The Nightingale Girls - By Donna Douglas Page 0,39

she’d got it wrong and make herself look foolish.

Either option made her blood boil.

Frannie must have noticed her silently fuming. When the round was over she said quietly, ‘I wonder, Matron, if you could spare me a moment in private? There’s a matter I wish to discuss with you.’

‘Of course.’

Kathleen followed her into her sitting room, a comfortable little area just off the ward. She waited until Frannie had closed the door, then sank down into one of the armchairs that flanked the fireplace.

‘Would you like some brandy? I keep it locked away in the kitchen for emergencies.’ Her dark eyes were full of merriment as usual. ‘On second thoughts, perhaps tea might be a safer bet.’ She summoned the ward maid and asked for a tray to be brought in. Then she sat down opposite Kathleen. ‘I take it you didn’t know Miss Hanley was doing your rounds?’

‘Indeed I didn’t!’ Kathleen replied. ‘That woman really is the living end.’

‘Perhaps she was trying to be helpful?’ Frannie suggested.

Kathleen glared at her. ‘You don’t believe that, do you?’

‘I suppose not,’ Frannie conceded. ‘Miss Hanley hasn’t exactly been helpful to you so far, I must admit.’

There was a tap on the door and the ward maid entered with the tray. They both waited until she’d gone before Kathleen went on.

‘I could cope with her being less than helpful. But it’s the deliberate attempts to trip me up I can’t stand. That and the constant bleating to Mrs Tremayne.’

‘Ah, yes. Mrs Tremayne.’ Frannie poured them both a cup of tea. ‘They do seem to be as thick as thieves at the moment.’

‘I’m sure she has Miss Hanley spying on me,’ Kathleen said. ‘She knew all about me getting rid of the ward bath book. That could only have come from Miss Hanley.’

‘Are you sure about that?’ Frannie sipped her tea. ‘I wouldn’t put it past Mrs Tremayne to have spies all over the hospital. Any one of the sisters could have told her.’

‘Well, that’s just marvellous, isn’t it?’ Kathleen’s china cup rattled in its saucer as she put it down. ‘So you’re saying I have enemies everywhere?’

‘Not enemies, Kath.’ Frannie’s voice was soothing, as if she was talking to a patient. ‘But you’re in charge, and not everyone is going to approve of all your decisions.’

‘Maybe I shouldn’t try to make any changes?’ Kathleen said gloomily. ‘Maybe I should just allow this place to go on the way it always has. That would please everyone, including Mrs Tremayne.’

‘It wouldn’t please you, though, would it? And it wouldn’t do this place any good, either.’ Frannie sighed impatiently. ‘For heaven’s sake, Kath, why do you think I talked you into applying for this job?’

Kathleen smiled wanly. ‘Because you have some long-held grudge against me?’

‘Because I knew you could make a difference. God knows the Nightingale needs shaking up, even if no one here would ever want to admit it. And you’re just the one to do it.’

‘Am I?’ Kathleen allowed her gaze to drift towards the window. A nurse hurried past, her hand pressed against her cap to stop it blowing off. ‘I’m not so sure any more.’

‘Stop being so wet. It doesn’t suit you.’ Anyone outside on the ward would have been utterly shocked to hear a sister address the Matron in such a sharp and disrespectful way. But Frannie was one of Kathleen’s oldest friends.

Frannie refilled her cup and stirred it thoughtfully. ‘Do you remember the Matron back in Leeds?’ she said after a moment.

‘You mean The Monster?’ Kathleen shuddered. ‘She was utterly terrifying, wasn’t she? I hope I never end up like her.’

‘But that’s just it. You’ve got to be. What do you think she would have done if she’d found Miss Hanley had done her rounds for her?’

‘Crushed her to dust, probably.’

‘She would make sure she didn’t do it again, that’s for certain. And that’s what you’ve got to do, Kath. Show them all who’s boss. Including Constance Tremayne.’

Kathleen stared down into her empty teacup. It wasn’t that simple, she thought. The Monster had been so old and wise. Sometimes when Kathleen saw the nurses’ expectant faces looking to her for guidance, she felt as if she knew no more than they did. ‘I’m scared, Fran,’ she said.

‘I know you are, ducks. But you can’t let anyone see that.’ Frannie smiled sympathetically and refilled her cup. ‘Like it or not, you’re The Monster now.’

Kathleen returned to her office ten minutes later to find Miss Hanley sitting at her desk, rifling through