Fire by Night (23 page)

“I don’t know. There’s no longer any mail service to the Confederate states. Another cousin of mine is in Richmond, as well. But Robert is a Union lieutenant being held captive in Libby Prison.”

“I’m so sorry.”

“We’re praying for McClellan’s success so that Robert will be released soon. But also that the battle will spare the innocent civilians.”

“It’s no wonder you have such a keen interest in this war. Now you must tell me about your work as a nurse.”

Julia tried to make nursing sound glamorous as she described it to Hiram, but she was aware of her own disillusionment and the fact that Dr. McGrath didn’t want her there. In truth, she was enjoying this evening so much that she didn’t care if she ever went back to the hospital again.

“Nursing helps me feel as though I’m doing something useful for my country and for all our brave soldiers,” she finished. “Although I can’t honestly say that I’ve enjoyed working with our hospital’s surgeon. He drinks overmuch, and he makes everyone’s life quite miserable.”

“You say this physician is from Connecticut?”

“Yes. The reason I asked you about him earlier is because there are all sorts of rumors flying around the hospital about how he’s running away from a sordid past. One version is that he got drunk and caused the death of a wealthy patient. Some say he even spent time in prison for it.”

“Wait a minute …what was his name again?”

“McGrath. Dr. James McGrath.”

“I’m not sure if he’s your man, but there was a big scandal in all the New Haven newspapers about two years ago—the year I graduated from Yale, in fact. It seems to me that it involved a drunken doctor and his very wealthy patient. I wonder if that might be the same incident.”

Julia stopped eating. She thought she might burst with curiosity. “What happened?”

“Well, a wealthy financier was shot to death, I believe. His doctor had been drinking with him that evening and was found at the scene with the dead man, holding the gun. They had been overheard arguing. The authorities arrested the doctor for murder.”

“So he
did
spend time in prison. One of the nurses heard that he had.”

“A friend of mine was reading law at Yale at the time, and he was very interested in attending the trial. Judging from all the news reports, it promised to be sensational. But I graduated and returned to Bridgeport before the case came to trial. I’m sorry to say, I’ve no idea how it turned out.”

Julia had no trouble imagining the ill-tempered James McGrath committing murder. But since he was here inWashington, she wondered how he’d gotten away with it. “If it is the same doctor,” she said, “it’s no wonder he left town and hasn’t gone back. It’s a pity that we’re stuck with him.”

“Yes, I don’t suppose he could ever practice medicine in the same city after a scandal such as that. Even if he was never convicted, his reputation would be tarnished. People would always point fingers and wonder, ‘Was he really guilty, after all?’ And they might be afraid to consult him because the suspicion would always be there. Yes, it makes sense that he would leave town.”

“You don’t recall his name?”

“No, I’m sorry. It was at least two years ago. I can ask my lawyer friend if you’d like. He might recall the name.”

“Yes, thank you. I’d appreciate that.”

After dinner, the men retired to the congressman’s study for their brandy and cigars. Julia joined the women in the parlor for coffee. When the entire dinner party assembled in the drawing room again, Mrs. Rhodes asked Julia to play a piece on the piano for everyone. She could hardly refuse after enjoying the Rhodes’ hospitality, even though Julia hadn’t been near a piano in months. Years of lessons and hours of practice came back to her quickly though, and she played a simple piece from memory.

Hiram was at her side the moment she finished. “You are very talented, Julia. That was lovely.”

“Thank you, but it was really nothing much.”

When another guest played a waltz, Hiram asked Julia to dance with him. “I am completely enamored with you,” he said as he held her in his arms. “To be quite honest, after everything I’d heard about you beforehand, I’d formed an entirely different opinion of you. But I’m pleased to discover that you’re not at all what I had expected.”

The knowledge that she’d been a topic of discussion irritated Julia. But Hiram was such a jovial, charming companion she shrugged her annoyance aside. “What did you expect me to be like?” she asked.

He laughed. “Please don’t be angry, but I thought you must be a radical suffragette or a social reformer …or else a homely old spinster who couldn’t find a man and was trying to prove she didn’t need one.”

“In that case, you were very brave to agree to have dinner with me.”

“I’m so glad I did. You are a beautiful, fascinating woman, Julia. May I ask …are you doing this—working as a nurse—to shock your family? Or perhaps to escape a bad situation at home? A love interest gone awry?”

Again she thought of Nathaniel. “Not at all,” she said. “I’m here to serve my country, just like thousands of other Americans.”

“But surely such menial work should be left to a different class of women, don’t you think? You should be presiding over a home such as this one, serving your country through respectable charity work. That’s the life you were raised for in Philadelphia, wasn’t it?”

“Yes …but…”

“Then why aren’t you there?”

Hiram was holding her closely as they waltzed, his warm, smiling eyes gazing into hers. Julia felt so confused she couldn’t reply. Then the music ended, and he released her. Congressman Rhodes bustled over to speak with them.

“It’s so nice to see you two young people getting on so well. Say, Hiram, would you be willing to see Julia home? And would that be all right with you, my dear?”

They agreed. Julia felt drawn to Hiram, in spite of her growing uncertainty and confusion. They ate dessert and talked some more, and when the dinner party ended, he escorted her outside to his brougham. It had begun to rain, and the sound of it drumming on the carriage roof and splashing beneath the wheels made Julia feel snug and protected as she nestled beside him. He took her hand.

“I would like to court you, Julia, if you would allow me to. I must admit that I’m absolutely smitten by you. Might you be willing to give up your hospital work and your disagreeable doctor and see me again?”

“Why does seeing you depend on my quitting?”

“Well, it would be very awkward otherwise, don’t you see? I have my family’s good name and social standing to consider. In spite of your own impeccable background, I cannot undertake a serious relationship with a woman who’s engaged in such menial, common work.”

Julia slipped her hand from between his, keenly aware of her chapped skin and torn cuticles.

“And then there’s the very serious matter of your reputation,” Hiram continued. “Surely you realize that it’s unseemly for a beautiful, young, unmarried woman like yourself to be exposed to the company of the coarsest sort of men, day after day.”

“I would hope that a serious suitor would trust me and would defend my reputation. That he’d know that my moral principles are virtuous and my motives are charitable.”

She thought of Nathaniel for a third time and of his admiration for the Nightingales. Were there no other men who felt the same way he did? Was she foolish to pursue nursing in order to impress Nathaniel, while allowing a man like Hiram Stone to slip away from her?

“Dear Julia. I do admire your tender heart and your desire to help others. That’s part of the attraction I feel for you. So is your dogged persistence against all that society prescribes. But put yourself in your suitor’s place for a moment. No gentleman would want his beloved to do such menial work, especially around so many unsavory men. It’s fortunate that your father is so understanding.”

“You wouldn’t be?”

Even in the dark she saw his disarming smile. “If I were ever so fortunate to win a wife as beautiful and as charming as you, I would never let her do another day’s work for the rest of her life. I would pamper her, spoil her, and dress her in finery and jewels. And I would never let her leave my side for a single moment, especially to spend it alone in the company of other men.”

Julia knew that he meant to woo her with his words, but he made her feel like a porcelain doll that he wanted to place behind glass doors for safekeeping, taking her down only to show her off. Most girls Julia’s age would be thrilled by such a loving declaration from an attractive man. What was wrong with her? Why did Hiram’s words make her feel trapped instead?

It was still raining when they reached the boardinghouse. Hiram produced an umbrella and gallantly escorted her inside. “You haven’t answered my question, Julia. Would you consider courting me? Won’t you give me a chance to woo you away from all this?” He gestured to the dreary foyer. It seemed cold and desolate in the dim lamplight, especially after the sparkle and gaiety of the congressman’s home.

But before Julia could reply, her landlady hurried out to the foyer from the sitting room, waving a piece of paper. “This message arrived for you several hours ago, Miss Hoffman. They said it was urgent and that I should give it to you right away.”

Julia quickly unfolded the note and saw that it was from Mrs. Nichols at the hospital. “One of my patients is dying,” she told Hiram. “He’s calling for me and can’t seem to be comforted. The matron has asked me to come.”

He frowned. “Now? So late at night? How does she expect you to get there?”

“I’m quite capable of getting around Washington City,” Julia said. “I’ve been doing it on my own for three months.”

“I cannot allow it. Congressman Rhodes would be furious with me. My driver and I will take you.”

Neither of them spoke as they drove through the muddy, rainsoaked streets to the hospital. Julia’s thoughts were on Ellis Miller, tragically dying at age nineteen. What should she say to him? How could she possibly comfort him in the face of such a meaningless death? She’d never sat at anyone’s bedside as they lay dying, and the prospect frightened her.

And what about her conflicting feelings for Hiram Stone? He was everything most women wanted in a suitor, with none of the arrogance she’d so hated in Arthur Hoyt. Yet the thought of being Hiram’s possession, of letting him make all the decisions in her life— including whether or not she could work as a nurse—frightened her as badly as what she was about to face at the hospital. She was aware that she hadn’t answered his question. Would she give up nursing and allow him to court her?

He opened the umbrella again when they reached the hospital and accompanied her to the door. “Thank you. I—” she began.

“May I come inside? I’d like to watch you work, if I may.”

“Have you had the measles? There’s been an outbreak, and you really shouldn’t come any farther unless you’ve had them.”

“I have, in fact.” He flashed his disarming smile again. “I recall that I rather enjoyed being peppered with spots like a Dalmatian.”

She led him upstairs and into the wardroom and then stopped short. Dr. McGrath sat on Ellis Miller’s bed, with one end of his stethoscope pressed to his ear, the other to Ellis’ chest. The doctor’s clothes were so wrinkled he might have slept in them, his auburn hair was uncombed, his shirtsleeves rolled up to his elbows. Julia could hear Ellis’ tortured breathing from across the room. The doctor rested his hand on the boy’s forehead, but it seemed more a gesture of tenderness than a medical one. Then he stood.

When Dr. McGrath turned around and saw Julia, he froze. The expression on his face was one she had never seen on him before— vulnerable and utterly defenseless. “Look at you,” he said softly.

Julia realized that she still wore her silk evening gown. “I-I’m sorry, Doctor. I didn’t have time to change. I got a message saying that Private Miller was asking for me, and I came right away. This is Hiram Stone,” she said, gesturing behind her. “He and I were guests of Congressman Rhodes this evening, and Mr. Stone was kind enough to drive me here.”

Dr. McGrath crossed the room while Julia spoke. He stopped when he reached the doorway where she stood. “Miller is dying,” he said in an angry whisper. “Don’t give him false hopes.” He pushed past them and descended the creaking stairs.

Hiram waited near the door as Julia went to the boy’s bedside. She gazed at his thin, pale face, battling her tears, then sat on his bed as the doctor had. “Private Miller? Ellis, can you hear me?” she asked softly.

His eyes fluttered open, and she saw him trying to focus them.“Are you …an angel?” he whispered.

“No, Ellis, it’s me …Nurse Hoffman …Julia. I heard that you were asking for me—so I came.” She took his hand in hers. His skin was oven-hot.

“Will you be my girl now?” He clung to her hand as if she had the power to hold him back from the gates of death.

“I …I would love to be your girl.” She tenderly brushed his hair off his forehead, just as the doctor had done.

“I’m scared,” he whispered. “I wanted to die bravely …but…”

“You are brave,” she said. “I’ve watched you struggle these last few days when it was so hard for you to breathe. And you never complained, Ellis. You never lost faith. You’re the bravest man I’ve ever met.”

“Will you write to my ma? She would want a lock of my hair. Will you…?”

“Of course.” Julia instinctively reached out to stroke his hair again, knowing even as she promised that someone else would have to do it. She could never find the courage to cut off a lock of Ellis Miller’s silky hair after he was dead.

For the next few hours, Julia stayed by his bedside, murmuring words of comfort as he drifted in and out of consciousness. She begged God to give her the right words, desperately summoning everything she could recall from years of church attendance, reciting the Twenty-third Psalm to him and the Lord’s Prayer.

“Do you know Jesus Christ?” she asked when he awoke briefly.

“Yes…”

“Then trust Him, Ellis. Hold on to His hand, just like you’re holding mine. Jesus said, ‘In my Father’s house are many mansions …I go to prepare a place for you …that where I am, there ye may be also.”’