The Nightingale Girls - By Donna Douglas Page 0,88

to calm herself down, when Miss Hanley came in. Kathleen groaned inwardly. The last thing she needed in her present mood was the Assistant Matron’s oppressive presence.

‘Did you have a good meeting?’ she asked politely.

Kathleen looked up at Miss Hanley, towering over her, as solid and unyielding as a block of granite. Usually she would have made some anodyne reply, but for once she was too angry to lie.

‘No, since you ask,’ she snapped.

‘Oh?’ Miss Hanley did her best to mould her features into an expression of concern.

‘I’m afraid we will not be getting the new requisition of linen we ordered. You will have to go and tell the sisters they’re to go on making do and mending.’

‘Oh.’ This time Miss Hanley’s concern seemed genuine. ‘But our linen stock is very low, Matron. Last time I checked—’

‘Then perhaps you’d better tell Mrs Tremayne that?’ Kathleen cut her off abruptly. ‘She’s the one who’s put her foot down. She thinks the money would be better spent showing off to the local dignitaries at a Founder’s Day garden party.’

She could see Miss Hanley’s features twisting in confusion as she struggled to justify her friend’s actions.

‘Well, I suppose Founder’s Day is an important occasion . . .’ she began doubtfully.

‘More important than looking after our patients?’

‘Of course not.’ For once Miss Hanley wasn’t wearing her usual look of self-assurance. ‘I’d better go and talk to the sisters,’ she said.

‘You do that, Miss Hanley.’ And good luck, Kathleen added silently.

Veronica Hanley caught up with Constance Tremayne just as she was leaving.

‘May I have a word, Mrs Tremayne?’ she asked.

‘Of course, Miss Hanley.’ Mrs Tremayne gave her a charming smile. ‘I would have come and said hello but I had no wish to see Miss Fox again. One meeting with her was more than enough for today.’ She shuddered delicately. ‘I can’t tell you how rude and insulting she was to me this morning. Even the other Trustees were shocked. Between you and me, I think they’re beginning to see our new Matron’s true colours.’ She laid a delicate hand on Veronica’s arm. ‘How I wish you were Matron, Miss Hanley. I’m sure we could conduct business in a far more civilised way if we were working together.’

Miss Hanley blushed. For a moment she was too sidetracked by Constance’s flattery to continue. But then she remembered why she’d sought her out.

‘I have to admit, for once Miss Fox has a point,’ she said, trying not to meet Mrs Tremayne’s eye. She couldn’t bear to see that warmth replaced by a look of frosty disapproval. ‘We really do desperately need more linen . . .’

‘And you’ll get it, of course,’ Mrs Tremayne assured her. ‘But I’m afraid you’ll have to wait a little longer, that’s all.’ She looked disappointed. ‘You know how much I care about this hospital, Miss Hanley. It means as much to me as it does to you. Do you think I would do anything to damage the Nightingale’s excellent reputation?’

‘Well, no. But . . .’

‘I want everyone to look at this hospital and see it for what it is: a shining beacon of excellence. That’s why I so want this Founder’s Day celebration to be a success. So we can make the Nightingale a hospital to be proud of. You want that too, don’t you, Miss Hanley?’ Her fingers tightened on Veronica’s arm, her eyes glittering with fervour.

‘Of course,’ Veronica agreed cautiously. ‘But I must insist . . .’

‘You must insist that patients’ welfare comes first,’ Mrs Tremayne finished for her. ‘I do agree with you, Miss Hanley, I really do. And I have to say, this problem with the linen is not entirely of the Trustees’ making. In fact, you could have had your order before Christmas, if only . . .’ She let her voice trail away.

‘If only what, Mrs Tremayne?’

She glanced one way and then the other before leaning forward and whispering, ‘I’m not sure I should tell you. It is a matter for the Trustees, after all. And everyone else agreed with it at the time. Apart from myself, of course,’ she added.

‘Agreed with what, Mrs Tremayne?’ Miss Hanley’s eyes narrowed. ‘Is there something we are not being told? If it concerns the running of this hospital and the welfare of the patients, then we have a right to know.’

Mrs Tremayne paused for a moment. ‘There was money for the linen requisition before Christmas,’ she said. ‘I was all for putting it through – the patients’ comfort is