Hawke's Tor (12 page)

‘Does your sister know anything at all of this?'

‘No, she believes Harry is mine … mine and Alfie's. Do you have to tell her?'

She was pleading now and Tom said, ‘If the baby isn't Albert then I'll go back to North Hill and leave you in peace … but how old was the baby when he was given to you?'

‘A week.'

As Albert was two months old when he disappeared it meant that if Florrie was telling the truth there should be a considerable difference between the two babies and he would have had a wasted journey from Cornwall.

Florrie was aware of the difference between the ages of the two babies and she said, ‘Harry is a small baby, too – and it wasn't helped that he wasn't fed properly before I found Lily. It was a great worry at the time, but Lily lost her own baby and although she's scatterbrained she fusses over Harry as though he was her own….'

Suddenly tearful once more, she pleaded, ‘You
won't
take him away from me, will you? Jed told Alfie his real mother was a young unmarried girl and that she and her mother would probably have killed and buried him if he hadn't said he'd take him from her.'

‘I've already given you the answer to that, Florrie, but do you
have any idea where Jed might have gone … or who might have wanted to kill Kerensa and take
her
baby?'

‘Jed never said a word to me. He gave the baby to Alfie, took the money he was given and went. As for Kerensa … I never really knew her that well. I had little to do with the running of the Ring o' Bells, I left that to Alfie, but from what I heard about her there was no need for any
man
to kill her because she'd give him whatever he wanted anyway. Her husband was the only man I can think of with reason to do her harm. Mind you, it would be a different story if you thought a woman was involved. Most of the wives in North Hill would be suspects, myself included … but, of course, I was here in Wiltshire when it happened, ' she added hurriedly, remembering to whom she was speaking.

‘In that case, let's go back to the house and you can show the baby to me.'

‘I can't go in like this, Harriet will want to know what's wrong!'

Aware that Florrie was talking of her sister, Tom said, ‘You can tell her you're upset about Kerensa's murder. After all, she did work at the Ring o' Bells. You can also say my reason for seeing the baby is so I can tell Alfie all about him when I return to Cornwall.'

‘I
T'S BEEN A fruitless journey for you, Tom.' Detective Sergeant Farmer made the comment as the two policemen walked back to Salisbury after their interview with Florrie Kittow at Laverstock. Tom had seen the baby she had and it was so unlike the description he had of baby Albert that he was satisfied he was not the missing Morgan baby.

‘It hasn't produced any positive results,' Tom admitted, ‘but it's stopped us wasting any more time pursuing the theory that Florrie Kittow might have baby Albert.'

‘Are there any other suspects?' George Farmer asked the question as he acknowledged the greeting of a passing wagoner, who raised a hand to his hat as he passed by on the road.

‘Alfie Kittow, Florrie's husband, isn't off the hook yet. The murdered girl worked with him for a long time and it's generally believed in the village they were a whole lot closer than landlord and barmaid. Especially as Kerensa had the reputation of sharing her all with whoever was around, married or single. Her husband was new to the village when he married her and probably didn't know of her reputation. If he found out later then he too has to be a suspect. We know he was violent to her on occasions and there's some mystery about his background, much of which was spent in India with the East India Company. That's
another reason why I want to speak to Verity Pendleton. She was in India – as you know – and was going to try to find out something about him for us.'

‘It would seem our chief constable's stepdaughter has been very helpful to you,' George Farmer mused. ‘What sort of a woman is she?'

Glancing quickly at his companion, Tom replied, ‘She's a well-bred, well-educated and intelligent woman. She's also very attractive, but totally committed to her work. She takes a keen interest in police work too, which must please her stepfather. Why don't you come along with me and meet her?'

‘I'd like to,' George said, uncertainly, ‘but she's used to meeting with the most senior men in our force, I'm only a sergeant.'

‘So am I, but there's nothing pretentious about Verity, she's seen far too much of life for that. You'll like her … I do.'

‘Well, when we reach the station we'll see whether they've been able to arrange a meeting for you.'

 

Verity Pendleton's message for Tom was that she would be at the Salisbury Hospital until about four o'clock that afternoon when she was returning to London. She would be delighted to see him if he could find time to call on her there before she left.

He arrived at the hospital shortly after noon in company with Detective Sergeant Farmer and Verity Pendleton welcomed him with a warmth which took Tom's companion aback, but then she greeted the Wiltshire detective with such relaxed friendliness that it was not long before he had forgotten he was talking to his chief constable's stepdaughter.

When Tom told Verity of his interview with Florrie Kittow, she expressed her sympathy for the North Hill woman. ‘She must
have been terrified you were going to take the baby from her, poor woman, but are you completely satisfied it is not baby Albert?'

‘There can be no doubt about it,' Tom assured her, ‘The baby she has is obviously younger than Albert Morgan and its hair and eye colouring are wrong. That was something I really should have thought of having someone check before coming all this way.'

‘Had someone made those inquiries and it
was
baby Albert it could well have frightened her away,' Verity said. ‘You had no alternative but to come here and see for yourself – and it meant that we are able to meet again so I am delighted. How are Amos and Talwyn…?'

The next few minutes were spent talking of her visit to Cornwall, but then Tom asked if she had been able to make any progress in her enquiries into Horace Morgan's service with The East India Company.

‘The friend I have in the company was able to tell me that Morgan is in receipt of a pension from them. Unfortunately, the clerk responsible for the department dealing with the affairs of employees and ex-employees has recently left because of alcoholism – no doubt a consequence of his years in India – and the files are chaotic. They are currently being reorganized and he has promised to make finding details of Morgan a priority. I will be calling on him tomorrow morning when I am back in London and will send any information I gain off to Amos immediately.'

Their talk then moved to include George Farmer and Tom felt that the Wiltshire detective sergeant was assessing Verity whenever she spoke of her work. He was not surprised that when they spoke of leaving the hospital he suddenly said to her, ‘The plans
you have for the nurses you are recruiting … will it really make nursing a respectable career for a girl?'

‘A
highly
respected career,' she affirmed, firmly. ‘Miss Nightingale would accept nothing less – and neither would I. Why do you ask?'

Taking a deep breath and avoiding Tom's interested gaze, George Farmer said, ‘My daughter Millie has followed your career with a passion that has sometimes alarmed me. She desperately wanted to be a nurse too, especially when the reports of what you were doing during the Indian mutiny were published in the newspapers, but I told her in no uncertain terms that nursing was not a career for any girl of mine.'

Showing embarrassment, he explained, ‘I formed my opinion from the women in this very hospital where we are now and who were supposed to be nursing soldiers brought back from the Crimean War. They didn't impress anyone.'

‘I can assure you there will be no more nurses of that type,' Verity declared fiercely. ‘Such women have made the task of Miss Nightingale and myself so much harder than it should be – but we are winning. The nurses of the future will be highly trained and entirely above reproach. The slightest hint of a scandal involving any one of them will lead to instant dismissal. We are building a service of which Miss Nightingale will be proud – and she is not easily pleased.'

‘Yes, Tom explained that to me,' George Farmer said, ‘but I am happy to have it confirmed by you.'

‘How old is your daughter,' Verity asked.

‘Eighteen. She has been helping out Miss Pretty at the local school for some time.'

‘She is a very bright girl,' Tom put in, ‘and still just as keen to be a nurse. I stayed at Sergeant Farmer's home last night and
Millie showed me a book on nursing she had bought only a few weeks ago with money she earned at the school. It was about Miss Nightingale's notes on nursing, as I remember.'

Verity's interest quickened immediately, ‘I have a copy myself; it was published only last year and sets out many of her ideas on nursing. Anyone reading it and taking in what it says is likely to make the sort of nurse we are looking for.'

Shifting her attention to Sergeant Farmer, she said, ‘Are you still opposed to your daughter becoming a Nightingale nurse?'

‘Not if it is to become a respectable career, but—'

Verity cut him short. ‘
Nightingale
nurses are already recognized as being “respectable” and all the girls we choose to become her nurses will undergo a year's training under strict supervision and when qualified will have international recognition as true professionals. In truth, with such training and after some experience of hospital work our girls will be eagerly sought after to take charge of nursing in any respectable hospital in the world.'

‘Then I couldn't possibly have any objection to Millie taking up such work. In fact I would be very proud of her.'

Verity looked up at the clock on the wall of the office where they were talking. It showed 12.50. ‘My train leaves for London at a quarter past four – is it possible for Millie to come here to see me before then?'

‘She has been teaching until noon today but should be home by now. I could have her here in half an hour.'

‘Splendid … while you are fetching her Tom can tell me more about how his murder investigation is coming along – and whether he has seen any more of the pretty young gypsy girl whose father went missing at the same time.'

Tom managed to steer their conversation away from Zillah for
much of the time he and Verity were chatting, but his reticence about talking of her intrigued Verity and she kept returning to the subject of the gypsy girl. He was relieved when George Farmer arrived at the hospital with a very excited Millie and Verity explained she would like to question her without the two men being present.

Outside the hospital where the two men went to enjoy a smoke while they waited, George Farmer said anxiously, ‘I'm still not absolutely convinced I'm doing the right thing by letting Millie meet Miss Pendleton, Tom. If she's accepted she'll be going away from the family, and if she's turned down she'll be brokenhearted, so either way her mother and me lose out.'

‘You'd be losing her before long anyway, George. She's a very attractive girl and I'm surprised she has stayed single for so long. If Verity Pendleton accepts her as a Nightingale nurse you'll know that she is very special and you and your whole family can be very, very proud of her.'

‘And if she doesn't?'

‘As you say, she's going to be very disappointed, although that will pass with time … but let's not imagine what
might
be. In a few minutes you'll know, one way or another.'

 

In fact, the ‘few minutes' turned out to be more than half an hour – but the wait proved worthwhile. Verity was smiling when the two women returned to the hallway where Tom was waiting with the Wiltshire detective sergeant and Millie was positively radiant.

Verity was the first to speak. Addressing herself to George Farmer, she said, ‘Millie and I have had a long talk together and Tom was not exaggerating when he said she is a very bright girl. She is also a most determined one and has the commitment that
Miss Nightingale looks for in every one of her nurses. I am most impressed with her.'

‘Does that mean … you want her to train to become one of your nurses?'

Tom was unable to decide whether the detective sergeant was proud of Verity Pendleton's approbation of his daughter, or apprehensive of what it would mean to have her leave the family home. He decided it was both.

‘I do. She is still a little young to take on the responsibilities that go with being a fully qualified Nightingale nurse but until she reaches a suitable age, and with your permission, I would like Millie to become my personal assistant, with pay of course, to help me with my duties of selecting other girls for nurse training, and inspecting hospitals to ensure they meet the increasing demands of government. It is work that will undoubtedly prove invaluable for Millie's future and she will always be under my personal supervision.'

The silence that followed her words lasted so long that Verity felt obliged to prompt Millie's father. ‘What do you think, Mr Farmer?'

George looked to where Millie was waiting for his reply, an expression of anguish on her face. ‘I think her mother and I are going to miss her very much, Miss Pendleton, but we will be happy knowing she is working for such a responsible person and proud that she will be helping you and Miss Nightingale make nursing the caring and respectable profession it should be.'

Millie hurled herself at her father with a squeal of delight that would have gladdened any father's heart and as her father hugged her tight in return, Tom said to Verity, ‘You and her father have just made her the happiest girl in Salisbury.'

‘I think she has you to thank for making it possible by persuading
her father that she is being offered an honourable future, Tom, but it would not have stopped her from pursuing a career as a nurse because she is a determined girl who knows what she wants from life. When she reached an age when she could decide her future for herself she would have taken the step anyway, but you made it possible for her to do it with the approval of her family and come to us with their blessing. That is most satisfactory for all of us … but there is a lesson in this that you, as a policeman, should never forget.'

When Verity stopped short of an explanation, Tom prompted, ‘… And the lesson is?'

‘That you should never underestimate the determination and resolve of a woman if something matters enough to her. Because of the way our society is she may have to work twice as hard as a man and show a mental – and indeed a
physical
strength – far beyond the norm in order to achieve her aims, but some women are possessed with such strength, as Miss Nightingale has shown. I believe Millie is cast in a similar mould. I am happy for her that she has not found it necessary to prove it to anyone.'