The dreaded ward round was imminent. Hannah heard the doctors before she saw them: the tap-tapping of Mr Anthony’s shoes, the low rumble of Doctor Clifton’s voice, and then a bump and cursing, followed by profuse apologies. Sister Trim greeted the doctors and left her nurses to assist them with their examinations.
Hannah waited at Charlie’s bedside and glanced towards Charlotte who was hurrying over.
‘It appears that Mr Hunter is with them.’ Hannah smiled, watching the colour rush to Charlotte’s cheeks.
‘Good day, Nurse Bentley,’ Doctor Clifton said, but she could barely look at him as the memory of their walk on the beach came flooding back.
‘Good morning,’ she said.
‘Mr Hunter has deigned to join us today – he has had somewhat of a relapse,’ Mr Anthony said sarcastically, as Henry stumbled and reached out for the bedstead to steady himself. ‘I hear he’s had a setback with his application to the Royal College of Physicians. If he spent more time studying medicine rather than the anatomy of the female form …’
‘It’s important that a gentleman receives a broad education,’ Mr Hunter said, turning towards Charlotte who looked furious, as well she might, Hannah mused. She doubted very much that she would accept his invitation to the concert now. It seemed that his lapse had set him back in his pursuit. ‘I’m not the only one who’s out all hours. My cousin here’ – he rested his hand across Doctor Clifton’s shoulders – ‘came home well after midnight a couple of nights ago, having been walking innocently by the sea. How do I know this? Because his shoes were soaked, and he’d hung his socks on the fire screen to dry.’
‘You old dog,’ Mr Anthony jested.
‘Mr Hunter, I’d be grateful if you’d hold your tongue,’ Doctor Clifton snapped. ‘Watch, listen and learn.’
‘Charlie has had a good night,’ Hannah began.
‘Thank you,’ Mr Anthony cut in.
‘I think this young man can speak for himself.’ Doctor Clifton smiled, but his eyes were shaded with sorrow. ‘How are you today?’
‘I’m well, thank you, Doc.’
‘How are your old knees?’
He pulled up his pyjamas to show him.
‘How straight can you get those legs?’
‘Like a soldier.’ Charlie grunted as he straightened them as far as they would go.
‘This is much better,’ Doctor Clifton said. ‘If you carry on like this, there’ll be no need for any operations.’
‘In this case, I concur,’ said Mr Anthony. ‘Mr Hunter, have you anything to add?’
Hannah looked up at him – he was decidedly green around the gills. He swayed slightly. She hastily handed him a bedpan, in which he was promptly sick.
‘Go home,’ Doctor Clifton ordered. ‘Go home and think about how you have humiliated yourself, and me.’
Henry bowed his head and, still clutching the bedpan, made his way out of the ward.
‘’E ain’t too good,’ Charlie commented.
‘It’s self-inflicted,’ Doctor Clifton said. ‘I have no sympathy.’
Having completed the ward round, he dropped back to speak to Hannah.
‘Just to inform you that a Miss Huckstep has been admitted to the house from the Hospital for Sick Children. She says she’s a friend of yours.’
Not Alice. She was too special, too loved to be struck down in her prime.
‘Oh no,’ she exclaimed, filled with panic. ‘I must go to her as soon as I can. Thank you for letting me know …’
‘I apologise for Henry’s behaviour – I despair of him. I’ve a good mind to send him back to his father.’
‘I don’t suppose you were ever like that when you were a student?’ She allowed herself a small smile.
‘That would be telling.’ He smiled back ruefully, before going to catch up with Mr Anthony.
Hannah looked for Charlotte, finding her in the sluice, up to her elbows in suds.
‘I’m sorry about Mr Hunter,’ she said. ‘I know you like him.’
‘Liked,’ Charlotte said, through a mist of steam. ‘I’m glad I didn’t rush in and agree to go to the concert with him. He’s proved himself to be completely immature and unreliable.’
‘You won’t change your mind?’
‘No,’ Charlotte said firmly. ‘Oh, I don’t know why I’m so upset. I suppose I let my mind – and my heart – run away with me. Don’t worry, Hannah. I’ll get over it.’
Reassured, Hannah threw herself into her work, but her mind was preoccupied with what had passed between her and Doctor Clifton that evening on the beach, and her worries for Alice. Instead of breaking for lunch, she went to find her, hoping against hope that Doctor Clifton had been mistaken.
‘Alice, what are you—’ Hannah stopped abruptly, her joy quickly turning to alarm at finding her old friend on the women’s ward. She had longed to see her again, but not like this.
‘Miss Russell had me sent here,’ Alice said. ‘I haven’t been well.’
‘I see.’ Hannah took in the delicate translucence of her complexion, the shadows around her eyes and the red spots on her cheeks which matched the rosy hue of her lips.
‘Apparently, the way I look is the height of fashion in London and Paris, so that’s one thing to be thankful for. Oh dear, you think I look terrible,’ Alice sighed.
‘No, not at all. You don’t look too bad.’ Hannah was lying – she looked dreadful.
‘I’ve been told that I have to drink half a pint of seawater every day.’ She grimaced. ‘I can’t imagine that’s good for you. Be honest with me. Does anyone fully recover from this ghastly disease?’
‘We’ve sent many children back to London, their scrofula much improved.’
‘But not cured?’
‘I can’t say. You’ll have to ask the doctors when they’re on their rounds. Let me wheel you out on to the balcony.’ She released the brake and pushed the bed out through the doors. ‘How about that? The view is wonderful – at least, I think so.’
Alice squinted. ‘The sunshine hurts my eyes.’
‘I’ll ask Sister to arrange for the doctor to come and see you.’ Hannah felt more worried than ever. Poor Peter had suddenly developed a headache and sensitivity to light after surgery, and Doctor Clifton had diagnosed inflammation of the brain. Was the same thing happening to Alice? ‘I’ll fetch a parasol to give you some shade.’
‘Thank you. You’d better get on – I don’t want you to get into any trouble on my account.’
Alice was the first nurse she had seen arrive at the infirmary to receive treatment for the same complaint as her patients. Was it a coincidence?
‘I’ll come and sit with you when I’ve finished my shift.’
‘Don’t you have a home to go to?’
‘I do, in fact – I moved out of the nurses’ home not long ago. I’m sharing lodgings with my sister. She’s been in Margate for a couple of weeks now, having fallen out with our father.’
‘As you did,’ Alice said.
‘The circumstances were different, but yes.’
‘You don’t have to entertain me – Ruby will be expecting you.’
‘I’ll drop by, at least. I’ll see you later.’
Although it was late and against the rules of the house, Hannah returned to the women’s ward after her shift, so they could talk for a while.
‘I’m glad to see you again, but don’t waste your evening on me,’ Alice said.
‘I’m not wasting it,’ she smiled. ‘We have a lot to catch up on. So much has happened since I left London. What about you? What about your ma?’
‘She’s worried sick – she’ll visit when she’s free, but she’s nursing an elderly invalid at their home in Enfield at present and doesn’t know when she’ll be able to get away.’
Alice’s mother was a widow, and private nurse.
‘What about Mr Fry?’ Hannah had noticed the likeness of Alice’s young man, which he’d had taken at a photography studio, on the cabinet beside the bed.
‘He’s supposed to be coming to visit soon …’
‘He hasn’t proposed yet?’
Alice shook her head.
‘What have the doctors said?’ Hannah went on. ‘Has Doctor Clifton seen you?’
‘They’ve uttered all the usual platitudes: give it time; you’re one of the lucky ones; we’ve caught it in the early stages.’
It wasn’t that early, Hannah thought, recalling Alice’s previous complaints about struggling to catch her breath in the smog.
‘Hannah, I’m scared.’
‘I’ll be with you all the way, I promise.’ She was scared for Alice too, but she wouldn’t let it show. She sat with her for half an hour while they reminisced about their training, Miss Russell and London, until Alice began to nod off, exhausted.
Hannah wished she could have confided in her about Doctor Clifton’s proposal, but she didn’t want to wear her out.
Before Hannah had met Doctor Clifton, she’d thought of nothing else but her young and vulnerable patients, but as another week went by, she continued to suffer from doubt and regret over turning him down, even though she’d come to the conclusion that she’d made the right decision. With time, her heartache would resolve like a case of measles or influenza.
On the Monday afternoon, she went to fetch the children in from the balcony where they’d been taking the air.
‘’Ain’t it dinnertime yet? Me belly’s growlin’ like there’s a lion in it,’ Charlie grinned.
‘It won’t be long,’ she said with a practised smile.
‘Is it mutton or beef?’ he asked.
‘You’ll have to wait and see.’
‘You seem a bit down in the mouth today,’ he ventured.
‘I’m fine, thank you.’
‘There’s somethin’ wrong, I know it.’
‘I’m a little worried because one of my friends has been admitted to the house for treatment.’
‘That’s good, ain’t it? The saltwater baths’ll ’ave ’er as right as rain soon … unless she’s as bad as Peter was.’
‘We’ll see,’ Hannah said.
‘’Ere, ’ave this.’ Charlie thrust a crumpled piece of paper into her hand. ‘I done this for you to say thank you for what you done for me.’
She unfolded it to find a crude drawing of two stick figures at the bedside of another, smaller one.
‘That’s me, you an’ Doctor Clifton,’ he said proudly.
‘I don’t know what to say.’ Fighting back sudden tears, she folded it and slipped it into her pocket. ‘I shall treasure it for ever.’
‘Nurse Bentley!’
Hannah turned. ‘Yes, Sister.’
‘You’re wanted to assist with an emergency – there’s a child been brought into outpatients with a broken leg. Doctor Clifton wishes to set the limb, but the boy won’t allow it. He’s hysterical.’ Sister Trim’s expression softened. ‘We thought you might be able to tame him.’
‘I’ll go straight away.’
Hannah joined Doctor Clifton in one of the examination rooms where the boy, an eight-year-old with strawberry-blonde curls, blue eyes and a runny nose, was sitting on a trolley, bawling in protest.
‘This is Master Sebastian Crowborough,’ the doctor said as the boy quietened at the sight of her arrival. ‘His nanny has gone to search for his mother who’s at one of the bathing establishments nearby.’
‘What happened?’ Hannah said, having introduced herself.
‘He took a flying leap from a wall and landed badly some six feet below.’
‘I’ve broken my leg,’ the boy sobbed.
‘I need to apply traction to align the fractured ends of the bones – the tibia and fibula – before I can immobilise the break with a splint. He’ll be admitted in advance of the application of a plaster cast when the swelling has reduced.’
The boy screamed.
‘Now, now,’ Hannah said. ‘What’s all this fuss about? I thought a young gentleman like you would be braver than this. Think of Admiral Nelson who lost an eye and an arm, yet still found the courage to fight on for England.’ She glanced towards Doctor Clifton who rolled his eyes as the boy continued to scream. ‘Do you like peppermints?’
Whimpering, he nodded.
‘The sooner you let us help you, the sooner you can have some from my secret supply on the ward. Hold my hand – you can squeeze my fingers as hard as you like, if you need to.’
Frowning, the boy took her hand.
‘We’re ready, Doctor,’ she said, and Doctor Clifton gripped the boy’s ankle and began to pull, stretching the leg, at which the boy squeezed Hannah’s fingers so tightly that they turned white.
‘That’s it. All done.’ Doctor Clifton relaxed his grip and stood back. ‘Keep still and I’ll apply a splint and bandages.’
‘I shall tell your mother how brave you’ve been,’ Hannah said.
‘Is there a bed available for him on the Lettsom?’ Doctor Clifton asked, once he’d finished wrapping the boy’s leg.
‘We’re full to the gunnels. He’ll have to go elsewhere.’
Doctor Clifton rubbed the back of his neck, thinking. ‘Then we are in a bit of a bind. Isn’t there a boy well enough to be sent home?’
‘You know very well there isn’t,’ Hannah chided.
‘What about the convalescent homes? Are there any spare beds there?’
‘As far as I know, they’re full too.’
‘Then I don’t know what to do. I don’t want Master Crowborough going home until that fracture’s immobilised.’
‘You’ll have to speak to Matron and Mr Cumberpatch.’
‘I’ll do that. Wait here.’
‘Where are my sweets?’ the boy demanded as Doctor Clifton left the room.
‘You’ll have them soon enough,’ Hannah said. ‘Tell me about your family. Do you have brothers and sisters?’ she went on, distracting him, and he chattered about his younger siblings, his mother’s intention to send him away to boarding school in September, and how he was going to miss his new puppy.
Eventually, Doctor Clifton returned, saying he had arranged for an extra bed to be squeezed on to the Lettsom.
‘As you can imagine, there was much opposition from Mrs Knowles and Sister Trim, but it has to be done.’ She frowned, and he went on, ‘I can see you don’t like the idea either, but what are we supposed to do? We can’t turn these cases away.’
He paused before changing the subject. ‘Your friend, Miss Huckstep … This is confidential, of course.’
‘Of course,’ Hannah echoed. ‘Do you think she has a good chance of making a full recovery?’
‘You know what I’ll say to that – there are no guarantees. She has tubercles in her lungs, and all we can do is offer the best treatment. She thinks very highly of you – as I do.’ His shoulders sagged. ‘I’m sorry – I shouldn’t have said that.’
‘I’m sorry too,’ she said.
‘You will not change your mind?’
‘My decision is final.’
‘Then we will try to carry on as if nothing happened. I hope I didn’t offend you by raising the subject once more, but I had to be sure.’
‘I have great admiration for you, Doctor Clifton, but—’ Her heart felt as if it would break.
‘You don’t have to excuse yourself. I do understand,’ he cut in.
‘I want you to be happy,’ she went on. ‘It would please me greatly if you would put your feelings for me aside. You’ll find someone else to love and cherish one day – I’m certain of it.’
‘Then I won’t talk of this again. Thank you for your assistance with Master Crowborough.’
‘I have to go,’ she said hurriedly. ‘Sister Trim will be wondering where I’ve got to.’
She rushed off and hid in the sluice to dry the tears that were falling – for herself, for Doctor Clifton and for Alice.
She stopped by to visit her friend before she left the infirmary that evening as had become her custom, finding Alice sitting up in bed.
‘How are you?’ Hannah asked.
‘About the same, thank you. I could get used to this treatment – I’ve had a warm saltwater bath, a delicious supper and a lovely snooze in the sunshine.’ She glanced at the picture of Mr Fry on the bedside locker. ‘The only thing I’m missing is dear Tom.’
‘When is he coming to visit you?’
‘I’m not sure. It depends on when he can get away from London.’
‘It isn’t that difficult to get here by train.’
‘I know, but he works long hours at the bank, and visits his mother at weekends. Anyway, that’s enough about him. What about you? What do you think of Margate and the infirmary?’
‘I like it here. Ruby is settling in, Margate is wonderful – much cleaner and fresher than London – and the patients are lovely’ – she recalled Master Crowborough’s howling, and his complaints after he arrived on the ward that day about the hard mattress, the smell of carbolic and the presence of the poor boys like Charlie – ‘on the whole. I’ve made a good ally in Charlotte, Nurse Finch.’
‘And Doctor Clifton?’ Alice asked slyly. ‘You mentioned him in your letters.’
‘You know what it’s like when you’re working alongside someone all the time. Nursing comes first, and as a nurse, I’m telling you to get some sleep now. I’ll see you tomorrow.’ Alice didn’t protest as she stood up to leave.
‘How is your friend?’ Ruby asked when Hannah returned to their lodgings.
‘I can’t say. Anything relating to our patients is confidential.’
‘Oh, you are a spoilsport. You know I wouldn’t say anything.’
‘I know, but it’s best that I keep my mouth shut. Tell me, what have you been doing today?’
‘I’ve been out to buy food and ale, and I’ve received a letter from Stepmother … We became quite friendly after you left. Our mutual interests in fashion and reading drew us together. Anyway, she wanted to know that she found us well and happy. Apparently, Pa is resigned to my leaving home and has no interest in persuading me to return to Canterbury, which suits me fine, although it means I’ll have to find my own husband rather than relying on him to do it for me. And Cook has walked out after all those years working for the family. When Pa found out that she’d sent my boxes to Margate, he lost his temper with her, but instead of crying like she normally would, she packed her bags and left with her head held high.’
Ruby jumped up. ‘Shall we go out for a walk? It’s still light, and the hokey-pokey men will be on the promenade. You’re always reminding me of the benefits of fresh air, although you’re a poor advertisement for the infirmary – you look terribly washed out.’
‘I’m a little tired, that’s all.’
‘Come on. You’ll feel better for it.’ Ruby offered her arm.
‘You’ve put up your hair in a different way, and that dress …’ Hannah stroked the soft maroon velvet of her sister’s sleeve. ‘I envy you.’
‘Stepmother bought it for me for one of her soirees.’ Ruby touched the gleaming red stone suspended on a gold chain around her neck, her inheritance from their grandmother. ‘I think it’s important to maintain my standards, even though we seem to be at the very edge of society here in Margate, but I’m not complaining. Margate isn’t like Canterbury – it’s much more interesting.’
‘I’ll change my shoes and put on my bonnet at least,’ Hannah said.
‘Ah, I thought you might permit me to borrow your shoes. I have only one pair here – the rest are still to be sent on. Mine have left a blister – I can barely walk in them.’
Hannah gave in and they walked together along the front, Ruby wearing Hannah’s best shoes. They stopped for ice cream at one of the stalls.
‘That is a beautiful piece of jewellery.’ The hokey-pokey man stared at Ruby who smiled and stepped closer to show him her necklace, before buying two portions of Neapolitan ice cream which they unwrapped and ate as they continued on their way.
‘If someone wishes to admire your necklace, they’re trying to reel you in.’ Hannah’s teeth crunched on the ice crystals in the striped sweet treat, which tasted as if the maker had mixed in some mashed swede. ‘Indulging in that sort of behaviour might lead you to being handled or kissed.’
‘It would in Canterbury,’ Ruby said, ‘but this is Margate. Everyone’s far more relaxed in their manners and modes of dress, and it was a perfectly innocent request. Shall we go window shopping?’
Hannah wasn’t sure if she should put temptation in her sister’s way.
‘I really do need new shoes,’ Ruby wheedled. ‘If we saw some, I could come back and buy them tomorrow.’
‘We’ll have to save up first,’ Hannah said.
‘You have plenty of money. I’ve seen what you’ve got in the box, the one you’ve hidden away under the bed.’
‘Shh, Ruby. I have enough, but if we spend beyond our means, we’ll soon run out. Look, I’m hoping for a promotion which will mean better pay – life should be a little easier then.’ Hannah didn’t know when that would be, but she was optimistic. There were rumours that Matron was intending to make some changes among the staff.
‘Thank you,’ Ruby smiled. ‘I thought that tomorrow I might go back to the Hall by the Sea. There’s so much to see there – we can’t have seen half of it the other day.’
‘That was a special treat.’
‘I know. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have asked. It’s just that Mr Milani said that the cubs were growing and changing every day, and I’d like to see them again.’
Hannah wasn’t sure what was the main attraction – the cubs or the lion tamer – but she had an idea that she should keep Ruby well away.
They carried on walking. It was low tide and the sea was miles out, leaving a vast expanse of rippled sand and shingle, and the boats listing in the harbour. The bathing rooms were closing for the night, but the centre of town was still open for business. Hannah heard the tinkling of a piano and loud chatter coming from the Assembly Rooms where one might spot one of the gentry or even a distant member of the Royal Family.
‘Look!’ Ruby grasped Hannah’s arm as they passed through Cecil Square with its shops and mansions. ‘Isn’t that the famous Doctor Clifton’s plate?’
They moved closer to the building in the corner: a four-storey terrace, built of red brick with Bath stone coping, and a slate roof. To the right of the door, five steps up from the street, was a brass plaque engraved with Doctor Clifton’s name and professional registration. Above the door was a sign, reading ‘Surgery’.
A pulse beat lightly at Hannah’s temple. This was where he ran his private clinic. This was where he lived – where she could have lived, if she’d accepted his offer. A tear sprang to her eye, and she turned away.
‘I’ve walked along here many times, but I’ve never come close enough to spot his name before,’ Ruby said. ‘He must be a gentleman of considerable fortune if he can afford this.’
‘He works very hard. He deserves it for what he does.’
‘And you don’t?’
‘It’s different.’
Ruby didn’t argue. She pointed out the posters on the board outside the library: one for the infirmary fête, and one for tickets for the infirmary ball to be held in late August.
‘I should like to go to a ball,’ she said longingly.
‘One day,’ Hannah said. ‘When I’m a sister, I’ll buy tickets and we’ll go together.’
‘What about the gentlemen?’ Ruby asked. ‘Won’t we have to find someone to introduce us? We aren’t allowed to dance without being introduced first. But then you know plenty of people at the infirmary. Oh, Hannah, the difficulty is resolved.’
‘It won’t be this year.’
‘I know. I’ll be patient. I wish the library was open – I’d like to borrow another of Mrs Whiting’s books. Her novels are filled with drama – love stories, romance and scandal. Pa used to complain that they inflamed passions in a most unnecessary way, so Stepmother and I used to hide our copies in her dressing room. Have you read any books recently?’
‘Only Miss Nightingale’s Notes on Nursing,’ Hannah chuckled.
‘I might have known.’ Ruby grinned at her. ‘Shall we go home?’