1915 Fokker Scourge (British Ace Book 2) (35 page)

He waggled a warning finger at me.  “Bloody heroes, all the same!”

Charlie and Lumpy looked fearful as they came in. “Don’t look so worried.  I have survived and it is thanks to you Lumpy.”

He shook his head.  “I was scared Mr Harsker.  I saw all that blood and I just had to do something.”

“Well you did the right thing. And now you have Mr Holt to watch over.”

He laughed, “He’s a nice lad but it is like having a school boy behind you.” He suddenly realised what he had said and put his hands up, “No offence meant sir.”

“I know what you mean.  And you Charlie, how are things working out for you?”

“I am glad we have the bombing run over.  I feel better now but when I saw those Fokkers coming after you I wished I was up there with you.”

Doc Brennan came in, “Sorry boys, the ambulance is here to take Captain Harsker to Blighty.”

They both shook my hand.  “Glad you are in one piece sir.”

“We’ll have your aeroplane as right as rain by the time you get back.”

The ride in the ambulance was not the most comfortable I had had.  I shared it with a mechanic who had lost a hand to a propeller.  His army career was over and the poor lad just stared at the ceiling for the whole journey.  My attempts at conversation resulted in monosyllabic answers and I
gave up. We reached the hospital after a boat, a train and another ambulance ride. It was late at night when we reached our new home. The last thing I thought about before I went to sleep was the smell.  This smelled like England.  I knew that I was home.

I was not in the same hospital as Airman Carmichael. He went to one for Other Ranks.
As an officer I had a room to myself. It was almost midnight when I was finally alone in my room.  The orderly made me as comfortable as he could.

He grinned as he stood by the door, “Don’t you worry Captain, blokes are only on night shift.  You have pretty nurses tomorrow.  They are much easier on the eye than the likes of me.”

I smiled back but, before I could retort he had gone and closed the door. My head hit the pillow and I was out for the count. I had a troubled sleep.  No-one had thought to give me anything for the pain.  I had been handed from orderly to orderly and I assumed they all thought that the one before had seen to my needs.  I am not the complaining type.  I had been brought up to be polite and not pester people.  It caused me pain and distress that night.

A particularly sharp pain jabbed me awake
. I think I must have shouted. I smelled a subtle rose perfume and I found myself looking up at the face of the most beautiful girl I had ever seen.  She had a look of concern on her face.  “When did you last have anything for the pain Captain?”

I had to think.  “Er yesterday before I left France.  The Doctor gave me some
morphine.”

She shook her head.  “That is simply not good enough! You have been in pain have you not?”

“A little but only in the last few hours.”

“The night shift are a bunch of layabouts.” She must have been aware that she was sounding quite cross.  “Sorry, Captain after what you have gone through the last thing you need is a harpy screeching in the room.”

“Don’t worry.  I don’t mind.  You are the first pretty girt I have seen in a long time and the first woman I have spoken to since Christmas. Your voice sounds like an angel to me.”

She actually blushed, “You flatterer.  I’ll get you something for the pain and then a little breakfast.  How’s that?”

“It sounds wonderful Nurse…?”

“Porter, Beatrice Porter. Now just lie back and
I will be back in a jiffy.”

The
pain had already diminished before she returned. I was lying back with my eyes closed.  Her perfume heralded her arrival.  When you have smelled little else other than fuel fumes, engine oil and Lumpy Hutton’s body odour, a perfume like Nurse Porter’s was a welcome change. Once I had had my injection she scurried away and returned moments later with a breakfast tray.  “Now you eat all of that up Captain Harsker, I want a clean plate.”

“It’s Bill and I will.”

She had the most enchanting smile, “I am afraid we have to use rank here, Captain.” She leaned in.  “If Sister or Matron heard me being so informal I would be in serious trouble.  But thank you for giving me your name.  It suits you and I shall think of you as Bill in my head, Captain Harsker.”

I ate my breakfast happily.  I think I had just flirted with a nurse.  I was not certain but Ted, the squadron’s ladies man, had
said that flirting was the first stage to an assignation. I was getting ahead of myself.  Goodness only knew how long I would be here.

That was the last time I saw the lovely Nurse Porter alone that day. The next time I saw her was with a hatchet faced sister and a doctor who reeked of cigarette smoke. I was told that Doc Brennan had done a good job.  That was superfluous information; I knew he had done a good job.  I was told that I would be bed bound for a fortnight and after another week I might be fit to recuperate at home.

I wondered about that as I lay in the bed looking out at Hyde Park in the June sunshine. It was a long journey to Burscough and I would only be there for a mere four days before I would have to make the arduous return journey.  I would cross that bridge when I had to.

I waited, eagerly, for Nurse Porter’s appearance the next morning.  I had wondered about getting up to shave.  An orderly had completed that task the previous day but he had not arrived until ten o’clock.  I decided it was not worth incurring the nurse’s wrath.  She was a little later than usual and she had a beaming smile on her face.

“I didn’t know how important you were Captain Harsker.”

I was nonplussed. “Me, important?  I don’t think so.”

“Well we had a phone call this morning from a Lady Burscough who said she was on her way to town and could she come to see you this evening. She will be here at six o’clock. ” She seemed impressed.  For me she was just Lord Burscough’s wife; a nice lady but her presence would not make me an important man. “I’ll get Cyril the barber to come a little later today so that you look smart for her ladyship.”

The matron and the sister were of the same opinion as Nurse Porter
, and my bed was completely remade, the room had a fresh bunch of flowers and, to my embarrassment, two nurses gave me a bed bath.  Sadly neither of them was Nurse Porter.

My evening meal was brought forward to five o’clock and the sister watched over me as I ate it.  H
ad she been able to feed me she would have done so to get it over with quicker! Eventually I saw that it was nearly time for the visit.  I knew that Lady Margaret Burscough would not have minded how the room looked but the matron obviously felt she had standards to maintain.

Nurse Porter flew into the room.  “She’s downstairs!” She was as giddy as a school girl.  She smoothed my cowlick across my face and ran her hands down my pyjamas to straighten them. I enjoyed her touch and the fragrance of her perfume.  She stepped back and gave me a critical look, “Well that will have to do.” She heard footsteps and voices and she stepped to the side of the bed, almost at attention.

I heard the matron say, “This is the room, your ladyship.”

Lady Burscough stood in the doorway.  She cocked her head on one side, “You poor boy.  What you have been through!”

She came towards me and planted a kiss on my cheek. I knew that her lipstick would leave a mark but it would have been rude to wipe it off. She stepped back and said, “I did not come alone.  I have brought you a gift. Alice!”

And then my little sister stepped through the door.  She had grown into a woman in the last six months.  She was smartly dressed and she had a smile on her face.  The smile belied the tears in her eyes.  She flung her arms around me and began sobbing on my shoulder. Fortunately it was not my injured shoulder. “They told me you nearly died.  I could not have borne that.”

Nurse Porter said, diplomatically, “I am afraid his shoulder will be a little tender, miss.”

Alice jumped off the bed as though bitten.  I saw the glare from the matron but I admired the courage of Nurse Porter. “What are you doing here?  You didn’t come all the way for me did you, your ladyship?”

“You are worth it William but no, Alice here has shown a talent for design and I have a friend here in London who is a designer.  He has agreed to take Alice on as an apprentice.  We will be staying at the town house for a few days until we can get her accommodation sorted out.”

“That is wonderful news sis but I
bet mum is none too happy about it.”

“
No she is not pleased but seeing as how it is her ladyship who has arranged it, she couldn’t really say anything could she?”

“Nurse Porter, go and fetch two chairs for the visitors.
”  While Nurse Porter trotted off the Matron came and smoothed down the bed covers again. She turned to Lady Burscough. “Would you like some tea your ladyship?”

Smiling sweetly Lady Burscough said, “If it is not too much trouble.”

When they were seated the two of them gave me all the news from home and I heard that Bert was still at Loos but as the attacks had ceased he was safe. It turned out that his Lordship had sent the message about my wounds and that had initiated the visit.  I was delighted. It meant I did not have to travel home. I had seen my family and I hoped to get to know Nurse Porter a little better.

When they left, an hour later
, I felt happy.  I had come close to losing my life but somehow it all looked a little rosier now.  Alice looked to have a good job lined up and I found myself looking forward to Nurse Porter’s attentions.

I found myself eagerly anticipating the times when she came to visit and tend to me.  Each time she grew closer. I still do not know how.  But every day was easier.  I smiled more and we both seemed more relaxed.  When it was another nurse I was disappointed. I felt guilty for enjoying my time in a hospital.

Two days later she stood in the doorway with her hands on her hips. “You must be a real Don Juan, Captain Harsker, you have another lady visitor!”

She was teasing, of course but I had no idea who it might be. A smartly dressed woman in her late twenties stood in the doorway and I had never seen her before. She said, “I’m Mary, Gordon’s young lady.”

Realisation dawned, “Of course, do come in.” I looked at Nurse Porter. “Gordon is one of the pilots in my squadron.” I think I detected relief on Nurse Porter’s face, or perhaps it was my imagination. 

“I’ll go and get a cup of tea for you then.”

“Don’t trouble yourself on my account.”

“It’s no trouble believe me.”

I had never seen Mary before but she came and planted a kiss on my cheek. “Thank you for what you did for Gordon. He wrote me a lovely letter saying how stupid he had been and how you had sorted him out.” She touched my hand with hers.  “He thinks the world of you.”

I smiled, “And I know that you are everything to him.”

She blushed, “That’s nice.”

Nurse Porter brought in a cup of tea, “You only have another half hour.  Matron is very strict.”

Unless, of course, you were Lady Burscough in which case you could stay as long as you liked.

“Thank you.”

“Can I be honest with you Mary?”

“Of course.  I always like to be straight with people.” She smiled at me, “You and Gordon are both Northerners. I know you can be a little blunt at times.”

“No, I wasn’t going to be blunt I was just… well Gordy worries that we live such dangerous lives that any of us could die in an instant.” I pointed to my bandage.  “And I am living proof how dangerous it can be.  Well Gordy doesn’t want you hurt again.  You have lost your husband and…”

“And he doesn’t want to widow me twice.” She looked relieved, “I knew there was something.  Thank you Captain.”

“Bill.”

“Thank you Bill. Now I know that I can sort him out.”

“He would be mortified if he knew I had told you.”

She laughed; it was a musical tinkling laugh and it lit up her whole face, “I am not a Northerner Bill and I can pretend with the best of them.  Don’t worry.  I will be discreet.”

All too soon Nurse Porter came for Mary and led her out. She seemed to be away for an age.  When she returned she had a strange look on her face. “Well aren’t you the dark one?”

“What do you mean?”

“Your visitor told me about you Captain Harsker, how you have won medals and shot down sixteen Germans and yet you seem such a nice quiet gentlemen.  You look as though butter wouldn’t melt in your mouth.”

I smiled, “It wouldn’t.”

“I think I know better.  Well, my shift is nearly over so I will just sort out your bed.” She padded my pillow and straightened the end of the bed.  When she straightened the top sheet her hand touched mine. I didn’t move it and neither did she.  Looking me in the eye she said, “Is there anything else you want, Captain?”

I squeezed her fingers gently and said, huskily,
Yes … you.”

She squeezed my hand back and said, quietly, “We will have to wait until you are well then… Bill.”

She drifted from the room and I was left alone with hope in my heart and a smile on my face.