Nurse Hilary (18 page)

He stared at her, forgetting to blow out the match until it burned his fingers.

“
Oh, no!
”
he protested.

“
I don
’
t see why you say that,
”
she all but snapped at him.
“
I think it
’
s wonderful. They are both darlings and they
’
ve been so terribly lonely. Mr. Hodding said—
”

“
So it
’
s Jason Hodding,
”
he mused, obviously startled.
“
And the lady could not possibly be anyone but Mrs. Barton.
”

“
No one else but, and I think it
’
s wonderful!
”
said Hilary.

“
Take that chip off your shoulder, my pretty, so do I.
”
Dr. Marsden grinned.
“
The Wedding March is being heard all over the place. Twice in one day for a place like the T. & C. is slightly above the normal I
’
d say.
”

“
Twice in one day? Who else?
”

“
Oh, hadn
’
t you heard? Reid Keenan and Angela Ramsey eloped.
”

“
Well, hooray for them!
”

Dr. Marsden laughed.

“
Somehow, I knew you
’
d feel like that,
”
he said.

“
But the Duchess? I mean, Mrs. Keenan? How did she take it?
”

“
With her customary charm and sweetness, I understand from Angela.
”

Hilary eyed him suspiciously.

“
Which, of course, means she threw fits,
”
she suggested.

“
With knobs on, as Angela reported,
”
admitted Dr. Marsden.
“
I wasn
’
t summoned to the lady
’
s bedside, so I don
’
t suppose the fit
s
were beyond Middy
’
s ability to control. Seems Mr. Hodding has been a sort of fairy godfather, waving the magic wand of his millions, setting Reid up as his legal representative on a fabulous yearly retainer, so he and Angela went hand in hand across the state line and got themselves married.
”

“
Well, bless them;
and
Mr. Hodding,
”
Hilary amended hastily.

“
The old boy seems to be quite a character,
”
said Dr. Marsden.
“
I like him.
”

“
So do I,
”
Hilary assented warmly,
“
Mrs. Barton
’
s scared of her family, afraid they
’
ll claim she
’
s making herself ridiculous by getting married at her age. They wanted me to stay on long enough to help her fight them.
”

“
Oh, yes,
”
said Dr. Marsden and his light-hearted tone grew heavy.
“
You are leaving us. I
’
m terribly sorry.
”

For the barest instant Hilary waited. Because he
had
said that if she left he would go, too. But, now, he was merely telling her that he was sorry she was going.

“
Thanks, that
’
s very nice of you,
”
she told him, polite as anything as she stood up.
“
I hope you
’
ll stand by Mrs. Barton when her family descends on her.
”

“
I
’
ll do better than that. I
’
ll help them elope if they like,
”
he said firmly, and grinned up at her as she turned towards the door.
“
See you at dinner?
”

“
Yes, of course,
”
said Hilary and let herself out of the office and went, head held high, along the corridor and up the stairs to her own room.

She stood for a long moment, her back against the closed door, fighting the depths of depression that flowed over her. It wasn
’
t that she wanted him to give up his work here, to leave just because she was going; it was just that—well, he
had
kissed her and he
had
said that he thought he was in love with her. So now she had to believe that he had changed his
“
thought
”
; or, rather, that he had discovered that he had been mistaken all along, and that he wasn
’
t at all in love with her.

“
So all right,
”
she whispered to herself.
“
So you made a fool of yourself and fell in love with him; and he changed his mind. He never was in love with you; he never really
said
he was; he just said he
th
ou
ght
he was. And you
’
re a fool to have thought he was. So snap out of it. You
’
ll leave here in three days and you
’
ll probably never see him again—
”
She had to bite down hard on that because it hurt so. But it was a hurt she knew she was going to have to live with all the rest of her days so she might as well begin right now getting used to it. It wasn
’
t going to be any fun, but it could be done. Because it
had
to be done.

Chapter Twenty

The dinner
hour was well-advanced when Mrs. Keenan made her first appearance since the eventful day when she had been so sure she was poisoned. It was really an entrance, too, Hilary told herself dryly as she noted the bronze lace of the dinner gown, the jewels in the ears half-hidden behind masses of carefully dyed red hair and about the wrinkled old throat. A dog-collar of pearls replaced the black velvet band without which Mrs. Keenan was seldom seen. Leaning on her stout stick, with its impressive golden knob, Mrs. Keenan was escorted to her table, nodding graciously here and there to such as she considered her social equals, haughtily ignoring those who were not.

Hilary and Dr. Marsden had just been served, and their
conversation had been limited to trivialities, but as Mrs. Keenan achieved her table, Dr. Marsden grinned wryly at Hilary.

“
Now that Her Grace is up and about again, life can
’
t be dull any more,
”
he drawled.

“
Without Reid to yell at and to make ugly scenes with,
I’m
afraid she isn
’
t going to be very happy,
”
was the best answer Hilary could offer, above the depressed feeling she had not yet been able to dispel.

Mr. Hodding and Mrs. Barton were at their usual table, and suddenly Mrs. Barton rose, shaking off Mr. Hodding
’
s restraining hand, and marched directly to Mrs. Keenan
’
s table.

“
I want to talk to you,
”
she announced curtly.

Mrs. Keenan fumbled among the laces at her bosom, found the lorgnette she used in the evening to disguise her poor eyesight, and surveyed Mrs. Barton as though she were something unpleasant she had discovered in her salad.

“
I can
’
t think of anything you could possibly have to say to me that would be of the remotest interest,
”
she murmured venomously.

“
Can
’
t you? Well, I can think of a lot of things.
”
Mrs. Barton was being belligerent, her blue eyes snapping.
“
Of course, if you like, we
’
ll wait until you
’
ve finished dinner, and then have it out in privacy. But knowing how you dote on scenes, maybe you
’
d rather have it right here? Now you no longer have Reid, poor boy, to rail at and bully.
”

Mrs. Keenan
’
s carefully made up face flamed with outrage, as she signalled a waitress.

“
Get this woman out of here,
”
she ordered, her voice trembling with rage.

The waitress looked terrified, and scurried out of the dining room in search of Drew Ramsey.

“
I want to know what you mean by demanding that the best nurse this or any other place ever had be fire
d
?
”
demanded Mrs. Barton sharply, and there was a small, shocked murmur that sped through the room like an Autumn wind through a corn field.

“
Oh, we
’
ve got to stop this,
”
Hilary gasped to Dr. Marsden, and started to rise.

Instantly he laid his hand on
h
er arm and pushed her back into her chair, his eyes on Mrs. Barton.

“
Let her alone. She
’
s doing
f
ine,
”
he whispered, eyes dancing.
“
The shy little violet who was afraid to come to the din
i
ng room when she was hungry. Well, she
’
s not shy now, bless her heart.
”

Mrs. Keenan
’
s voice went up.

“
I don
’
t know what you
’
re talking about, you uncouth creature.
”

“
Oh, yes you do,
”
snapped Mrs. Barton.
“I’
m talking about you having Miss Westbrook fired. You ought to be ashamed of yourself.
”

By now Drew Ramsey, summoned by the waitress, was coming swiftly into the room, eyes alert for the commotion, the guests who were standing, watching, listening to the two women.

“
What
’
s going on? Mrs. Barton, Mrs. Keenan, what
’
s the meaning of all this?
”
he demanded. He turned to the others and with some effort put on his usual charming manner.
“
Do please go on with your dinner. I
’
m sure all this is just some sort of misunderstanding.
”

He turned back to the two women.

“
And now, Mrs. Keenan and Mrs. Barton, if you
’
ll come into my office
...”
he began soothingly.

“
I think not,
”
said Mrs. Barton coolly, her blazing blue eyes not leaving Mrs. Keenan
’
s outraged face.
“
I think it
’
s about time all the guests knew just what sort of woman she is.
”

“
What sort of woman—
”
Mrs. Keenan
’
s voice became an angry sputter.
“
Drew Ramsey, how dare you let a woman of this sort into the T. & C.? I demand that you send her away.
”

“
Oh, don
’
t worry about that,
”
answered Mrs. Barton sharply.
“
I
’
m leaving, anyway, and so is Jason. We
’
re going to be married.
”

Instantly, realizing what she had said, Mrs. Barton clapped a hand over her mouth, color suffused her face and she looked about helplessly, in a panic, as Mr. Hodding reached her side.

“
Married
?”
gasped Mrs. Keenan as though she had never heard the word before and looked, stunned, from one to the other.

D
rew Ramsey was scarcely less shocked than she, and all over the dining room there were excited murmurs, a few who were hard of hearing demanding that they be told what was going on, and their companions shouting it out.

“
You two—doddering old fools—are going to be married?
”
Mrs. Keenan recovered first, her tone acrid with shocked disgust.
“
At your age? I
’
ve never heard anything so disgusting in all my life.
”

Mr. Hodding smiled at her, a cold, wintry smile.

“
I’
m sorry to know it affects you like that, Mrs. Keenan,
”
he said gently.
“
But I feel we are two very lucky people, to have found a companion for our declining years—which we feel will be the golden years of our lives. Because we shall spend them together.
”

“
Mr. Hodding, you
’
re really serious
...” D
rew began, somewhat dazed still.

“
Most certainly, Mr. Ramsey,
”
said Mr. Hodding sternly.
“
We hope to be married in a few days, as soon as Lily-Mae has a chance to break the news to her family. I, unfortunately, have no family so
I’m
hoping hers will ac
c
ept me.
”

“
Well, may I offer congratulations and my best wishes?
”
said Drew suavely.

“
And what about Hilary being fired?
”
demanded Mrs. Barton.

Drew glanced across the room to where Hilary and Dr. Marsden sat, and some of the easy charm left his face.

“
There has been a misunderstanding,
”
he said smoothly.
“
I don
’
t know where you got the idea that Miss Westbrook was being discharged. She has resigned because she feels her nursing abilities are not receiving full scope here and she wants to go where she will be needed more.
”

“
That
’
s not true, Drew Ramsey and you know it,
”
Mrs. Keenan flamed indignantly.
“
I demanded that you fire her because I would not tolerate her presence here any longer. She was rude and insolent, and I found her completely incompetent—
”

“
That
’
s a lie!
”
Mrs. Barton flashed hotly.
“
She is one of the most capable nurses in her profession, and if she was rude to you—I don
’
t believe she
’
d know how to be—it was because you are so unpleasant yourself!
”

“
Ladies, ladies!
”
pleaded Drew, because by now dinner was forgotten and the other guests were gathered about the table where Mrs. Keenan sat, with Mrs. Barton and Mr. Hodding on one side of it, Drew on the other.

Mrs. Barton looked about the group, and with bright spots of color like tiny flags in her cheeks, her eyes touched with fire, addressed them all.

“
Are we going to stand aside and let the Duchess have her way with Miss Westbrook? You all know how kind she
’
s been, what a fine nurse she is, how lucky a place like this is to have her—
”

“
If that nurse stays, I leave!
”
Mrs. Keenan cried furiously.

M
rs. Barton looked down at her curiously, and then back at the group.

“
Who would you rather have stay, Mrs. Keenan or Hilary?
”
she asked.

There was smothered laughter, and voices that left no doubt that it was Hilary who was the choice of the guests.

Hilary pulled her arm free of Dr. Marsden
’
s, crossed to the centre of the battle and stood back of Mrs. Keenan
’
s chair, where she could face the group, smiling, affection in her eyes.

“
You
’
re all very sweet and I
’
m very grateful to you for your expression of confidence in me,
”
she told them.
“
But Mr. Ramsey told you the truth; I
’
m leaving of my own free will, not because of Mrs. Keenan.
”

A tall, regal looking old woman Hilary knew to be in her eighties tapped her stick on the floor and said firmly,
“
Then I shall go, too. My sister and I are very attached to you, Miss Westbrook. You
’
ve been most kind and understanding; you
’
ve never laughed at us or let us feel that you thought we were a couple of silly old women—
”

“
I never did, Miss Lucy, for a single moment.
”

“
That
’
s very kind of you, my dear,
”
said the woman gratefully.
“
But I
’
m sure the place wouldn
’
t be the same without you. Would it, Clarissa?
”

And Clarissa, a year younger than Miss Lucy, completely under Miss Lucy
’
s domination, squeaked obediently,
“
Oh, no, dear Lucy, it wouldn
’
t at all.
”

Several others announced their departure, if Hilary went; and Drew
’
s anxiety grew as their voices chimed in. He looked down at Mrs. Keenan who sat rigid in her chair, fury still riding high in her eyes.

Suddenly, she banged her chair backward, almost bowling Hilary over, interrupting Hilary
’
s soothing words that would have tried to keep all the T. & C. guests here.

“
Then so be it!
”
Mrs. Keenan snapped dramatically, her scathing gaze swinging from one to the other of the guests in the group.
“
You
’
ve made it pretty plain that she stays
—
and that means I go!
”