“I won’t admit that!” Jill retorted with a laugh. “I’ll fight this thing out if it kills me, that ill-mannered McRey isn’t going to put me off, and as for that insolent girl if she doesn’t mend her ways I’ll go out of my way deliberately to entice her boyfriend,” she threatened with heightened colour.
“That’s the stuff!” Harriet applauded, then added more seriously. “Listen, Jill. I’m not coming on the ward round with Duncan today. I do miss sometimes—and this will be one of the occasions.” She added with a smile: “I just don’t feel I can face you two meeting, after last night I mean. It seems so dreadful that he didn’t know who you were; you really should have told him.”
“I don’t see why. Still, if you funk it, I don’t mind. The shock, pleasurable or otherwise, will do him good.” Her cheeks dimpled provocatively. “I think the first round will go to me.”
Left again to her own devices, Jill didn’t feel quite so confident. It might perhaps have been better to admit her identity straight away ... she wished, however, that she could have had a little more time to get herself adjusted. He must be due any moment. Jill glanced at the clock on the desk—stopped of course, in keeping with the rest of the muddle. With an angry gesture she picked up the offending pile of coats, and after a short hunt discovered the cupboard in the passage which was their legitimate resting place. Returning to the room she made an ineffectual effort to clear the litter. It was useless in the short time at her disposal. Still, there was a free chair to sit on; that at least was an improvement.
“Sister—Dr. McRey—just arriving.” Nurse Malling put her head through the door, to make the announcement, then threw it open as he advanced along the corridor.
Jill was uncomfortably aware of the quickened beating of her heart; it was useless to deny the fact that she felt unaccountably nervous: she only prayed that it didn’t show. She wished that Brenda Malling weren’t around, her presence at this awkward meeting wasn’t going to make things any easier. The ringing sound of footsteps on the tiled corridor came nearer and, with a desperate effort to control her nervousness, Jill stood up, and it seemed that her heart thumped in time to those ominous footfalls.
“Our new Sister is here, sir,” Nurse Malling announced from her position in the doorway, as Duncan McRey’s tall, figure approached.
The pregnant silence that followed his entry seemed to Jill unending. He appeared even bigger than she recalled, and his presence entirely dominated the room. She knew his eyes to be on her—those steely eyes with their merciless, penetrating gaze. She longed to keep her own eyes lowered, yet as if his will dominated hers she found her head lifting against her own volition until she could no longer avoid his stare.
“Now I understand.” The words were slowly spoken with that burr that seemed to make Duncan McRey’s most scathing words deceptively attractive. “Well, Sister, all I can say is if your efficiency as a Sister only matches your efficiency in other things, you won’t hold this post for long.” He turned to Nurse Malling, who stood in wide-eyed astonishment at this wholly unexpected turn. “You may go. I’ll be on the ward in a few moments.”
It was at least some relief to see Nurse Malling make a hurried exit, but Jill still felt not only miserably uncomfortable, but now, in addition, a hot wave of anger surged over her at the injustice of his remark. She bit back the retort which sprang to her lips; never in all her years in hospital had she been spoken to in this manner. She wouldn’t stand it, as Harriet had said; she didn’t have to work, and at that moment Jill felt like walking out of St. Joseph’s, never to return. Why should she be insulted and humiliated? If it cost her her career, what then? It would be well worth it to be able to fling back in this insufferable man’s face just as good as he gave! It was her sense of humour which at that tense moment saved Jill. The scene suddenly appeared unreal, ludicrous, her lips curved into a smile, and she found her tensed limbs comfortably relaxed. “I hope you slept well last night, sir?”
“So well that I ache in every limb—where in the devil is my coat?” Duncan McRey demanded, turning towards the chair.
“I imagine it must be in the correct place, sir. Let me see, I suppose the linen room will be outside.” Jill spoke with a note of deference and concern, but it was pretty clear that she was not deceiving her companion.
“You mean you’ve been messing about with things already. I’ll never be able to lay my hands on a damn thing.” There was a note of suppressed anger in his voice, but it seemed to Jill that surprise was the dominant factor as she slipped past him to the cupboard and returned with a freshly laundered coat.
“Let me help you?” Jill deftly avoided his outstretched hand and, stepping behind him, held the coat in position. She had to rise on tiptoe to ease it on to his broad shoulders; even that didn’t make her feel at a disadvantage. Nothing could at that moment have stilled her sense of elation. She was quite sure now that, as she had predicted to Harriet, she had won the first round!
CHAPTER THREE
There were several occasions during the next few days when Jill had good reason to wonder whether her feeling of confidence that first afternoon hadn’t been somewhat premature. Settling down to her new post at St. Joseph’s was proving an uphill job. Jill knew that it was never easy to adjust oneself to a new appointment, to memorize the requirements of each medical officer, to understand the various rules and regulations laid down by the matron in charge, and even to find one’s way about a large and straggling building. She was naturally adaptable and was quickly settling down, but how much easier it would have been if her Staff Nurse had only been more helpful. Brenda Malling was not only withholding her help, but in some ways Jill felt she was deliberately proving obstructive, and in spite of all Jill’s attempts at friendliness the position was not improving.
Duncan McRey was a formidable factor too, but at least Jill felt she had been forewarned about him, and had managed to avoid much direct contact by allowing Brenda to deputize for her, a concession pleasing to her Staff Nurse, but Jill knew that by shelving her responsibility she was also lowering her own prestige, which with a girl like Brenda Malling she could not allow to continue.
Since Brenda had vouchsafed no useful information regarding the Honorary’s likes and dislikes, Jill had found it incumbent upon herself to watch and learn, but this afternoon Jill had every intention of relieving her Staff Nurse of further responsibility and taking on the round with Dr. McRey herself. Brenda Malling wouldn’t be too pleased about that, but since she had persistently refused her co-operation, Jill now decided to manage without it.
Even clearing her own room had proved a problem, and she had been fully aware of the scornful glances of her Staff Nurse as she had piled all the litter willy-nilly into a cupboard and ruthlessly destroyed anything she had considered unwanted. As she sat writing up her notes at her now tidied desk, she was conscious of Brenda Malling’s angry snorts behind her as she searched frantically in the cupboard, making a quite unnecessary clatter.
“Looking for something, Nurse?” Jill asked with a disarming smile, directed over her shoulder.
“Those X-rays of Mary’s ... Dr. McRey is sure to want them this afternoon. Mr. Fahr is coming for a consultation. Where in heaven’s name are they?”
“Filed in the X-ray department—where they should be,” Jill returned, a trifle too sweetly for the other girl’s patience.
“Why file them when you knew we’d want them?” Brenda Malling pushed back the tumbled pile of documents and slammed the cupboard door as she turned away.
“Just a moment, Nurse.” Jill halted her as she reached the door. “All notes and X-rays should be filed until they are actually wanted—but, as a matter of interest, I didn’t know they would be required this afternoon, I knew nothing of any consultation. Why didn’t you tell me?”
Brenda Malling had the grace to flush. “I didn’t think it mattered. Dr. McRey asked me yesterday. It’s Mr. Fahr’s day here, and he asked me to get him over, I arranged for him to meet Dr.
McRey here at three.”
“You know perfectly well that I should have been told.” Jill paused, then added: “I know you are trying to make things as difficult for me as you can. You resent my appointment here and you don’t try to hide it. Why go on like this? It’s rather childish, isn’t it?”
“I don’t know what you mean,” Brenda Malling retorted sulkily. “I’ve done all you have asked me; you suggested yourself that I should keep on with the ward round until you were more settled. I didn’t want to bother you with details. I’ve tried to help, that’s all.”
“I see.” Jill met Brenda’s gaze unflinchingly. “Well, thanks. From this afternoon, I’ll take over myself. Is there any other information you should give me, any further requests of Dr. McRey’s which I should know?”
“No, nothing.” Brenda turned towards the door and with her hand resting on the handle, spoke again. “Do you want me to accompany you on the round?”
“Yes, I’m sure you’ll be a help.” Jill bent over her desk to hide the smile which accompanied her words, but it quickly died from her lips as she heard the door close. There really wasn’t anything to smile about, she was too uncomfortably aware that in Brenda Malling she had a real enemy.
That thought was borne upon her again even more forcibly when, accompanied by her Staff Nurse, she attended Duncan McRey round the ward. Brenda Malling lost no opportunity, however small, of putting the new Sister at a disadvantage. The trolley which she had set out was certainly complete, but set in such a fashion that Jill had to fumble for every instrument, even the long-handled forceps were faulty and failed to grip, with the result that every syringe or needle plonked back three or four times into the disinfecting bowl before she could secure them.
Although Dr. McRey had raised his eyebrows in mild surprise, he had accepted her first appearance on his round without comment. Except to ask for his requirements, he had not directly addressed her, but Jill was certainly learning the truth of Harriet’s assertion. He was marvellous with all the children; he appeared to have their complete trust and confidence, and knowing, as Jill did, the incredible mixture of types which comprised a children’s ward, that in itself was an achievement.
Jill was herself only just gaining the confidence of her small charges, ranging as they did from infancy to six or seven years. Children are naturally suspicious, and yet Jill had wondered if some of the early antipathy towards her hadn’t been deliberately fostered by her Staff Nurse. She had thrust back the unworthy thought as she had set herself out to overcome the difficulty; it hadn’t taken her long, and she had only wished that adults could be so readily won over.
Duncan McRey rumpled a small boy’s tousled head, then straightened up his tall figure. “A couple of hours up for young Jim tomorrow, Sister.” He addressed Jill, but his blue eyes were still smiling down at the excited face on the pillow. “You are doing fine, young man. We’ll have you back to school before long.”
What charm the man had if he cared to exert it. Jill stared almost unbelievingly at Duncan McRey’s smiling eyes and the tender curve of the lips. In addition to the confidence with which he inspired his small patients, Duncan McRey also made his ward round the most interesting and informative that Jill had known.
“I see we have Sister with us today.” Harriet had quietly joined the group at the bedside. “Sorry I’m so late, Doctor, I was kept in O.P.’s.” She whispered a greeting to Jill, then concentrated upon the case which Dr. McRey began to discuss.
During the next few minutes it became obvious to Jill that Dr. McRey not only admired Harriet as a person, but, although she was his junior, he obviously respected her judgment, and they appeared to work together with complete understanding.
“Ain’t new Sister pretty, Doctor? Like what you see on films.” The small boy Duncan McRey was examining jerked his thumb in Jill’s direction. “A real smasher I calls er.”
“Can’t say I’d noticed.” Duncan McRey laughed down at Jim, then, with an air of serious consideration, added, “But there I daresay your eyes are sharper than mine. I’ll have a good look some time and let you know.” With a final smoothing of the rumpled hair, he walked towards the next bed.
Jill was devoutly glad of the distraction of preparing the next child for examination. Children were dreadfully outspoken She was used to that, but this was the first time she had ever really minded. She knew her cheeks had flushed, and had been uncomfortably aware of Brenda’s wry smile; but, worst of all, she had sensed Duncan McRey’s amusement. “Nurse Malling tells me that you asked for Mr. Fahr to see Mary Miles.” She spoke with a calm she was still far from feeling.
“Yes, that’s right ... this is Mary, isn’t it?” He smiled down at the child on the bed. “I’d better wait for Fahr. What time will he be over?”
“Three o clock, it’s that now.” Jill glanced down at the emaciated body of the child. The ribs showed all too clearly through the stretched skin, her face against the pillow was almost transparent in its pallor, and the soft fair curls clung damply to her head. A feeling of pity and concern filled Jill’s heart. Custom had, in part, lessened that emotion, but there was something in the ethereal beauty of Mary Miles as she lay motionless against her pillow, which tugged at Jill’s heart. For a fleeting second she caught Duncan McRey’s glance; she suspected that his eyes reflected her own emotion, but she must have been mistaken, she told herself. Surely there could be no room for sentiment in his life, no room for anything but his own ruthless needs.
Mr. Fahr’s arrival and the consultation which followed wiped all further speculations from Jill’s mind. Richard Fahr was the antithesis of Dr. McRey; he seemed to be endowed with all the charm and social graces which the physician lacked, and Jill couldn’t resist a momentary wish that Harriet had found her a post on the Surgical rather than the Medical side of St. Joseph’s.
Although Jill had always believed children to be instinctive judges of character, Mr. Fahr certainly made no favourable impression on Mary Miles. She screamed lustily before he could even touch her, and clung desperately to Duncan McRey for protection—there must have been some source of strength she sensed beneath his unpolished manner. Jill suppressed a smile; it was beyond her understanding. She couldn’t believe that even as a child she could have turned to Duncan McRey for consolation.
Jill listened with intelligent interest while the two men and Harriet discussed the case; at times the surgeon addressed her, bringing her into the discussion. “Then it’s decided, McRey, you’ll carry on treatment. I admit I’m reluctant to resort to surgery at the moment. You’ve had such excellent results before, I feel it’s well worth waiting for a bit.” He turned again to Jill. “You are from Baldwin’s, aren’t you?—a splendid hospital, must have given you plenty of experience. Well, I hope you are going to like it here.” He gave her an encouraging smile. “I am confident you will find it interesting working with Dr. McRey.”
Jill smiled her thanks. She’d certainly find it interesting, she agreed. Then she gave her full attention to the discussion regarding treatment. Then, as the surgeon disappeared through the swing doors at the end of, the long ward, Duncan McRey turned to her. “You heard Mr. Fahr’s opinion; for the time being we continue as before.” He leaned over Mary’s bed, exploring the thin chest with gentle fingers, then, addressing Harriet, he added, “We’ll have to get rid of this fluid.”
Jill quickly prepared a syringe and waited as Duncan McRey soothed the frightened child. Mary scarcely appeared to feel the prick. She turned her head, but only to give the doctor a trusting smile. “All right?” Again that tender smile transformed his whole expression, then, still chatting to distract Mary’s attention, he proceeded swiftly with the operation.
Jill was holding out the dish for the syringe when it happened—she felt her elbow deliberately jerked, the syringe flew from her hand and clattered to the floor. In numbed astonishment she saw the splintered glass at her feet and the trickle of fluid, a dark stain on the polished wood ... She heard Duncan McR
ey’s smothered exclamation of annoyance and Nurse Malling’s twitter of regret ... Still dazed, she looked up to meet his scathing glance, his undisguised expression of annoyance. Even Harriet showed ill-concealed surprise, and that was the last straw. Jill could barely contain her own rising anger.
“Oh, dear, what an awful mess! I’ll get Nurse Fenn to clear it up.” Brenda Malling spoke with such an air of cool detachment that it only served to fan the flame of Jill’s smouldering anger.
“You’ll do nothing of the kind, clear it up yourself!” Jill would have recalled her words the moment they were spoken, but it was too late, the expression of scorn and anger in Brenda Malling’s glance sent an icy chill to her heart.
“That’s the last case, isn’t it?” Harriet’s question broke in on Jill’s chaotic thoughts and, glancing up to reply, she was aware of the unspoken sympathy in her friend’s glance.
“Yes, that is all.” Jill spoke with all the calm she could muster, then slowly followed Dr. McRey and Harriet towards the swing doors. She watched them as they left the ward and entered her office and found herself marvelling at the ease with which Harriet conducted the conversation. Certainly Harriet had managed to break down the barrier of Duncan McRey’s reserve. Jill couldn’t resist a pang of envy; not that she really cared, she assured herself, but there was no denying the fact that not only would it make her job far easier, but it would be something in the nature of an achievement.
“I’d like to have stayed,” Harriet was saying as Jill followed them into the office, “but I’ve got to get back and give Dr. Traven a hand. He’ll never get through singlehanded.” She turned towards the door and, as Jill stood back to let her pass, she added quietly: “Don’t worry, it was just an accident ... Try not to antagonize Nurse Malling too much, it isn’t a wise policy you know.”
To Please the Doctor Page 4
