tired and now you’ve volunteered for a spot of extra work! For old Raynal, too! Honestly, I think you are balmy ... or tell me, is it a form of expiation, are you suffering from a conscience?”
“Don’t be absurd, of course it isn’t.” Kay’s voice was muffled as she pulled her frock over her head. “I don’t know why I offered,” she added in more apologetic tones as she slipped into her uniform dress and adjusted the collar at the throat. “Here, fix my belt for me, I must hurry, he looked in such a state, but I’m certainly not starting out on this job in mufti,” she ended firmly.
“Afraid if anyone sees you they’ll think you and Raynal are ‘walking out’?” Janet giggled as she assisted Kay to fix the starched belt at her waist. “But seriously,” she added, “I do think you were a fool to offer ... and anyway, who is this child? ... I didn’t even know he was married, in fact no one here ever seems to gossip about Raynal’s private life. Fancy him having a wife ... and a child too.”
“No reason why he shouldn’t!” Kay responded practically while she slipped her arms into her navy uniform coat. “There, I’ll do.” She glanced quickly into the mirror and pushed a strand of red-gold hair more closely beneath her hat. “Pretty quick change, I call that.”
“Not too bad,” Janet conceded as she accompanied her friend along the corridor towards the main building. “I hope you don’t get back too late, you’ll be exhausted tomorrow if you don’t get a decent night’s rest.”
“I’ll be all right,” Kay assured her. “After all, I can rest in the car going down and even if he brings the child back it won’t be exactly hard work.”
At the entrance to the hall the two girls separated, and as Janet gave Kay’s hand a perfunctory squeeze, she whispered meaningly: “Behave yourself, Duckie, remember Robin!”
As Kay approached Peter Raynal, he swung round to face her. “Ah ... there you are ... let’s get along, this downpour is going to show us up pretty badly as it is.”
As Kay sank back into the wide, comfortable seat of the car, she gave an imperceptible sigh. She might have been fool-hardy in offering her services to Raynal, but it didn’t seem like being such a bad evening after all. Kay loved motoring, she adored sitting behind a smooth, swiftly-running engine and the fast moving vista of countryside always lulled her into a sense of restful inactivity. It was a luxurious car too and Raynal handled it with skill and confidence. It was too dark to keep track of their route and all Kay could see through the windows was the shiny stretch of wet road ahead, reflecting the passing lights on its mirrored surface.
It was a long time before either of them spoke. A thousand questions trembled on Kay’s lips, how old was this child, where was the school, what sort of an accident had she had ... a million others, but somehow she lacked the temerity to ask them. It was not until the traffic had thinned and the street lamps of London were well behind them, that her companion spoke.
“It’s very good of you to come. I want, if possible, to bring Christine back with me and I must have someone to give an eye to her, while I’m driving.”
“What has happened to the child, you said it was an accident?”
“They were in the dormitory ... it was apparently after lights were out, the child leaned out of the window, she must have slipped...” He stopped speaking and Kay was uncomfortably aware of a break in his voice. He seemed very fond of his child, Kay realized, and then found herself wondering why she should be surprised, but perhaps it was because somehow she had never even thought of him as married. One somehow knew quite a lot about the family life of the honorary staff, they usually brought their wives to the hospital functions and their children during the Christmas festivities. Peter Raynal had never brought his wife to the hospital dances ... she wondered where Mrs. Raynal was now, why hadn’t she gone down with him to help with the child? Kay sighed. It was all a mystery, anyway it was hardly her affair, she’d offered to help out in a moment of impulse, the whys and wherefores were really no business of hers. Kay found herself stealing a glance at the profile of her companion, it looked grim, she decided. Was it all concern for the child or was he, inwardly, resenting the fact that she, of all people, was his companion for the journey? He couldn’t have forgotten the episode of the morning so easily, in fact he must be fully aware that probably of all the staff at St. Jude’s, she alone held him in contempt... but she wasn’t doing this for him, she reminded herself, she was doing it for an unknown child, just doing a job which no one of her calling could have refused.
“I do appreciate your offer...” It was odd, Kay reflected, Peter Raynal was almost repeating himself. Was he trying to assure himself of his gratitude? His next words disabused her of that idea. “It was particularly kind of you after our altercation of this morning.” For a second he turned to face her and his eyes held a questioning smile. “Coals of fire on my head? Anyway, I hope I wasn’t too overbearing, but I still think you asked for it, so shall we call a truce?”
“I wasn’t aware of any quarrel,” Kay replied stiffly, “but anyway there is no need for thanks, there is a job to do, and I am glad to do it.”
When Raynal next spoke, Kay felt he had made a very definite effort to turn the course of the conversation to matters of the moment. “We should be there in about twenty minutes. It’s a remote spot, miles from anywhere, and off all bus and train routes, as if a deliberate effort has been made to deter parents from wearing thin their welcome. In winter it’s usually snow-bound, and in summer, unless you have a car, it’s at least a couple of miles walk up a hill which is as steep as a mountain side.” He paused. “The rain seems to be stopping, if it clears we’ll make better time on the return journey.”
“You are definitely bringing Christine back?”
“Unless the headmistress has exaggerated her symptoms, yes. She’ll have to be X-rayed ... they say the leg is damaged. If there is anything to be done I’d like Mr. Mall to do it. I want to get her into St. Jude’s, it will be easier for me to have her there. I spoke to Matron before I left, there isn’t a vacancy in Private Wing or in Children’s Ward for another few days, but she could go into a general ward at first. Any chance of fixing a cubicle in Surgical Two?”
“Yes, of course I’ll manage it somehow.” This time Kay felt no urge to raise any difficulties and suddenly she was aware that her companion had turned towards her, and sensing that he too was recalling her attitude of the morning, she felt a guilty flush mount her cheeks. In an effort to justify herself Kay plunged into explanations. “You know it isn’t always easy to arrange these things. I’ve only two cubicles ... you are always demanding them, without any warning...” She broke off uncomfortably, conscious that her companion was smiling at her confusion.
“Yes, I know.” There was a
hint of amusement in Peter Raynal’s voice. “I’m always demanding the impossible.”
“It isn’t that, sir...” Kay found herself floundering. “It’s ... it’s just that it isn’t always easy to please everyone...”
For a moment, Raynal’s attention was held in negotiating an awkward corner, then straightening out the wheel, he spoke. “We are nearly there. I’ll go and have a word with the head-mistress first, it will be as brief an interview as I can manage and the sooner we can see Christine and get her fixed up and away, the better.”
In a few minutes, the car drew up before a large building, looking dark and dreary against a sky which was still covered with threatening clouds. As Raynal had promised, his interview with the headmistress had been brief and Kay soon found herself following him up the stairway, behind the broad back of the School Matron. The sick bay was at the further end of the building and it seemed to Kay an endless journey along the oilcloth-covered corridors to a baize door upon which was a printed notice attached with drawing pins, proclaiming it to be “Private” and not to be entered without permission.
Kay’s first impression of Christine was of her air of fragility. The child, as she lay back against her pillows, looked as if a puff of wind would blow her away. Her face was almost transparent in its pallor, a pallor emphasized by the pale gold of her hair. The arms which she threw ecstatically round Raynal’s neck were as thin as those of a child of six, yet Kay guessed Christine’s age at about ten. Kay was amazed to see the almost fanatical adoration with which the child clung to Raynal as if she would never let him go, tears welling from her eyes and trickling down her cheeks unheeded as she pressed her face against his shoulder. Gently, Raynal disentangled himself from her grasp and beckoning to Kay to approach, commenced his examination. It did not need Raynal’s expression to tell her of the injury, nor the child’s whimpering cry. Kay’s own experience was enough to make her realize that the leg was badly broken.
“We’ll fix this up temporarily ... there are splints in the car ... we must get her back and have an X-ray.” Raynal’s lips were set in a grim line as he removed his jacket.
Kay was too used to working with Peter Raynal to need any direction, she always knew what he wanted done and was invariably ready with all he needed. In a very short time the leg was firmly fixed in splints and while Kay packed unused bandages and splints back into his bag, Raynal was soothing Christine.
“I’m coming back with you ... now ... promise...” Christine’s words were almost a cry. “You won’t leave me ... you’ll take me with you?”
“You are coming with us, Chris.” He turned to Kay and beckoned her to the bed. “This is Sister Somers, she is going to make you comfortable in the car while I drive. You are coming back to St. Jude’s with us and then Sister Somers is going to put you to bed in her ward where she can look after you herself.”
“I see...” A sigh broke from the child as she lifted a woebegone face to Kay. “Thank you, Sister Somers, it’s very kind of you.”
The stilted words filled Kay with pity. Impulsively she stooped and smoothed the soft, gold hair back from the child’s hot forehead. “It’s not a bit kind of me, you see I want to take you back, I want to have you in my care too. I’ve got such a lot of dull grown-ups to look after, it will be lovely having you.”
As Christine smiled, Kay was amazed at the transformation, the child was beautiful, but with a beauty of an ethereal quality. This was no ordinary tough, ten-year-old school girl, but some fairy in childish guise.
“I’ll carry Christine, Sister, could you go ahead and open the car? If you don’t think she’ll be too heavy, I suggest she sits on your lap in front, there will be less jolting. Perhaps you could push the seat right back and fix a cushion for her leg.”
It was a little while before Raynal got things fixed to his satisfaction, but eventually all was set for the return journey and the car slid gently into motion.
“I said good-bye to Miss Hodson but you know I didn’t see Miss Fisher or Biggy,” Christine announced as they turned out of the school gates.
“Are those your teachers?” Kay asked, then added, “I don’t expect they’ll mind, they’ll realize you didn’t have time, and when you feel like it you can write to them.”
“Yes, I must ... Biggy’s awfully sweet, she’s my form mistress, you know.”
“Sometime you must tell me all about her, but don’t you think you could sleep now, it’s a long journey and you’ll be very tired.” Kay tucked the child’s head against her shoulder and found herself conscious of an unusual tenderness as she held the slight form closely in her arms. Kay’s year spent in the Children’s Ward at St. Jude’s had been one of the most pleasant of her training. She loved children and although the sickness and misery of the cases which had been in her charge had played havoc with her emotions, there had always been the loving and unquestioning faith of the children which had made everything seem worth while.
“She should get some sleep after that injection.” For a moment Raynal took his eye off the road to glance at the child. “She looks comfortable enough, I hope you aren’t getting cramped.”
“Not a bit, she is as light as a feather.” Kay paused, then added: “How old is she? I guess her age about ten but she seems so undeveloped physically.”
“Christine is nearly eleven. She is much too small and slight for her age, but it’s largely due to her temperament. She is highly nervous and excitable, worries far too much, in fact much as I hate to use the term as applied to a child, she is definitely neurotic.” He paused then continued. “I am doubtful about leaving her at St. Jude’s tonight. You won’t be on duty and she will wake to all strange faces. I’m wondering whether to take her back to Wimpole Street with me and bring her by ambulance to hospital in the morning.”
“Night Sister will be on until the morning ... yes, I think it would be better.” Kay spoke thoughtfully. “It will give me a chance to fix a cubicle too; if she goes in tonight, it will have to be in the ward...” She smiled. “You see I do have to do a bit of juggling to fix it.”
Raynal turned to smile appreciation and Kay was struck, not for the first time, with the charm of those clear-cut features. He certainly was attractive, perhaps it wasn’t surprising that he had most of the nursing staff dancing round him, he looked less taut now too, she mused, far less strung up than he had been on the outward journey.
“If you’ll just help me settle Christine for the night, then I’ll run you back to hospital. I do hope you haven’t found all this too tiring, you’ve been a tremendous help and Christine has obviously taken to you. I can’t tell you what a relief that is.”
“I shouldn’t think Christine found it difficult to make friends, she’s such a darling.” Kay drew the sleeping child more closely into her arms. “There is something curiously appealing about her.”
“Children of Christine’s type always find making friends difficult, they are too nervous and diffident, but sympathetic people they seem to take to on sight.”
“Then I’m glad I’m sympathetic.” Kay gave a low laugh. “I’d like Christine to take to me, I think I love her already.”
The return journey seemed to Kay to pass almost too quickly, somehow she didn’t want to be parted from the child she held so closely in her arms, she felt reluctant to disturb such peaceful rest. On waking there would be pain and Kay longed to put off that moment. But time could not be deferred and presently Raynal was lifting the child from her arms and carrying her up the stone steps of his Wimpole Street house.
The large house seemed curiously quiet and empty until Kay realized that it was already past midnight. There didn’t seem any sign of Mrs. Raynal and Kay could only assume that she could not be home. Raynal had quickly procured sheets and blankets and Kay could scarcely hide er smile when she found him helping her make up a bed, in what was presumably a spare room. How the staff would have laughed if they could have seen the Senior Surgeon assisting at bed-making!
Christine ha
d scarcely wakened and once in bed she only murmured an almost inaudible good night, before lapsing back into unconsciousness. With a deep sigh of relief, Raynal followed Kay from the room and closed the door softly behind him. “I think she’ll sleep a few hours yet; if she wakes in the night I shall hear her, my room is next door. She may need another injection if there is any pain.” He threw open a door leading into a cosy, book-lined study. “Now how about some refreshment before I run you back...” He crossed over to a tray, set ready on a low table. “A drink ... a sandwich?”
Before Kay had time to protest, Raynal was pouring her a whisky and had placed a dish of sandwiches at her side. “I’ll join you in a drink in a moment, but if you’ll excuse me I must make a call first...” As he had been speaking, he had dialled the number ... “Is that Walton 05? ... This is Mr. Raynal, yes, that’s right ... I want to speak to Mrs. Raynal...” There was a pause while he held the receiver to his ear, then he spoke again. “That’s right, it’s Mr. Raynal, I wanted to let her know that I have brought Christine to London...” He paused again. “She is out? ... at a dinner party, yes, I see.” Raynal was speaking slowly and with deliberation, as if the line were not clear. “Well, tell her in the morning.” He replaced the receiver and came back to the table. Pouring himself a drink, he drew up a chair and seated himself facing Kay, his eyes searching her face over the rim of his glass. Kay was uncomfortably conscious of his scrutiny, she could not have failed to hear his conversation at the telephone and it must have been obvious to him that she must have drawn her own interference.
“You are surprised the child’s mother is out, you knew it was she who phoned me, so you realize she knew of the accident.” Raynal’s words were deliberate, as if he would in no way undertake the position. “I suppose you are shocked ... so am I, but it will be easier for you to understand from the beginning—after all, you are to have Christine in your charge—that Christine’s mother has no time to waste on a difficult child.” His lips curled contemptuously and Kay was reminded of how angry he could look on those rare occasions when he was roused.
Peter Raynal, Surgeon Page 4
