by Nicola Slade
‘Yes,’ I insisted, and gave her a little push. ‘Hold her hand and keep talking to her. Anything at all, whatever comes into your head.’
I’d only thought of diverting Addy’s fears but later I thought that saying that was taking a risk, considering the kind of thing that routinely enters her head. But no, she nodded and did as I instructed. I turned round to look for Henry and heard a snatch of my sister’s one-sided conversation; she was talking about the primroses that were dotted about the grassy hill. As I listened, Addy was solemnly informing the patient that primroses always seemed more forward in the park than anywhere else in Ramalley. It seemed a safe topic though it reminded me that Mothering Sunday had passed us by unnoticed and that Easter, early this year, was galloping towards us, with Good Friday only eleven days away. Now I came to think of it, Penny had probably been picking flowers for her mother. Like us, she and her brothers and sister had spent hours here as children and we had all looked on the park as our private playground.
I was puzzled by the number of patients and visitors who, with eyes starting out of their heads, clustered on the gravel path that led from the side gate round towards the kitchen garden. What could have happened? Surely this had nothing to do with Miss Evershed’s fall?
Alix enlightened me as she pushed politely but firmly past the hall boy who was now stationed at the garden gate to keep everyone out of the way.
‘There was a fire in the kitchen,’ she said as she caught up with me and listened agog to my brief explanation. ‘The whistles blew and someone shouted “Fire!” The nurses and staff followed the drill and helped the patients out on to the front drive while we volunteers herded the visitors after them.’ She craned her head to see what was happening. ‘It was much worse trying to keep them together than the patients who do, at least, understand how to follow orders; we had to keep counting heads. Dr Pemberton was dithering as usual so Major Peebles took charge. He was splendid. First of all he charged through the gate and rounded up the stragglers, then bellowed at everyone to collect on the terrace and to stand still.’ Surprising me, she let out a giggle that she quickly subdued. ‘He made them stand back-to-back to make the counting easier and keep them in one place. Mrs Mortimer’s face was a picture.’
‘Did you see Miss Evershed?’ I was desperate to go home and find out how she was.
‘She left just before the alarm sounded.’ Alix looked thoughtful. ‘I think she must have had words with Major Larking, because she looked furious. I didn’t hear what they said or whether he followed her because the alarm went and everyone started milling around so I lost sight of her. She can’t have been far ahead of the rest.’
‘I don’t understand how she came to fall like that,’ I faltered. ‘It’s not much of a detour to come by the path and she’s so sensible she’d know the plank bridge was slippery with moss after all the rain. Still, this won’t do. I’m going home to help Granny, so will you chase up Dr Pemberton? I wouldn’t put it past him to get distracted and forget what he’s supposed to be doing.’
Alix gave me a quick hug when I shivered and bit my lip. ‘She – Miss Evershed – was so anxious not to be taken to the Hall,’ I said. ‘I hope she’s not too badly injured for us to nurse.’
We exchanged a worried glance and I whispered, ‘Alix, you said Miss Evershed had a row with her brother-in-law…’ My voice tailed away but she must have had the same thought because she lowered her voice.
‘You want me to play detective and find out whether Major Larking was anywhere in the vicinity when she fell?’
‘I think we’re both mad, but I admit it’s a relief to know I’m not the only one with an overactive imagination.’ I made a face but squeezed her hand gratefully before she ran back to the Hall. Henry reappeared.
‘Dr Pemberton says he’s coming at once. Can I help in the meantime?’ He looked at me with one of his shy smiles. ‘Or would you really rather everyone stayed out of your way?’
‘You’re not everyone,’ I said. ‘But perhaps you’d catch up with Alix and help her bully Dr Pemberton to drop everything and come now. He’s probably forgotten already.’
At home I found Granny calmly reorganising our dining-room into a sick room. (When we were reorganising Balmoral Lodge for the guests, Granny suggested we should keep the last of the bedsteads our neighbour had salvaged from the asylum. “In the unlikely event that we are overrun with visitors ourselves,” she had explained as we stored it in our cellar.)
Under her supervision now, Niggle finished helping her set up the bed and the two orderlies laid the stretcher on the table while they removed the patient’s boots and outer garments, leaving Granny to do the rest.
‘Here you are, Christabel,’ Granny looked up as I entered the room, wondering why she was making up the bed rather than our senior maid. ‘I noticed Bella was looking rather wan and she finally admitted that she’s had a bad toothache for several days and that it was getting worse. I scolded her for letting it run on and sent her off with a note to the dentist, telling him to send us the bill.’
It was so like Granny to be kind and fierce at the same time that I grinned, making her frown at me. ‘Yes, well…I’ve sent Addy upstairs to fetch Miss Evershed’s nightdress and I need you to help me undress her.’ She turned to the orderlies. ‘Thank you. I’ll call you when she’s ready and you can lift her on to the bed.’
‘I checked her all over,’ I explained as we worked together. ‘I’m sure there are no bones broken and no spinal damage. All her limbs moved freely and she was conscious at the time. It’s just…the head injury.’
‘I know,’ Granny spoke quietly but she gave me a reassuring smile. ‘We’ll put her flat, I think, just in case, but I think you’re right. As to the head wound… I don’t know. We’ll have to see what the doctor thinks.’
‘Henry and Alix went to fetch Dr Pemberton,’ I said and we exchanged a look. I knew she had no opinion of his skill and as he was at least fourteen years her senior, she thought he should have retired long ago. Besides, there’s usually a faint, tell-tale whiff of brandy about him.
I banished an unworthy prayer for Bella to be fit tomorrow, to cope with all the extra laundry, and felt a brief pang of guilt, but then Addy arrived with Miss Evershed’s nightdress and washing things. We’d just tucked our patient into bed when Alix arrived with Henry and the doctor. Granny looked at me.
‘You’ll have to see to the dinner tonight, Christabel,’ she said firmly, hushing my protest. ‘I know you want to help but Alix has been trained and you know more about the guests’ habits. Henry can help you until Dr Pemberton is ready to leave.’
Henry’s expression lightened and Granny glanced at Addy who was hovering anxiously.
‘Addy, you must help Christabel with the dinner. We cannot neglect our guests even in an emergency, so I’m putting you on your honour. I promise I’ll call you as soon as Miss Evershed is comfortable and we know more about her condition, and if you’ve been helpful you may sit with her for a while. For the time being though, we need you to be a tower of strength for everyone, not just the patient.’
I blinked at this stirring speech which was quite unlike Granny, but out of Addy’s eye line I caught a flicker from Granny that might have been a wink. I jumped in with more earnest cries for help.
‘Oh, yes, please, Addy. I can’t do it on my own,’ I told her. ‘It’s nearly six o’clock already.’ (This was an exaggeration but I have no qualms about a lie told in a good cause.) ‘It would be the most enormous help if you’d go next door and make sure the downstairs rooms are tidy. You could lay the table too. Penny will help but she’s still learning so perhaps you could keep an eye on her?’
Addy started to grumble as we went into the kitchen but inspiration struck me as I glanced into the scullery. ‘Are those your primroses, Penny?’
‘I picked them for our Mum,’ she whispered round-eyed with worry at all the unsettling events. ‘Shall I move them, Miss Christy?’
‘Oh no,’ I said
hastily. ‘It was a kind thought and your mum will love them. I just wondered whether you could spare a few for Miss Addy. She can arrange a posy to cheer Miss Evershed when she’s feeling more the thing. Not till after the guests have been served,’ I warned hastily as Addy brightened up.
It seemed a long time before I heard Granny and Dr Pemberton emerge from the dining-room. I whisked off my apron, tidied my hair and went anxiously to see what was happening.
‘That is a most fortunate young lady,’ the doctor greeted me with a shiny white shifting of teeth, as he picked up his hat, nodded to Alix who was sitting beside the patient, and shook hands with Granny. ‘Lady Elspeth will give you all the details, Miss Christabel, but the patient will live. I am delighted though I confess she must have a head carved from teak to sustain such a blow and survive without more serious damage.’
A blow? What was he saying? I led the way to the front door and stood by while he gathered up his coat and hat but he said nothing more on that topic.
‘I leave Miss Evershed in Lady Elspeth’s most capable hands,’ he said with an ingratiating smile that was wasted on Granny who was already on her way back to her patient’s side.
Henry, who had been helpful, fetching and carrying and washing up, left with the doctor, and I buttonholed Granny.
‘What was all that about?’ I asked. ‘He said she’ll live?’
‘Apparently,’ Granny nodded. ‘I could have told him that but it’s always best to let a man pontificate; it puts him in a good mood, gets rid of him sooner, and makes life smoother. According to the old quack Miss Evershed has escaped a fractured skull by a hair’s breadth, so peace and quiet and good nursing should do the trick. She will suffer some severe headaches, he predicts, which will probably continue for months, so he feels that she ought not to return to her teaching post until September at the earliest.’
I caught Granny’s eye and we both wondered about that. How would the energetic, dedicated Miss Evershed take to an invalid life?
‘Dr Pemberton will call tomorrow and I asked him to explain all of this to her if she is up to it. Of course she’ll want to notify her family and her headmistress, so Addy can run to the post office in the morning, to fetch and carry telegrams. We can look after Miss Evershed well enough, don’t you agree, Christy?’
Our eyes met again and I knew that Granny, like me, was thinking of the chance this development would offer to Addy. I felt dreadful that this idea had entered my head, but there it was. Granny gave me a small, tight smile and disappeared back into the dining-room while I caught up with the junior cooks in the kitchen.
‘Everything is going splendidly,’ announced a transformed Addy. Gone was the mop of untidy dark curls and in its place a neatly plaited head above a clean blouse and skirt, topped with an apron. ‘I went in and explained to the lodg… I mean, the ladies, about the accident. They were all very kind.’
I blinked at this new Addy but made encouraging noises, so she carried on. ‘Penny has been so helpful, Christy. She stopped me just in time from serving chutney with the blancmanges. I mistook it for jam,’ she said, looking defensive.
‘Heavens, Penny,’ I said distractedly. ‘You should have been home ages ago. Whatever will your mother say?’
‘Miss Addy told me to run home, Miss Christy, to tell our Mum I was needed.’ She glowed with pride so I lavished praise on both girls and made them sit and eat their own dinner while I took coffee in for the guests. It took a while to extricate myself because they were kind and full of questions and even Mrs Mortimer expressed concern, but eventually I left them to their coffee.
‘Miss Evershed is asleep,’ Granny announced as she sat down to her own meal, gesturing to Alix and me to do the same. ‘She has two cats to keep her company and we’ve been granted one blessing, because your mother has asked for a tray in her room.
‘Alix.’ She looked from me to my sister. ‘I think you’d better carry it up. If you take it, Christabel, your mother will insist that you do some more typewriting for her. Apparently Margaret has reached yet another crisis with Lady Esmerelda who is refusing to behave as she should.’
We tried not to laugh. Lady Esmerelda was proving the most recalcitrant character Mother had dreamed up, but we made no bones about our relief. Mother, I’m afraid to say, is a complete wet blanket, particularly in a crisis.
Granny drank her soup. ‘After we’ve eaten, Addy, you may sit with Miss Evershed until your bedtime. If you shade the lamp you’ll be able to do the work she has set you. We can’t have her fretting that her accident is interfering with your studies.’
She sent Penny off home. Our young helper, bless her, tried to insist that she should stay to tidy the lodgers’ rooms and see to the range in next-door’s kitchen.
‘Thank you, Penny,’ I said. ‘We’ll do it tonight. Go straight home, mind, while it’s not quite dark. Tell your mother you’ve been the most tremendous help, and don’t forget your primroses. Here…’ I fished in my pocket and only found a threepenny bit, but her eyes lit up anyway.
Despite the reassurances from Dr Pemberton and from Granny whose judgement we trusted far more, we picked nervously at our food, though habit and training ensured we left nothing on our plates. Granny’s old nurse had always insisted: “Though troubles bear heavy upon us, there is no excuse to waste the good food that the Lord has provided” and we had grown up with her maxim ringing in our ears.
Instead of adjourning to the drawing-room when we’d tidied away our meal, we lingered in the kitchen over cocoa. Granny took herself off to read in her room but I took out my notebook and tried to think of more heroic deeds for the former boys of St Chad’s in the next book, while Alix fetched the mending basket and began to darn a pile of stockings.
Addy had been frowning over her cup of cocoa. ‘Christy,’ she said, finally. ‘When I was in town today I thought I saw someone I knew.’
My heart contracted. I, too, had seen someone I thought I knew in Ramalley today and I was still catching my breath, because the man who boarded the omnibus for Winchester had seemed frighteningly familiar. I had dismissed the idea as preposterous but here was Addy…
‘I’m sure it was that horrible American man,’ she went on, oblivious of my anxious silence, not to mention my barely concealed relief at her words. Oblivious too, of Alix, who stared first at Addy and then, with suddenly narrowed eyes, at me. ‘When Miss Evershed and I were walking towards The Blue Boar for luncheon, we had to pass the Market Café and he was sitting in the window.’ She drained her cup. ‘You know who I mean? With that enormous beard; half-man, half-badger. He didn’t look as though he was enjoying his meal.’
‘Who can blame him,’ put in Alix, abandoning her mending. ‘Everyone knows the tea they use in the café is warehouse sweepings and the rock cakes live up to their name. Did he recognise you, Addy?’
I held my breath but Addy shook her head.
‘How could he?’ she said scornfully. ‘I wasn’t holding a pistol this time, was I? Or covered in blood.’
I briefly met Alix’s glance, her eyes now brimming with laughter which she hastily subdued. Addy ignores what we say most of the time but occasionally she takes offence if we laugh at her.
‘O-of course not,’ I said, with only a slight wobble in my voice. ‘How foolish of you, Alix.’
Addy insisted on sitting with Miss Evershed for the rest of the evening. ‘I promise I’ll call if she wakes up,’ she declared. ‘I’ll leave the algebra she set until tomorrow and I’ll start on the book she lent me. She borrowed it from the library up at the Hall yesterday because she thought I’d find it useful. It’s frightfully interesting, all about surgical practices in the Crimean War.’
At ten o’clock Granny shooed us all to bed. ‘You can see for yourselves that my patient is sleeping normally and that her colour and breathing have improved. Alix, you may change the bandage on her head if it makes you feel useful, but then you must go upstairs too. I’ll leave my door open and if I become anxious I promise
I’ll call you. Be off with you now.’
Just before eleven o’clock Alix slid into bed beside me, pushing a couple of cats out of the way.
‘It’s all right,’ she whispered. ‘Addy’s fast asleep and so is Granny, and I looked in on Miss Evershed. She’s snoring gently – and no, you needn’t panic. She’s just snoring, it’s not a death rattle.’
I felt her giggle in the darkness and pinched her, though I laughed too. We often know what the other is thinking, which can be convenient, particularly when dealing with our trying parents.
‘When were you planning to tell me?’ she went on.
There was no point in pretending I didn’t understand. ‘There was a man reading the bus timetables for Winchester – you know there’s a notice stuck up in the town hall window. He was making notes, but then he got on the bus,’ I said. ‘He looked… familiar.’
‘You don’t mean…?’
‘I honestly don’t know, Alix.’ It was a muted wail and I clenched my fists. ‘I can’t explain why I thought it… it might be Papa.’ There, I had said it. Alix clutched at me.
‘There was just something about the way he held himself, otherwise I could see no resemblance.’
‘Describe him,’ she demanded.
‘That’s just it.’ I was calmer now, and desperately relieved to share my anxieties. ‘Papa was tall and lean and upright, and rapidly going bald. The man I saw – I didn’t see his face, which was turned away – was tall, though he stooped a bit. He was also bulky and I could make out a thick crop of silver hair that showed below his hat.’ I sighed heavily. ‘It doesn’t sound like Papa, does it?’
‘No, it doesn’t,’ she said frankly. ‘Why would Papa need to look at a bus timetable? He used to march into town hoping that any passing ladies would admire his manly stride.’
