Rose Rivers

  ‘I dare say,’ said Dr Grimes drily. He took hold of Beth’s head, gently but firmly, taking no notice when she protested. He tilted it back so that he could look into her eyes. ‘Look at her enlarged pupils! See the tremor in her hands! This child is in a lamentable state of opium addiction.’ He let go of her and marched over to the medical case by the washstand, then removed each bottle of Godfrey’s Cordial and poured the contents into the bowl of soapy water, while Beth howled.

  ‘You’re a disgrace to your profession, madam,’ said Dr Grimes. ‘It’s a wonder this child is still standing.’

  ‘But what do we do with Beth now? Will she recover?’ Papa asked anxiously.

  ‘She will be very fretful and poorly for quite some time as she recovers from her addiction. She will need proper nursing and diligent care. I should get in touch with your own doctor as soon as you return home.’

  ‘I shall indeed, Dr Grimes. I am very grateful to you. Rose, please see the doctor out. I wish to have a word with Nurse Budd,’ said Papa sternly.

  ‘WELL DONE, YOUNG lady,’ Dr Grimes said as we went downstairs. ‘By speaking up, you have very likely saved your sister’s life. Your papa should be very proud of you.’

  ‘What about Mama?’ I said tremulously. ‘Do you think she will ever get better?’

  ‘Oh, I dare say. I have often dealt with female patients suffering from heartbreak, palpitations and sick headaches. Most of them recover soon enough,’ he said.

  ‘What about the ones that don’t, Dr Grimes?’

  ‘Some patients try a water cure, but I’m not sure it’s effective,’ he said. ‘I can’t see why a cold bath in a spa hospital should do more good than a hot bath at home.’

  ‘So what happens to the ones who are never cured?’ I persisted.

  ‘They are cared for in their own homes – or, if they become a danger to themselves or others, they may have to be taken away to an asylum,’ said Dr Grimes. ‘But don’t fret, child, I’m sure your mama will recover.’

  I hoped so fervently. I battled with Mama, but I hated the idea of her being dragged off to an institution. Would they keep her in her nightgown and lock her in a cell? And what about poor Beth? Was she really a drug addict? I had seen an engraving of men in an opium den in one of Papa’s books at home. They looked evil as they lolled around in a dissolute fashion smoking oriental pipes.

  I was in such a state that when I’d shut the door on Dr Grimes I sank down onto the floor and started crying. One of the maids came darting up immediately and shook my shoulder.

  ‘I beg your pardon, Miss Rose, but you can’t cry here. The Lord Provost and his lady have called for their carriage and will be leaving any minute. The mistress will be mortified if they see you in such a state,’ she said urgently.

  So I trailed upstairs, sniffling. Alphonse was trotting up and down the corridor whining, banished from Mama’s bedroom. He usually snapped at me, but this time he came and licked my ankles, and when I sat down cross-legged on the floor he climbed onto my lap, quivering. I stroked his strange little head with its huge ears and he nestled close.

  I thought about Mama, about Beth, about Paris. I had a pain in my heart too.

  ‘Oh, my poor Rose,’ said Papa, who was trudging towards me.

  He sat down beside me and reached out absent-mindedly to stroke Alphonse, who snarled at him. Papa sighed heavily. ‘He’s never liked me, strange little mutt, though he doesn’t seem to mind you petting him, Rose. Oh dear, oh dear. What a start to the new year!’ he said wearily.

  ‘Oh, Papa.’ I wriggled closer and he put his arm round me.

  ‘My dear little girl. I’d give anything to protect you from this upsetting business – but I suspect you’ve worked out why your mama is so upset,’ he murmured.

  ‘I think so,’ I said, blushing.

  ‘I didn’t know – I didn’t dream – it was all over long ago,’ Papa said brokenly.

  ‘I understand, Papa,’ I said.

  He sighed. ‘I wish you did, Rose. But you’re far too young and innocent to understand about love.’

  ‘No I’m not,’ I said. ‘I know how much it hurts when you can’t have the person you love.’

  Papa put his arm round me. ‘You’re a funny little thing, sweetheart. I suppose you’ve been reading your mother’s romantic novels.’

  ‘I never read romances,’ I said indignantly.

  ‘If only there were happily-ever-after endings in real life,’ said Papa, rubbing his forehead.

  ‘Do you have a headache, Papa?’

  ‘Yes, my head’s aching. I’m in despair. I’ve caused your mama such torment, and I’ve employed an evil nurse who’s endangered poor Beth’s life. I’ve dismissed Nurse Budd. She’s packing her things. I’ve given her the train fare back to London. I’m not having her near any of you children. I’ve taken Beth to the nursery for the time being. Nurse isn’t happy about it and says she’s too old to cope. I’m at my wits’ end as to what to do now.’

  ‘Oh, Papa, it’s obvious! Clover will look after Beth.’

  ‘Clover’s just a little nurserymaid, far too young for such a responsibility.’

  ‘I’m sure she would look after Beth splendidly, Papa. You say yourself that she has a wonderful way with children,’ I insisted.

  ‘She’s certainly been a little treasure since she joined our household,’ he said. ‘And she’s such a promising artist. Paris agrees with me that she has real talent. Thank the Lord he’s had the tact to clear off riding this morning. He’s a good chap, a true friend. Your mama thinks the world of him. Do you think there’s any way he could calm her down?’

  I looked at Papa, wondering if he could really be that blinkered. Couldn’t he see how Mama felt about Paris? Perhaps he’d become so important to her because she’d lost Papa’s love. Should I try to tell Papa? I worried that it might make him even more unhappy.

  After Grandmama had said farewell to the Lord Provost and his family she came upstairs. She sniffed when she saw Papa and me squatting on the carpet.

  ‘For goodness’ sake, we have perfectly decent chairs to sit on!’ she said. ‘Pull yourselves together, both of you. I gather Dr Grimes’s visit was a waste of time and money. I could have told you that would be the case, Edward. Is Jeannie not up yet?’

  ‘She’s still distraught,’ Papa said miserably.

  ‘Dear Lord, what’s the matter with that girl? She’s no grit whatsoever. I’ll soon put her right,’ said Grandmama, and she marched back towards Mama’s room.

  ‘Had you better go with her?’ Papa asked me.

  ‘No, I just seem to make Mama worse,’ I said.

  But I followed Grandmama all the same, and listened outside the door.

  ‘Good heavens, Jeannie, look at the state of you!’ I heard her say. ‘How could you let the doctor see you like this! Have you no shame?’

  ‘I’m not the one who’s shameless!’ Mama wept. She muttered incoherently about Papa and that woman and their scheming.

  Grandmama told her to be quiet, explaining that it had been a genuine mistake, but Mama wouldn’t listen. She went on saying dreadful things, speaking so fast her words ran into each other.

  ‘Haud your whisht!’ Grandmama shouted, her Dundee accent suddenly strong, and there was the sound of a sharp slap.

  Mama was shocked into silence.

  ‘There, that’s stopped your rambling! Making a fuss because your husband’s had another woman! I told you he’d never be constant, but you wouldn’t listen. You were such a stupid wee lassie, running off with a penniless artist because you were charmed by a bit of flattery. And you’re still gullible. Look at you now, bringing this young ne’er-do-well into my home, flaunting him in front of everyone, making a fool of yourself!’

  Mama started sobbing again.

  ‘Aye, you should be ashamed! And then you have a public fit of hysterics because your husband looks a little lovesick when he sees his old flame! When are you going to grow up? You’re not unique. There’s scar
cely a woman in Scotland who hasn’t had to put up with her husband’s affairs. I’ve lost count of the number of times the lassies at the mill came to blows because one of them eyed up another’s man. But you don’t fight and scream and shout in decent society, Jeannie. You hold your head high and pretend you don’t care – and after a while you might find you really don’t care.’

  Mama murmured something about heartache.

  ‘Aye, you’ve got heartache, but at least you haven’t got bellyache with hunger. That husband of yours isn’t likely to run off because he knows which side his bread is buttered – but even if he does, you’re a rich woman. Most lassies have to stick by their man even if he beats them, because they’d be penniless without his wages, and their bairns would starve. Your grandmother had it tough when your grandfather left home, Jeannie. I went to work at the mill to bring some money in, and I was proud to do it – but I’m far prouder that I’ve risen above my roots and can hold my own in the highest society. You’ve had it easy, my lass, and it’s made you soft. It’s time to toughen up, do you hear me? Now, up you get up and give yourself a good wash. Soothe those sore eyes, brush that tangled hair. You might be Mrs Rivers but you’re still a Nairn at heart, whether it’s broken or not. You’re my girl, my one and only, and I want to be proud of you.’

  I heard the bed creaking, the patter of footsteps and the sound of water splashing into a washbasin. It looked as if Grandmama’s plain speaking had worked.

  I scurried off to search for Rupert. I couldn’t see him anywhere, and eventually found him mooching about in the wintry garden, punching the air with short, sharp jabs.

  ‘Are you practising for when you go back to school?’ I asked. ‘Perhaps you can boast to all those horrid boys about your new Scottish girlfriend!’

  ‘I’ll punch you if you tease me about her. Grandmama insisted I say goodbye, and that awful girl made such a meal of it.’ Rupert grimaced. ‘Anyway, what’s happening with Mama? Did the doctor come?’

  ‘Yes, but it’s Grandmama who seems to have brought her to her senses. I do hope so anyway. And, Rupert, you’ll never guess what! I asked the doctor about Beth’s medicine, that black treacly stuff Nurse Budd keeps giving her, and it’s got opium in it. She’s been drugging Beth! I knew there was something sinister about her. But now Papa’s dismissed her and she’s got to leave immediately.’

  I wondered what the etiquette was for a dismissed member of staff. I hoped I wouldn’t have to say goodbye. I hated the thought of interrupting her while she was packing, so I stayed in the garden with Rupert, even though I was freezing. He saw that I was shivering and wound his scarf around my neck.

  ‘Let’s run before you turn into a block of ice,’ he said. ‘We’ll go all the way round Pennycuik. I’ll race you.’

  I knew I didn’t have a hope of beating him because he went cross-country running at school and was much fitter than me – but I still chased after him. I kept within a few paces all the way round to the front, though I had a terrible stitch in my side. A carriage had drawn up at the front steps, with more of Grandmama’s overnight guests on their way home, looking pale and weary now.

  We had to slow down and bid them farewell, even though we couldn’t even remember their names. One lady beckoned to me.

  ‘How is your mother, dear? She seemed very unwell last night.’

  ‘She’s recovered now, thank you,’ I said stiffly.

  ‘What exactly was troubling her?’ she asked, eyes beady with curiosity.

  ‘Oh, Nurse sent for her because our baby sister had had a choking fit and poor Mama was very alarmed. But thank goodness she coughed up the offending item and all is well now,’ Rupert said smoothly.

  ‘You’re such a liar!’ I said as the carriage rolled on its way. ‘I wish I could lie like that!’

  Rupert set off again. ‘Come on, we haven’t finished our race,’ he called.

  It felt good to run and feel like a little girl again. I was level with Rupert as we hurtled round the side of the house and past the kitchen garden. A groom had brought a pony and trap round to the back steps, and Nurse Budd was climbing in, clutching her carpet bag!

  ‘Oh my goodness. Quick, let’s go back,’ I said, but she’d heard our thundering footsteps.

  She turned to me, her face contorted with fury. ‘You interfering little madam!’ she hissed.

  ‘Don’t you dare talk to my sister like that!’ said Rupert.

  ‘I was worried about Beth. I knew it was too much medicine. I had to consult the doctor,’ I insisted.

  ‘I wasn’t doing her any harm. I was trying to keep her calm. I’m glad to be shot of you and your wretched family, wasting my training on the likes of you. You’re not even proper society, you’re just trade. You’ll all come to a bad end, you mark my words. Especially you, Rose Rivers!’ She said it with such venom that I backed away from her, clutching Rupert.

  ‘Take the wretched woman to the station immediately!’ he commanded the groom.

  ‘Yes, Mr Rupert,’ the man replied, and flicked the reins.

  ‘Good riddance, you evil old harpy!’ Rupert called after Nurse Budd.

  ‘It was as if she were really cursing me!’ I said, shivering.

  ‘Don’t worry, she’s gone now,’ said Rupert.

  ‘Oh, Rupert, you don’t think she’s done anything to Beth, do you?’

  ‘Beth’s in the nursery with Nurse,’ said Rupert, but he looked anxious too.

  ‘Quick!’ I said, and we ran up the steps and in through the back door, because it was nearest. We rushed along the stone corridors past all the sculleries and pantries and kitchens until we reached the narrow servants’ stairs, and then we thundered up, nearly knocking a maid flying as she came down with a basket of sheets.

  As soon as we burst through the dividing door we could hear cries and shouts. There was pandemonium in the nursery. Phoebe was wailing in her cot, Sebastian was cringing, and Algie and Clarrie were half laughing, half crying at Beth, who was yelling her head off, and flailing and kicking. Nurse was trying to hang onto her.

  ‘Where’s Clover?’ I had to shout to make myself heard.

  ‘Your father’s sent for her, and I’ve been left to cope with all these children, and they’re too much for me now, especially Miss Beth when she’s in one of her states,’ Nurse panted.

  ‘You shouldn’t hold onto her, Nurse, you know she hates it,’ I said.

  ‘Well, how else am I to stop her? Your father said she shouldn’t go near Nurse Budd, she was to stay in the nursery, but she won’t listen. She’s set on going back to the amber room.’

  ‘Why don’t we let her go there, if that’s what she wants? Nurse Budd has gone now. We just saw her leave, didn’t we, Rupert. Come on, Beth, come with me,’ I said, gesturing.

  She didn’t take my hand, but she paused to draw breath.

  ‘Good girl. No more screaming now!’ said Rupert.

  Beth put her hand over her mouth and tried to stop.

  ‘That’s it. We can hear ourselves think now,’ he told her. ‘My, you need a handkerchief, Beth. Can you sort her out, Rose?’

  I gave her my handkerchief and she scrubbed at her face.

  ‘Not so hard, you’ll hurt yourself. Come on, we’ll go to the amber room, you and me and Rupert,’ I said.

  Beth scurried along beside us and ran into the room, heading straight for the washstand. She started whimpering, moving towels, peering into corners, looking underneath her doll, terribly agitated.

  ‘What is it? What’s she looking for?’ Rupert asked.

  ‘Her medicine. She’s got so used to taking it,’ I said. ‘Poor, poor Beth. It’s all gone now. Nurse Budd’s gone too. She was bad. She gave you bad medicine,’ I said.

  ‘Medicine!’ said Beth, weeping.

  ‘Yes, I know you want it, but it wasn’t good for you.’ I tried to think of something to distract her. ‘Let’s count, shall we? Let’s count all the amber beads. One, two, three, four, five …’

  ‘Six,
seven, eight, nine, ten,’ Beth said automatically as she went over to the cabinet.

  ‘Good old amber beads,’ I said to Rupert.

  ‘Amber beads! Amber beads!’ Beth cried.

  ‘Yes, count them, Beth.’

  She shook her head and started stabbing at the glass. I looked properly and saw that the lock on the display case had been prised open. Every single strand of amber was gone.

  ‘Nurse Budd must have stolen them! Good Lord! I wonder if we can catch her at the station?’ Rupert said excitedly, all fired up for a drama.

  But Grandmama said she didn’t want to pursue Nurse Budd.

  ‘She’s a truly evil woman. I gave her a piece of my mind when I heard how she’d been poisoning my little granddaughter – and she had the nerve to come out with a mouthful of abuse in return. How Jeannie could ever have employed such a dreadful woman beggars belief. You should have heard what the Budd woman said about her! She even said terrible things about you, Rose!’ said Grandmama, shuddering.

  ‘What things?’ I said, my heart thudding.

  ‘Far too disgusting to repeat. That’s why I don’t want to go to the police and have the creature detained and charged. Lord knows what she’d start saying then. I haven’t battled my way into society all these years only to be dragged down by scandalous rumours.’

  ‘But what about your amber, Grandmama?’ Rupert asked.

  ‘Och, I’ve never cared for it particularly. All that foreign garish yellow! I like Scottish jewellery.’ She sighed. ‘I’m exhausted after all the shenanigans! What a start to the new year!’ She squinted at the ornate ormolu clock on her mantelpiece. ‘It’s so fancy I can never make out where the hands are pointing. What time is it, Rupert, dear? Consult your pocket watch!’

  I looked at Rupert anxiously, but he calmly took his new Christmas present out of his pocket and peered at it, shielding it casually with his hand.

  ‘It’s half past eleven, Grandmama,’ he said.

  ‘Good Lord, is that all? Still, your Grandpapa’s watch has always been a marvellous time-keeper. Are you enjoying it, Rupert?’ said Grandmama.