Twisted Strands (39 page)

Bridie had stood calmly in front of her and had nodded soberly. ‘I know, Matron. I don’t think there’s anything we haven’t seen here, is there?’

‘No,’ Dulcie had said quietly. ‘But it’s very different when it’s someone you – you love.’

Bridie heard the catch in the woman’s voice and wondered. But Dulcie had cleared her throat and ended the conversation by saying, ‘So long as you are prepared, my dear.’

Now the moment had come and Bridie was pulling open the heavy front door and running lightly down the steps to the ambulance that had brought Andrew and another patient to Fairfield House. The
two ambulance men carried off a stretcher case first and Bridie stood on tiptoe, craning to see. But it was not Andrew. This man’s face was gaunt and his skin yellow, his eyes closed.

Then she saw another man climbing stiffly out of the back of the vehicle. He stooped a little and leant heavily on a stick as he moved forward. But his hair was fair, not at all like
Andrew’s.

She glanced again towards the stretcher that was now being carried up the steps and in through the door, which the matron was holding open.

‘Private Burns, ma’am,’ Bridie heard one of the men carrying the patient say. ‘Where do you want him?’

Bridie picked up her long skirt and ran up the steps in time to hear Dulcie say, ‘Up the stairs and it’s the dormitory to the left. Ah, Bridie, perhaps you will go with them. Show
them the way.’

Bridie walked beside the stretcher, gazing down at him. Tears blurred her vision momentarily; to think that she had not recognized her beloved Andrew. Impatiently she brushed away her tears,
took a deep breath and led the way up to the long, sunny room on the first floor that had been turned into a dormitory for six beds.

‘Please could you put him in the end bed. Has he any kit?’

One of the men shook his head. ‘Not much, miss. Just this small bag.’ He nodded down to a small bag that looked to contain shaving equipment.

‘Nothing – nothing else?’

‘Only his wallet and he won’t let anyone have hold of that.’ The man grinned and nodded towards the end of the stretcher. ‘Keeps hold on it, tight to his chest, he does.
Here we are, then, mate. Let’s have you off this thing and into a nice soft bed. And here’s a pretty little nurse to look after you.’ He laughed. ‘Some fellers get all the
luck, I reckon. Ready?’ He asked his partner. ‘One, two, three, upsy-daisy.’

When the two men had gone, Bridie stood beside the bed. ‘Andrew,’ she whispered.

His eyes flickered open and for a moment he stared at the ceiling and then he turned his head slowly to look up at her. His face was so thin that the cheekbones stood out. His eyes were dark
hollows yet, now she could see his hazel eyes, she knew it really was him. He was blinking at her, as if trying to focus, and for an awful moment Bridie wondered if he was blind. He had not lost a
limb, that she could see now, but perhaps his injuries were the sort that were not so apparent at first.

His lips parted and he seemed to speak, but no sound came out.

She found his hand and held it close to her. ‘Andrew, it’s me. You’re safe now. You’re home and I’m going to take care of you.’

Though it was strictly against the matron’s rules, Bridie leant over and kissed his forehead. ‘Oh, Andrew, I do love you so.’

He closed his eyes and she heard his long, deep sigh. ‘Oh, my darling,’ he whispered hoarsely. ‘My darling Rebecca.’

Bridie had known hurt in her young life, but all were as pinpricks beside this. Andrew’s undying love for her mother stuck a knife deep into Bridie’s heart. He did not even see her
as herself, the girl thought. Only as her mother’s daughter. Her gran had been right all along. She was determined, however, that no-one should see her torment. She plastered a brave smile on
her face and kept her voice as cheerful and gently teasing to all the patients as always.

Fortunately she was now run off her feet helping to care for her three special patients; her father, Richard and Andrew. She had little time to dwell on her own disappointment. They were each
demanding her time in very different ways.

Richard called for her constantly, would let no other nurse near him. Andrew lay in his bed, demanding nothing from anyone, yet her love for him brought her constantly to his bedside like a moth
to a flame. As for Jimmy, he watched the goings on closely and smiled with malicious relish.

‘Does Burns know I’m here?’ he asked Bridie frequently.

‘Just you keep away from him.’ She turned on him, speaking rashly. She bit her lip as she saw Jimmy’s eyebrows rise questioningly. She didn’t want him guessing the extent
of her feelings for Andrew. She didn’t want anyone here to know. Only her family knew of her fondness for him, yet even they still believed that it was more of a father–daughter
relationship. All her life Andrew had been her surrogate father, a replacement for the errant Jimmy. Sadly Bridie knew that that was how Andrew thought of her too. As the daughter he should have
had with Rebecca.

She put her head on one side, her hands on her hips and met her father’s gaze. ‘I heard about you and Andrew fighting over me mam, so just you keep away from him.’ She’d
turned it neatly away from herself to the events of the past. But Jimmy was not to be so easily deceived. She felt he was watching her face intently for every fleeting expression.

‘Seems to me he’s more to you than just one of your mam’s old boyfriends.’

With an outward calm she did not feel inside, Bridie said, ‘Of course he is.’ She leant towards him accusingly. ‘He took your place all the time I was growing up. He was like a
father to me.’

Jimmy laughed. ‘Perhaps he was, young Bridie. Perhaps he really was your father. Who’s to know, eh?’

His insinuations brought fresh dread to Bridie’s already wounded heart.

‘Seems to me,’ Jimmy was still watchful, ‘that it’s my dear brother-in-law, Richard, who’s got his eye on you. I’ll have to warn poor old Evie that
she’d better watch herself.’ He laughed. ‘She never did have much luck with the gentry.’

Despite her anger at him for his machinations, Bridie couldn’t help being intrigued. ‘What do you mean?’

He waved his hand and glanced around the room. ‘Chap who owned this place. He was her lover.’

‘Her – her lover?’ Bridie’s voice was a shocked squeak. Jimmy’s words implied so much more than the innocent romance of a girl and a landowner’s handsome son,
yet Bridie could hardly believe such a thing of her aunt. She had only witnessed the strong and sure love between Eveleen and Richard, and despite their present difficulties she was convinced that,
deep down, it was as steadfastly secure as ever. Once Richard was well again everything would come right for them.

They were alone in the room whilst Bridie changed the sheets on his bed, so Jimmy felt able to speak freely without compromising himself. ‘Our parents tried to stop it. Me mam in
particular was dead set against it. Probably because of what had happened to her when she was young.’

Bridie bit back the tumult of questions. She would learn more if she kept quiet and let him ramble.

‘Anyway, when our father died suddenly Master Stephen threw our Evie over and turned us out of our home.’

‘And that’s when you went to Flawford and met my mother,’ Bridie said pointedly.

Jimmy eyed her suspiciously, aware that she was trying to trap him into an admission. Carefully he said, ‘Well, yes, I met her. Of course I did. She was our cousin.’

Bridie arched her eyebrow quizzically, but said no more.

At ease again, Jimmy looked about him once more and laughed. ‘Good old Evie. She got her own back on him though, didn’t she?’

Now Bridie was puzzled. ‘How do you mean?’

‘Bought him out, lock stock and barrel, hasn’t she?’ He pulled his earlobe. ‘Oh, this place is a den of gossip, I don’t mind telling you. The things I’ve been
hearing. Make your hair curl, lass. It would really. There’s a feller in here from Bernby. He used to work on the Dunsmore estate afore he went in the army. He’s been telling me a thing
or two. After the old man, Stephen’s father that is – now what was his name? – Ernest, that was it. Mr Ernest. He went off to London to be an MP and left his son in charge of the
estate. By all accounts, Stephen drank and gambled all the money. I bet he was only too glad to get away.’ He laughed. ‘I expect the Front was a better prospect than his creditors
chasing him.’

‘Hardly,’ Bridie said wryly. ‘He was killed.’

Jimmy had the grace to look startled, but it only lasted a brief moment before he said grimly. ‘Good riddance.’

‘That’s a horrible thing to say about anyone,’ she cried.

Jimmy met her gaze steadfastly and his expression was the most serious she had ever seen it. Quietly he said, ‘We’re a nasty lot, us men, Bridie lass, and I’m probably worse
than most. You wouldn’t want me for a father, really you wouldn’t. You’d best stick with Burns. He’s a much better father-figure for you than ever I’d be.’

Bridie, smoothed the pillow on his bed and pulled the counterpane straight before going to stand in front of him. She looked directly into his eyes. Quietly she said, ‘We can’t
choose our parents, can we? But you’re my father. I know you are, even if you won’t admit it. So it looks like we’re stuck with each other, doesn’t it?’

Without waiting for a reply, she turned and left the room, leaving him gazing after her. Besides, Bridie was thinking as she collected fresh laundry and hurried along to Richard’s room,
I’ve other plans for Andrew Burns, even if, at the moment, he doesn’t realize it himself. The last thing I want is Andrew as my father.

Eveleen was with Richard, but the moment Bridie entered the room it was as if she no longer existed. She watched as Richard’s face lit up at the sight of her niece. He
even held out his arms to her, inviting a hug, but Bridie laughed gaily and said, ‘Do you want to get me the sack, Uncle Richard? I’m on duty, you know that.’

She put the clean linen down on the bed and glanced from one to the other. ‘Now, how about you go out into the garden or perhaps go for a drive with Auntie Evie, while I get your bed
changed and Minnie comes and cleans your room.’

‘Can you come with us?’ He was pathetically eager and his face fell as Bridie shook her head. ‘You know I can’t. Now, off you go. It’s a lovely morning. Far too
nice to be stuck indoors. Why, don’t you go to Pear Tree Farm? Gran’d love to see you.’

Eveleen stood up and smiled at her niece, though she found it difficult. She felt as if she were merely stretching her mouth and that the smile did not reach her eyes.

You’re being silly, she castigated herself silently. How can you be jealous of your own niece? She’s Richard’s nurse and he’s just leaning on her whilst he’s ill.
But, the insidious voice persisted, hasn’t he always been fond of her? Remember the Goose Fair? The memory still hurt, but that day had been her fault. If she hadn’t been so busy, so
wrapped up in her own importance, trying so desperately to prove that she could run the factory, then it would not have happened. They would have had a lovely family day at the fair, the three of
them.

Perhaps it was all her own fault. Eveleen was never less than honest with herself, even if the truth hurt. If she had devoted all her time to her husband when he had come home from the war, it
might not have been necessary for him to have come here. She sighed, but it was too late now. He was here and there was no doubt, however painful the realization might be, that he was improving
greatly under the wonderful nursing care at Fairfield House. And, if she was brutally honest with herself, it was mainly Bridie’s loving care that was bringing about his recovery.

She moved to Richard’s side and took his arm. Trying to make her tone playfully light, she said, ‘I think she wants to get rid of us. Come along, darling. We’ll go for that
drive.’

For a moment, Richard looked disappointed, but then he nodded, tried to smile and said, ‘Shall we go to Pear Tree Farm and take Jimmy to see his mother?’

‘I don’t think he’ll come,’ Eveleen said.

‘What about Andrew then?’

‘He’s not well enough,’ Bridie said. ‘Not yet. I’m going to take him for a little walk in the garden later.’

Eveleen saw Richard look towards Bridie, who was already stripping the sheets from his bed. The look in his eyes was gentle as he murmured softly, ‘Lucky Andrew.’ But Eveleen knew
that Bridie, concentrating on her task, had not heard.

Josh lumbered forward as the car turned in at the gate.

‘Oh, this is wonderful. Are you feeling better, Richard? Come in, come in. Dinner should be nearly ready and I’m sure there’ll be enough for both of you. Mary, Mary love . .
.’ He drew them into the house, calling, ‘Look who’s here.’

Mary made even more fuss than Josh, but then, Eveleen reminded herself with a wry smile, Richard was a man. For Mary that was as natural as breathing.

But the man himself, though polite and smiling, seemed ill at ease, on edge all the time and perpetually glancing at the clock on the mantelpiece above the range.

‘Like a walk whilst the ladies wash up?’ Josh invited and though Eveleen could sense that he would rather not Richard gave in gracefully.

When they were alone in the house, Mary said, ‘He’s not himself yet, is he?’

Eveleen bit her lip and shook her head. ‘No. I wonder if he ever will be.’

‘All he needs is a lot of love and care, Eveleen.’ Mary spoke harshly, accusingly. ‘A bit of, of – ’ she sought for the elusive word – ‘tenderness.
You’ve no tenderness in you, Eveleen. You’re always too busy doing what
you
want to do. Organizing things, running things. Trying to take the place of a man.’

‘We’ve had to these last few years,’ Eveleen was sharply defensive.

‘I know all about that.’ Mary waved her hands dismissively. ‘But they’re home now and you should be concentrating on looking after your husband. You’ve got a good
man there, Eveleen.’ There was a hint of surprise in Mary’s voice as if she still couldn’t quite believe how her daughter had captured such a prize. ‘If you don’t
devote yourself to him now, then you’ll soon find someone else will.’