Part 12 (1/2)
”What is it, my dear?” she said on reaching the bottom stair. ”What has happened?”
There was no purpose in being evasive, least of all with Callandra.
”I treated a child without the doctor's permission-he was not there. The child seems to be recovering nicely-but I have been dismissed.” It was out. She searched Callandra's face.
”Indeed.” Callandra's eyebrows rose only slightly. ”And the child was ill, I presume?”
”Feverish and becoming delirious.”
”With what did you treat it?”
”Loxa quinine, theriac, Hoffman's mineral liquor-and a little ale to make it palatable.”
”Seems very reasonable.” Callandra led the way to the withdrawing room. ”But outside your authority, of course.”
”Yes,” Hester agreed quietly.
Callandra closed the door behind them. ”And you are not sorry,'' she added. ”I a.s.sume you would do the same again?''
”Do not lie to me, my dear. I am quite sure you would. It is a great pity they do not permit women to study medicine. You would make a fine doctor. You have intelligence, judgment and courage without bravado. But you are a woman, and that is an end of it.” She sat down on a large and extremely comfortable sofa and signaled Hester to do the same. ”And what do you intend to do now?”
”I have no idea.”
”I thought not. Well perhaps you should begin by coming with me to the theater. You have had an extremely trying day and something in the realm of fantasy will be a satisfactory contrast. Then we will discuss what you are to do next. Forgive me for such an indelicate question, but have you sufficient funds to settle your accommodation for another week or two?''
Hester found herself smiling at such mundane practicality, so far from the moral outrage and portent of social disaster she might have expected from anyone else.
”Yes-yes I have.”
”I hope that is the truth.” Callandra's wild eyebrows rose inquiringly. ”Good. Then that gives us a little time. If not, you would be welcome to stay with me until you obtain something more suitable.”
It was better to tell it all now.
”I exceeded my authority,” Hester confessed. ”Pomeroy was extremely angry and will not give me any kind of reference. In fact I would be surprised if he did not inform all his colleagues of my behavior.”
”I imagine he will,” Callandra agreed. ”If he is asked. But so long as the child recovers and survives he will be unlikely to raise the subject if he does not have to.” She regarded Hester critically. ”Oh dear, you are not exactly dressed for an evening out, are you? Still, it is too late to do a great deal now; you must come as you are. Perhaps my maid could dress your hair? That at least would help. Go upstairs and tell her I request it.”
Hester hesitated; it had all been so rapid.
”Well don't stand there!” Callandra encouraged. ”Have you eaten? We can have some refreshment there, but it will not be a proper meal.''
”Yes-yes I have. Thank you-”
”Then go and have your hair dressed-be quick!''
Hester obeyed because she had no better idea.
The theater was crowded with people bent on enjoying themselves, women fas.h.i.+onably dressed in crinoline skirts full of flounces and flowers, lace, velvet, fringes and ribbons and all manner of femininity. Hester felt outstandingly plain and not in the least like laughing, and the thought of flirting with some trivial and idiotic young man was enough to make her lose what little of her temper was left. It was only her debt, and her fondness for Callandra, that kept any curb on her tongue at all.
Since Callandra had a box there was no difficulty about seats, and they were not placed close to anyone else. The play was one of the dozens popular at the moment, concerning the fall from virtue of a young woman, tempted by the weakness of the flesh, seduced by a worthless man, and only in the end, when it was too late, desiring to return to her upright husband.
”Pompous, opinionated fool!” Hester said under her breath, her tolerance at last stretched beyond bearing. ”I wonder if the police ever charged a man with boring a woman to death?''
”It is not a sin, my dear,” Callandra whispered back. ”Women are not supposed to be interested.”
Hester used a word she had heard in the Crimea among the soldiers, and Callandra pretended not to have heard it, although she had in fact heard it many times, and even knew what it meant.
When the play was finished the curtain came down to enthusiastic applause. Callandra rose, and Hester, after a brief glance down at the audience, rose also and followed her out into the wide foyer, now rapidly filling with men and women chattering about the play, each other and any trivialities or gossip that came to mind.
Hester and Callandra stepped among them, and within a few minutes and half a dozen exchanges of polite words, they came face-to-face with Oliver Rathbone and a dark young woman with a demure expression on her extremely pretty face.
”Good evening, Lady Callandra.” He bowed very slightly and then turned to Hester, smiling. ”Miss Latterly. May I present Miss Newhouse?''
They exchanged formal greetings in the approved fas.h.i.+on.
”Wasn't it a delightful play? ” Miss Newhouse said politely. ”So moving, don't you think?”
”Very,” Callandra agreed. ”The theme seems to be most popular these days.”
Hester said nothing. She was aware of Rathbone looking at her with the same inquisitive amus.e.m.e.nt he had at their first meeting, before the trial. She was not in the mood for small talk, but she was Callandra's guest and she must endure it with some grace.
”I could not but feel sorry for the heroine,” Miss New-house continued. ”In spite of her weaknesses.” She looked down for a moment. ”Oh, I know of course that she brought her ruin upon herself. That was the playwright's skill, was it not, that one deplored her behavior and yet wept for her at the same time?” She turned to Hester. ”Do you not think so, Miss Latterly?”
”I fear I had rather more sympathy with her than was intended,” Hester said with an apologetic smile.
”Oh?” Miss Newhouse looked confused.
Hester felt compelled to explain further. She was acutely aware of Rathbone watching her.
”I thought her husband so extremely tedious I could well understand why she ... lost interest.”
”That hardly excuses her betrayal of her vows.'' Miss New-house was shocked. ”It shows how easily we women can be led astray by a few flattering words,” she said earnestly. ”We see a handsome face and a little surface glamour, instead of true worth!”
Hester spoke before thinking. The heroine had been very pretty, and it seemed the husband had bothered to learn very little else about her. ”I do not need anyone to lead me astray! I am perfectly capable of going on my own!”
Miss Newhouse stared at her, nonplussed.
Callandra coughed hard into her handkerchief.
”But not as much fun, going astray alone, is it?'' Rathbone said with brilliant eyes and lips barely refraining from a smile. ”Hardly worth the journey!”
Hester swung around and met his gaze. ”I may go alone, Mr. Rathbone, but I am perfectly sure I would not rind the ground uninhabited when I got there!”
His smile broadened, showing surprisingly beautiful teeth. He held out his arm in invitation.
”May I? Just to your carriage,” he said with an expressionless face.