The Nightingale Girls - By Donna Douglas Page 0,157
the desk, still struggling to take in what she was hearing. ‘Helen’s approaching her final year. Another few months and she’ll be taking her State Final.’
‘She can finish her studies elsewhere. I have been in contact with St Andrew’s in Aberdeen. They are more than happy to accept her, given her record and good character.’
‘You’re sending her all the way to Scotland?’
Constance Tremayne’s mouth tightened. ‘St Andrew’s has an excellent reputation as a teaching hospital.’
‘Yes, but even so . . .’ ‘Then Kathleen saw the spite gleaming in Constance Tremayne’s eyes, and it all made perfect sense.
‘You’re doing this to punish her,’ she said flatly.
Outrage flared in Constance’s taut face. ‘I’m doing what’s best for my daughter.’
‘Are you? Is that really why you’re doing this, Mrs Tremayne?’
They faced each other across the desk, neither of them blinking. Then, finally, Constance said, ‘If you must know, I have grave concerns about the way this hospital is being run, and in particular the moral welfare of the young nurses in your care.’
Kathleen could feel her temper rising and held on to it grimly. ‘I can assure you, Helen’s moral welfare is not in danger,’ she said.
‘Is that so?’ Constance’s Tremayne’s brows arched. ‘And are you aware, Matron, that for the past three months my daughter has been seeing – a man?’
The way she said it made it sound as if Helen had been consorting with white slave traders.
‘Lots of the nurses have boyfriends, Mrs Tremayne,’ Kathleen said mildly.
‘Not my daughter!’ Constance Tremayne looked genuinely shocked. ‘What is more, she’s been seeing this – this person in secret.’
I’m not surprised, Kathleen thought. How else was the girl to have any kind of private life? She thought about poor downtrodden Helen Tremayne, who walked with her head down and never dared stand up for herself even when the other girls provoked and tormented her.
‘Helen is an upright, moral girl of excellent character,’ Constance continued. ‘Or she was, until all this happened.’
‘Oh, come along, Mrs Tremayne!’ Kathleen couldn’t help smiling. ‘You can’t condemn the girl just for falling in love.’
‘In love?’ Constance Tremayne went white to her lips, her face rigid with rage and shock. ‘My daughter is not in love, Matron. She doesn’t know the meaning of the word. She’s become infatuated, allowed herself to be led astray with all kinds of silly notions she knows nothing about. She should be concentrating on her studies, not filling her head with fanciful nonsense about boys and romance! If this silliness continues she will end up failing her exams.’
‘I can’t see that happening at all,’ Kathleen reasoned. ‘Helen is a very conscientious girl. She takes her studies very seriously indeed. I certainly haven’t seen any evidence of silliness, as you call it.’
‘Really? And what do you call her recent rule-breaking?’ Mrs Tremayne pounced triumphantly. ‘Helen wouldn’t have dreamt of staying out late before she met this person.’ Her mouth curled with distaste. ‘So you see, it’s starting already. And what will happen next, I wonder? What else is this reprobate going to talk her into? I’ve already seen her defy me because she’s so besotted with him. How long before he really leads her astray, takes advantage of her?’ Her eyes blazed fiercely bright, and an angry vein pulsed in her temple. ‘Helen is a naïve young girl. She could end up disgraced, her life in ruins. I won’t have that happen, do you hear? I will not allow that to happen to my daughter!’
Kathleen regarded her carefully. She had never seen Constance Tremayne so furious before. She looked as if she was ready to explode.
Kathleen’s next words were spoken in a calm and deliberate manner. ‘Have you met this young man, Mrs Tremayne?’ she asked mildly.
‘Met him? Of course I haven’t met him!’ Constance Tremayne’s voice was shrill. ‘I have no intention of doing so. I want to end this nonsense, nip it in the bud before Helen’s future is ruined.’
‘And you think sending her to Scotland will solve the problem, do you?’
‘It will put her out of harm’s way.’ Constance was quieter now, clutching her handbag in front of her like a shield of righteousness.
‘I believe they have young men north of the border too,’ Kathleen pointed out. She saw Constance Tremayne bristle with anger again, and quickly tried to calm her. ‘I understand you want to protect your daughter, Mrs Tremayne, but you can’t shield her for ever.’
‘How can you possibly understand?’ Constance flashed back. ‘You’re not a mother.’