A Nurse for James by Margaret Tanner

Author:Margaret Tanner [Tanner, Margaret]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2020-06-25T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Six

The wooden staircase leading upstairs was wide with fancy balustrades.

“There are seven bedrooms upstairs. We’ve turned one into a private sitting room and James has done the same thing. He’s at one end of the hallway, we’re at the other. There are three bedrooms in between us. You’re welcome to whichever one you like, maybe the middle one. It gets more light than the others.”

“Thank you, I’ll have it then.”

“I’ll have to make the bed up for you.”

“I can do that, Florrie. I’m sure you have plenty of other chores needing to be done.”

“Well, yes I do. I want to get supper on. I was thinking roast chicken would be nice. I’ll cut it up so it will cook quicker.”

The room Florrie led her to was spacious and contained a dresser, closet and matching bedstead. Rugs covered the polished wooden floorboards. There was a large fireplace with carved mantel above it. A copper fire guard decorated with peacocks matched the lid on the wood box. It was slightly shabby yet still showed signs of previous grandeur.

“Blankets, quilt and linen are all in the large closet we passed on the way up, so help yourself to whatever you need. I usually serve supper around six. There is a nice selection of books downstairs if you like reading.”

“Thank you. I don’t want to get too comfortable here in case Captain Whybrow sends me away.”

“Call him James, we don’t stand on formality here now. You’ll be good for him. A young man like him needs female company.”

Ashley laughed. “I’m here to work not socialize.”

“Of course, you are, dear.”

Florrie left her, and Ashley went to the well-stocked linen closet and took out what she needed. Would James let her stay? Did she even want to stay?

After making up the bed she wandered over to the large window and glanced out. The house was set on three or four acres of land with a vegetable garden, small orchard and a few outbuildings. It was neatly fenced with a rock wall. Very English looking really. In the distant pastures, cattle and horses grazed. Did they belong to James as well?

This could be a nice place to live and bring up a family. What a shame it wouldn’t happen now. Unless James found himself a wife. Impossible when he was so bitter toward women and hell-bent on his own destruction. How could a man blame himself for surviving while his comrades perished?

After tidying her hair and washing her face and hands in cold water she made her way back downstairs, not knowing where else to go. What a gloomy, silent house this was. It was as if all the life had been sucked out of it.

Florrie was sitting at the kitchen table chopping up vegetables.

“Could I help?”

“No thanks, I’m just about finished.”

“Do you dress for the evening meal?”

“No, not anymore. We usually eat in the kitchen as well, cuts down on work for me. James doesn’t care one way or the other.”

“It won’t worry me, if I stay here that is.

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