Miss Luckes waited until the clip of Ada's shoes had disappeared down the corridor before she rose from her chair, poured herself a glass of sherry, knocked it back in one and then poured out a second. Sipping this one, she mulled over the exchange which had just taken place between her and Ada. They both knew that Ada could no longer work at The London, but at the same time, she couldn't bear the thought of one of the finest nurses she had ever worked with ending up on the streets, or in the Workhouse. She took a larger swig of sherry as she tried to imagine what Ada had gone through, the fear, the pain, the misery of carrying such a burden alone. A thought crossed her mind and she reached to pick up the telephone receiver.
"Ah, Mr Holland," she began, "would you be able to come to my office, as a matter of some urgency."
Miss Luckes returned to her desk and knocked back the last remaining dregs of her sherry. A moment later there was a knock at the door.
"Come in!"
Sydney Holland walked through the door, noticed the open sherry bottle, helped himself to the nearest chair, and remarked, "it's a little early, even for you isn't it Eva?"
Miss Luckes allowed the corners of her mouth to curl ever so slightly. "The cheek of the man," she thought.
"I've had somewhat of a shock Sydney," Miss Luckes continued, "it's Ada Russell."
"Sister Russell?" Mr Holland interjected.
"She is no longer a Sister of The London."
"Has she resigned?"
"No, I have been forced to dismiss her."
"What!?" Mr Holland shouted, getting to his feet and began to pace up and down the office, his hands waving madly, "she's the finest nursing Sister we have, the Receiving Room functions because of Sister Russell!"
"Miss Russell," Miss Luckes reminded him, waving her index finger at him.
"What on earth has the poor girl done to deserve such a punishment?"
"She is with child, Mr Holland."
Mr Holland slumped into the nearest chair, legs akimbo, his eyes wide, his mouth hanging open slightly.
"Do we know who the father is?" he stammered after a prolonged, awkward pause.
"She was attacked whilst returning from visiting a former patient in the slums, a man, forced himself on her. She is five and a half months gone."
"Dear God. Poor girl."
"She wants to keep the baby Sydney," Miss Luckes continued, the exasperation rising in her voice, "I don't know how she can, she'll never be able to work again, and what man will marry her with a bastard in tow?"
Miss Luckes checked herself for a moment, then continued, more calmly, "I've said she can remain in the nurses home until arrangements for her have been made, but she must go soon. As soon as she stops working suspicions will arise, and even her new maternity girdle won't hide her secret from the others forever."
"What do you want for Ada's future?" Mr Holland asked.
Slightly taken aback by his question, Miss Luckes looked at Mr Holland for a moment.
"I want what's best for her." Miss Luckes replied, "and."
"Yes," Mr Holland questioned, raising an eyebrow.
"I want her to be safe, and happy, and loved," Miss Luckes replied, her voice becoming more and more rasping and choked with every syllable.
"And why have you called me in here?" Mr Holland asked, "you don't need to inform me every time you dismiss a number of staff. Or did you have something in mind?"
"Can you help her?" Miss Luckes asked, "do you know anyone who can give her sanctuary?"
"You care about the girl don't you Eva?"
"She's the right age that she could have been mine," Miss Luckes sighed. Aware she had let her guard down, Miss Luckes pulled herself up straight and continued, "I wouldn't want any more harm to come to her, which would be inevitable if she ends up on the streets or in the Workhouse. But I need her and her bas..." Miss Luckes stopped herself, "her baby out of here as fast as possible. What if the Committee found out? Or the Trustees? The scandal. The disgrace she has brought on us all."
"Eva, have you forgotten who has brought this disgrace on us, on Ada? The only one who has done anything wrong is the man who took advantage of her."
"Miss Russell was out after curfew, and not for the first time I might add."
"And do you think she deserved what she got?" Mr Holland barked so fiercely that Miss Luckes was taken sharply aback.
"No, of course not, Sydney."
"Then don't punish her further. I agree, in her current condition she cannot return to the Receiving Room, or work in any part of The London. But, God be damned, I will not let Ada suffer anymore. Good day to you Miss Luckes."
Mr Holland bowed and strolled out of Miss Luckes' office, sending the door clattering back into its frame as he left.
After her encounter with Miss Luckes, Ada had shut herself away in her room. Ethel was still on shift, but she was the only person Ada wanted to see. She had gathered up her uniforms into a pile and placed them on the table beside the door, her white lace cap draped across the top, ready to bid them, and the life she knew, farewell for the last time. She'd tried on the few civilian dresses she owned to check whether any of them still fitted. Standing in front of the mirror, she thought she'd better start making some new ones.
After her shift, Ethel crept into Ada's room as usual. She found Ada curled up in a foetal position, cradling her abdomen, the remnants of tear stains on her face. Ethel climbed onto the bed with her, and enveloped her in her embrace.
"What's happened?" Ethel whispered.
Ada rolled over to face Ethel.
"Matron knows."
"How?"
"Her ever-penetrating gaze may not be able to see through flesh and clothing, but it can see into alleyways from the top of omnibuses." Immediate comprehension danced across Ethel's face. "She suspected it almost as soon as I did," Ada continued, "so, as of now, I am no longer employed at The London."
"Oh Ada!" Ethel gasped.
"No longer deemed fit to practice. I can remain at the nurses' home until alternative arrangements can be made," Ada added, anticipating Ethel's next question.
"But what arrangements can be made? Where can you go?"
"I don't know. I told Matron that I have nowhere to go."
"She's not going to throw you into the street surely? Even Miss Luckes has a heart."
"She does, but she also has an iron fist. If I hadn't broken curfew and gone to Wilkes Street that night then none of this would have ever happened."
"Do not blame yourself for this Ada! Ethel shouted.
"Keep your voice down, I don't want the whole house to know."
"Ada, the whole house will know when you turn up to supper this evening out of uniform. The whole hospital will know by the middle of next week, or I'm the Queen of Sheba."
"What do I do?" Ada squeaked.
"Be brave, and know that you are loved."
