of herself. William could charm the birds out of the trees. He was certainly doing a good job on the nurses, who were smiling at him through the dripping branches of the plane trees.
He did an equally good job with their mother. He charmed and flattered her so much, Constance Tremayne was as blind to her son’s true nature as she was suspicious of Helen’s.
‘And she believes that, does she?’
‘She’s very impressed with my dedication,’ William said piously.
‘I wish I was as good a liar as you.’ Helen even felt guilty when she was telling her mother the truth. Constance Tremayne had a way of looking at her that made Helen feel as if her head was made of glass and all her thoughts were visible for her mother to probe and pick over.
She turned to face him. ‘So what favour do you want? Money? Or have you accidentally killed a patient and need my help covering it up?’
‘Helen! I haven’t killed anyone in months and you know it.’ William’s thickly fringed dark brown eyes twinkled. ‘But now you mention it, I am rather strapped for cash. If you’re offering?’
‘I wasn’t.’ She peered out from under the dripping branches at the rain hammering off the cobbles and wondered if she should make a run for it.
‘Please, Hels. Just a few bob till payday? I wouldn’t ask, but I am in great need. You know I get paid a pittance.’
‘You get paid more than me.’
‘Yes, well, you’re so much better at managing money than I am. Come on, Hels,’ he wheedled. ‘I know you’ve got it all stashed away in a Post Office account somewhere. I mean, it’s not as if you go anywhere to spend it, do you?’
‘Unlike you.’ William spent every penny he earnt, and more besides.
‘Actually, the money’s not for me. It’s for Bessie.’ He lowered his voice. ‘I’m afraid she’s very sick.’
Helen sighed. ‘What is it this time? Blown gasket? Exhaust pipe dropped off? Honestly, Will, why don’t you just get rid of the wretched car?’
William reeled back. ‘How can you even say that? Bessie means everything to me. And I’ll have you know there’s plenty of life in the old girl.’
‘If she’s got such a long and happy life ahead of her, it won’t hurt her to stay off the road for a couple of weeks until you get paid, will it?’
‘Ah, well, yes. That might be possible, except—’ He smoothed down a cowlick of dark hair, which sprang straight back up again. ‘I sort of promised someone a trip to the coast next weekend.’
Helen rolled her eyes. ‘How did I know there would be a girl involved?’
‘She’s not just any girl. I’ve been trying to get her to agree to go out with me for weeks. I think she may be the love of my life,’ he confided.
‘You said that about the last one. And the one before that.’
‘I can’t help it if I lose my heart easily, can I?’
‘It’s not your heart I’m worried about.’ She glanced at the two nurses, still smiling shyly at William. They might feel flattered, but what they didn’t realise was that William was as fickle and easily bored as he was charming. There were many casualties of his affections among the nurses of Nightingale’s.
‘I suppose she knows what she’s letting herself in for?’ Helen sighed.
‘I’m not that bad, Hels.’
‘I know exactly what you’re like. You might be able to fool Mother and half the nurses in this hospital, but you can’t fool me, remember?’
William’s confident smile slipped a fraction, and Helen knew he was thinking about all the times she’d got him out of a mess in the past. It was hard to be annoyed with him for long, she thought. Underneath all that charm, William had a good heart. It was a pity no girl had managed to reach it yet.
Helen sighed. ‘I can spare two pounds. But I want it back.’
‘You’ll get it back, Sis, I promise. Every penny. With interest.’ William’s brown eyes sparkled. ‘You’re the best sister a chap ever had.’
‘And you’re the worst brother!’
As he walked jauntily away, hands thrust into the pockets of his white coat, she called out to him.
‘William? You will be careful, won’t you?’
Her grinned back. ‘You know me, Hels.’
Yes, I do, she thought. That’s the trouble.
Chapter Ten
HELEN HAD BEEN assigned to Holmes, the Male Surgical ward, for the next three months of her training. Another senior student, Amy Hollins, had been assigned with her. Helen had hoped that