The Beekeeper's War, page 3
Seconds later, Matron walked out of the nearby ward doorway. ‘Nurse Le Cuirot, what are you doing wasting time in the corridor? I’m certain you have much to occupy your time?’
Pru glanced in the direction of the pilot, who had reached the front door. He turned to briefly look back over his shoulder at her before stepping outside.
Relieved not to have been caught speaking to him, she began pushing her trolley. ‘I was on my way to the sluice room with these dirty utensils.’
‘Then don’t let me detain you for a moment longer.’ Matron flicked her hand a couple of times to hurry Pru along.
‘Why is she such an old harridan?’ Pru asked Milly and Jean as they sat in the sitting room a short while later. ‘It doesn’t seem to matter how hard I try, she always catches me when I’m not doing anything. I always look guilty too, whether I have reason to or not.’
Milly giggled. ‘I had a teacher like that. He hated me and always caught me when I wasn’t working or was staring out of the window daydreaming.’
‘I think it’s because you remind her of someone, Pru,’ Jean suggested before blowing on her steaming drink. ‘I heard she was jilted only days before her wedding.’
‘No!’ Milly drew her chair closer to Jean’s. ‘Where did you hear that?’
‘One of the orderlies.’ Jean glanced around the room.
‘Poor woman,’ Milly said, nodding in the direction of two other nurses leaving the recreation room, where they spent most of their break times.
‘That’s horrible,’ Pru said, hating to think of anyone being let down in such a cruel way.
‘I know,’ Jean said. ‘He said that he’d heard Matron’s fiancé had run off with her best friend – a beautiful dark-haired girl with blue eyes and dimples.’
Pru cringed, aware that she had dark hair, blue eyes and a dimple in her left cheek.
‘It is dreadful,’ Milly said, ‘but that’s no reason to be mean to Pru. Even if she does look like that woman, it’s not as if she’s done anything to warrant being picked on.’
‘I agree,’ Pru said.
Jean took a sip of her tea. ‘Mind you, as much as she hounds poor Pru, I have to admit she keeps everything running brilliantly here.’
Pru knew Jean was right. And if she was honest with herself, Matron was someone she admired. The woman was certainly dedicated and ran her wards with a military precision Pru suspected some senior officers would appreciate.
That afternoon, a few minutes before visiting time began, Pru was rushing along a corridor on her way back from taking a bedpan to the sluice room when she glanced out of the window and spotted the pilot with the unusual accent standing with his hands behind his back as he waited to be let into the hospital with other visitors. She smiled to herself, glad to see he had returned to see his friend. She would have hated it if her turning him away earlier had meant that one of the patients went without a visitor. She wondered if he had been lying when he said he wouldn’t be able to come back during visiting hours, or if something had altered to allow him to be here.
She joined Jean in the ward to check all the patients were settled and ready to greet their loved ones and friends who had made the journey to the manor to spend a little time with them.
‘I’ll go and let them in,’ Pru said. She reached the ward door and opened it, immediately spotting the tall captain even though he was standing at the back of the group. His eyes twinkled in amused recognition although she couldn’t miss a sadness behind them. He must have lost friends, she mused, sad for him and all the other pilots who took their lives in their hands each time their aircraft soared into the air.
The visitors made their way into the ward, but he stopped in front of her. ‘You don’t mind me speaking with my pal for a few minutes this time, do you?’
She couldn’t help smiling. ‘Seeing as you’re here at the correct time, I’m happy to welcome you inside. Who were you hoping to see?’ she asked, hoping he hadn’t got the wrong impression of her earlier and wanting to show her kinder side.
‘I’ve come to visit Major Monty Ashbury.’ He held out his hand for her to take. ‘I’m Captain Jack Garland. And may I know your name, Nurse?’
Pru swallowed, desperate not to show how his presence had taken her aback. ‘I’m Nurse Le Cuirot,’ Pru replied, instinctively taking his larger hand in hers and flinching when his touch sent some sort of shock through her.
He stared at her silently, a surprised look on his face.
Pru cleared her throat and shook his hand. What was wrong with her? ‘The major is in this ward in the end bed on the right,’ she said, her voice barely audible. ‘I’ll show you over to him.’ She led the way, glad he was behind her and couldn’t see the confusion on her face. She needed to gather herself. This was no way to behave, she told herself. She was supposed to be a professional. She dragged her thoughts back to her duties and why the captain was visiting. ‘He’s had a hard time of it,’ she warned, relieved when her voice sounded almost normal.
‘I know.’ He increased his speed so he was at her side and she slowed to match his.
She wished he would stop staring at her like that – as if he could see into her very soul. His eyes seemed to hypnotise her. She tore her eyes from his and pretended to check the time. ‘He should really be in one of the other wards with fewer men but he insisted on being here with the others. We have several pilots recuperating here at the manor right now.’
‘I’m not surprised he wanted to be with everyone else,’ the captain said. ‘He’s a good chap. I’m glad he made it out.’ He stepped aside to let one of the orderlies pass. ‘I’m pleased he’s back at Ashbury Manor; he’ll be happy to be home again.’
His beautiful accent and deep voice were mesmerising. ‘Um, he’s improving every day, but it’s going to be a long time before he’s well enough to be discharged, I gather.’
He mumbled something but Pru didn’t catch what it was. As they walked, she gave him a quick glance, surprised to find him watching her. ‘You’re American, aren’t you?’ she asked, fetching a chair for him to sit on when she noticed that the one that usually stood by the major’s bed had already been taken by another visitor.
‘You have a visitor, Major,’ she said, happy to see a bit more colour in Monty’s slim face, his eyes still bandaged from his latest operation to try and restore his sight.
‘Hello, Monty,’ said the captain.
Monty grinned. ‘I’d recognise that voice anywhere. Jack Garland. So, you’re still around these parts then?’ He turned his head in Pru’s direction as she indicated for the captain to sit on the chair. ‘He is American but he’s very proud of his East End British roots, Nurse Le Cuirot. Aren’t you, Jack?’
‘I am.’
She was surprised to hear his parents were from London. ‘Your parents are British?’ She noticed the wings on Jack’s uniform matched the ones she recalled seeing on the photo of Monty his parents had in pride of place in their sitting room, the few times she had been invited there to take afternoon tea with some of the other nurses. Pru was fascinated to find out more about this impressive man. She hadn’t realised there were American pilots flying alongside British ones.
‘Yes. They emigrated from London in 1890, four years before I was born,’ Jack explained. ‘My father is dead now but I know he’d be pleased that I’ve come back to support his country.’ He cocked his head to one side. ‘My mother not so much. She thinks planes are little more than death traps and wasn’t impressed when I insisted on joining the Flying Corps.’
Pru hated to think of either of these men sitting in one of those machines and wasn’t surprised to hear his mother felt the same way.
‘Yes,’ Monty interjected. ‘We met at college when I was sent to stay in New York for a year when we were, what? Fifteen?’
‘That’s right,’ the captain said. ‘It was my family who put him up and then I was sent here the following year.’
‘Gosh, you’ve known each other for a long time then,’ she said, wishing she could feel as relaxed and natural with Jack as she did with Monty. She kept herself busy by filling Monty’s glass half full of water in case he became thirsty.
Jack laughed. ‘You make it sound like it was decades ago. We’re only just twenty-two.’
These two men were clearly incredibly close. She couldn’t imagine what they must have seen so far in their lives. How much they had all seen. Hadn’t she witnessed more heartache and cruel injuries than she ever thought possible already? And she hadn’t even set foot in Europe yet! ‘Well, I think you’re both very brave going up in those tiny machines.’
‘Or maybe we’re just too stupid to see the danger,’ Monty joked.
She knew she should be moving on to one of the other patients but was fascinated to find out more about Monty’s charismatic visitor. ‘Are you pilots in the same squadron then?’
‘Monty’s my Squadron Commander,’ Jack said.
‘I see,’ she said, not seeing at all.
‘I might be his superior in the air,’ Monty said, his voice taking on a serious note. ‘But if it wasn’t for this man I wouldn’t be lying here now.’
Pru watched as he gave Jack a thumbs up. It cheered her to see Monty in such good spirits. She had noticed it happening when the patient’s combat colleagues visited. She had found it a little odd at first to note that some of these men appeared much happier to be in the company of fellow soldiers rather than their own family members but then it dawned on her that it was probably because of their shared experiences and not needing to explain their emotions to friends who had experienced the same traumas.
‘I can see you’d like to chat, so I’ll leave you in peace.’ She straightened Monty’s sheet. ‘Don’t let him overdo it,’ she said automatically to the captain, raising her eyebrows at him and then feeling that attraction again when their eyes met and he smiled at her. She forced herself to continue. ‘The major thinks he’s invincible and although he might be, he still needs his rest.’
‘I’m fine, Nurse Le Cuirot.’ Monty laughed.
‘I promise I won’t tire him out,’ Jack assured her. ‘I can’t be too long here anyway.’
Pru was sad to think of him leaving so soon. She saw Monty’s smile vanish and realised she was being selfish. She had barely known this man for five minutes yet here she was yearning to spend more time with him.
‘You’re not going back there, Jack?’
Pru couldn’t miss the fear in Monty’s voice. She might not know where Jack was going or what he was about to face, but she hoped desperately he would keep safe. For some reason this man had lit emotions in her that she had never known before. ‘You may stay for as long as everyone else does,’ she said to Jack, trying her best to mimic Matron’s efficiency.
‘Thank you, Nurse Le Cuirot.’ He smiled at her and Pru had to turn away before he saw how affected she was by his presence.
She walked over to the patient in the next bed. He was a young private and hadn’t received any visitors so far since his arrival the week before. It broke her heart to see these injured men lying quietly, most likely pretending not to mind while others around them joked with friends and family.
‘Is there anything I can fetch for you, Private Danby?’ she asked, giving him her brightest smile. ‘A warm drink, maybe? Or something to read?’
‘No, thank you.’ He motioned for her to come a little closer to him. ‘I’m enjoying being entertained by these two next to me.’
‘Ahh, I see. I’ll leave you in peace then.’
She spotted a young, gaunt-faced woman in her early twenties looking around for something. Pru recalled seeing her arriving with an older woman as she was showing Jack to Monty’s bedside. She had assumed she was with her mother. Now, though, noticing the lack of closeness between the women and the territorial way the older woman had taken the visitor’s chair and was clasping the patient’s right hand, Pru presumed that must be the girl’s mother-in-law.
‘May I help you with anything?’ Pru asked.
‘I, um … That is, could I have a chair, do you think?’
‘I’ll fetch one for you immediately.’ Pru hurried from the timid girl to the other end of the room where two spare chairs had been placed in case they were needed, and carried one back to the patient’s bedside. ‘There you go. Call me if you need anything else.’
‘Thank you, Nurse.’
The older woman glared at her. ‘What are you bothering that nurse for? Can’t you see she’s busy working? You should be doing something useful like her to keep you from pacing around the house all the hours of the day.’
Pru’s temper ignited hearing the older woman picking on her daughter-in-law.
‘Leave ’er alone, Mam. ’Ere, Lil, bring your chair round this side and give us yer ’and to ’old.’
Pru calmed, relieved to hear the patient stick up for his wife. As she returned to the other end of the ward, she heard Monty chatting once more.
‘Why would you go back there, Jack?’
‘Shush, Monty. You know I have to.’ Pru heard the silence so filled with meaning as to almost be tangible. ‘I’m not here to talk about that. I’m here to see you and find out how you’re doing.’
‘I know I’ll never be able to thank you for all that you risked to save me.’
‘Monty. Enough,’ he said, his voice low, clearly not wishing to be overheard. ‘I only did what you’d do for me. Anyway, we’ve been over this too many times for me to want to hear it again.’
There was a brief silence. ‘You weren’t flirting with the nurse, were you, Jack?’ Monty teased, a marked change in his tone.
Pru smiled to herself, glad that the men were not going to fall out. She noticed Private Danby lying slightly uncomfortably in his bed and plumped up his pillows. She began to walk away, relieved to hear Monty sounding more cheerful and unable to help wondering what it was that the captain had done for him. She looked at the captain from the corner of her eye to see his response.
‘Me?’ he said, pretending to be hurt by the accusation. ‘You’re the one who misbehaves. I was simply asking her a few questions.’
She saw one of the other nurses needed help with a patient’s dressing and rushed to assist. Pru pulled the screen around the soldier’s bed. He was another one without visitors today, she thought miserably, although it was probably because his family had yet to make their way to the countryside manor. She offered her services to the nurse and taking the kidney bowl from her colleague’s hand, held it as she began undoing the patient’s pyjama top to change his dressing. She heard Monty laughing and smiled when the captain said something she couldn’t make out. The deep sound of the American’s laughter made her and the patient she was helping smile.
‘Those two are a tonic, don’t you think, Nurse?’ the soldier said, wincing as his recently stitched wound was inspected and re-dressed.
Pru nodded. ‘They’re a little too noisy though,’ she said. ‘If Matron hears them, she’ll soon be sending the captain home.’
She hoped the captain continued coming to visit Monty and cheering him and the rest of the patients up as he was doing. Whatever her first impression of him had been when he’d crashed into her trolley, she couldn’t help admitting she felt some sort of emotional pull towards him. Was it because he was different from any other man she had ever met? Or maybe it was how tall and handsome he was, or simply his larger-than-life charisma that people – including her – seemed drawn to? She had no idea. She couldn’t miss the bond between him and Monty though. Whatever had happened between them, she sensed it was something dark that would connect them for ever.
Four
Pru
February 1917
The following morning, Pru, Milly and Jean were on their way to Ward Two to assist the doctor on his rounds.
‘You don’t mind if I take the first lot of beds at the end of the room, do you?’ Jean asked, sounding a little odd, Pru thought.
She and Milly exchanged glances. Pru knew that each of them favoured one or two of the more friendly, or shyer, patients, but they never asked to swap with the other nurses during the rounds.
‘Yes, that’s fine,’ Pru said, not minding which patients she cared for.
‘Is there any particular reason why?’ Milly asked.
Pru wasn’t surprised Milly’s curiosity had been piqued; hers was too. She was stunned when Jean’s cheeks reddened. ‘No, no reason.’
Pru knew her friend well enough to know she was fibbing but had no idea why. She decided to act as if she hadn’t noticed Jean’s guilty reaction and instead look out for any signs that might reveal who or what was behind her request.
Doctor Parslow arrived to do his rounds and they followed him and Matron in silence as he called out his instructions for each patient. After the rounds were complete, Pru joined Milly near the station where one of the nurses was always on duty.
‘Well, at least we now know for certain that I wasn’t wrong,’ Milly whispered.
Pru frowned in confusion. ‘I know. I hope he’s all right, poor man.’ Milly cocked her head to one side and Pru realised she had misunderstood what her friend was trying to tell her. ‘I’m sorry, I don’t know what you mean.’
‘The far bed. The one where Lord and Lady Ashbury’s son is lying. Can’t you see?’
Pru peered over in the direction of Monty’s bed and saw Jean listening to something he was saying while pretending to be busy. Her friend’s face was glowing and Pru realised with a jolt that Jean was in love with him. Her pulse quickened as she thought of all the things that could go wrong for her friend. He was upper-class and Jean, although kind, dedicated, and with a fresh-faced prettiness about her, was not the sort of woman Pru imagined his parents accepting into their aristocratic family, especially as the wife of their only remaining son.
