37.
~ It was late in the evening that Ariadne finally woke up. She had slept soundly in the clean, little guest room provided for her. The home was comfortable and she had been surprised they had so much electricity as well as electrical things. So many years of living with air raids and bombs had made the pretty nurse used to a world without lights that snapped on with ease. During the most horrific parts of the blitz, no one had power or even gas. It was a lucky thing to even have running water. Those days, it had felt like the world was coming to an end as they cleared rubble off streets so wounded could be brought in. The nurses having to boil water on a stove to sterilize instruments.
Beth seemed to take it for granted that when she flicked a switch, the power came on.
It was strange to think of Arthur growing up here. With all these fine old paintings on the walls and antiques everywhere. Paintings and old photographs of his relatives always telling him who he was and where he came from. She found herself envying him for that.
Ariadne put on her blue dress. Still the best she had. She washed her face and tired to fix her hair. Her hands lacking the skill Trixie always had. She wanted to give her new family the best impression possible.
She was creeping downstairs when she heard voices.
"What was Arthur thinking!" A woman's voice carried up to the second floor. Her voice was so strong and forceful and it easily reached Ariadne as she waited in the servant's stairs. Afraid to move.
"I do not care if she is civil! How could Arthur do such a thing to me?" Cried the woman.
"Mother! Calm down!" Beth was saying. "You know my brother would never rush into such a situation lightly."
"He is married Elizabeth! Married! To a common whore he met in France! A woman with no breeding and no education!" The lady was crying.
Ariadne peeked unseeing into the front room. Beth was sitting reserved and lady like on an expensive couch. A handsome, tall woman was pacing about the room. She had Arthur's height and formidable stride. She had to be his mother with her menacing dark eyes that the pretty nurse had remembered from the major. That day at the front when he found she had gone with the other nurses to help the wounded. Lydia wore the same angry hard scowl her son did that day.
"Ariadne is not a whore, Mother." Beth said calmly. "Men don't marry whores and send them to their family. A whore is someone who they pay, use and then leave."
"Elizabeth! Where is your composure? Discussing women who sell themselves, as if you know of such things!" The mother cried.
"You brought up whores first, Mother." Beth said with Arthur's smile. "Anyhow, Ariadne is a lovely girl. She worked as a nurse in London and Paris. She was wounded helping our boys when an air raid hit. She obviously has a good heart."
"A nurse!" The other exclaimed. Her hand to her heart. "Don't think I don't know what that means!"
"Enlighten me, Mother." Beth said lazily as she picked up some embroidery and started stitching. Barely giving the older woman a glance.
"Nurses only become nurses to seduce men. They are one step above prostitutes!" The lady of house exclaimed. "They are filled with lust and climb on top of the poor wounded men, many of whom are married, and are carnal with them!"
"Hum. I wonder if it's too late for me to become a nurse." Beth said thoughtfully.
"Elizabeth!" The mother cried.
Ariadne had heard enough. She coughed loudly and let it be known she was in the room.
"Oh, Ariadne." Beth said with a warm smile. "Did you sleep well? I was just about to wake you for dinner."
"Yes, I slept very well." Ariadne said not looking at Arthur's mother.
Instead, she shifted uncomfortably on her good leg. Her cast feeling heavy from her careful trip down the stairs.
"Ariadne, I would like you to meet my mother, Lydia." Beth said standing up and waving at the formidable lady.
"Charming." Arthur's mother said coldly. "You may call me, Madam."
"The servant's call you Madam." Beth snapped. "Ariadne, please call her Mother like I do. Don't worry, she doesn't like me to call her that either."
Arthur's mother huffed and looked over Ariadne as if she meant to buy her. She was wearing her best dress and tried not to think about her lack of stockings and her worn out shoes. Her only jewelery was her wedding band that suddenly looked clumsy and cheap where before, it had been her favorite possession next to her compact. Compared to these richly clothed women, she looked worn and poor.
"Ariadne is it?" the lady asked. Putting a mocking emphasis on her name. "In the future, we dress for dinner." She said curtly.
"Mother, let's not show our fangs just yet." Beth scolded lazily. "Let the new member of the pack decide if she likes us first."
~ Dinner was a cold affair. Lydia barely saying a word as Beth talked about the fund raising she was doing for the hospital and war effort.
"I have been so exhausted." Beth sighed. "In the morning, I have to go and make sure the menu's are right for our latest luncheon. I've already had to send them back twice. For our boys on the front, nothing is too difficult. I keep telling myself that." Beth said bravely.
Ariadne had to bite her lip hard to keep her thoughts from becoming vocal. Beth promised to be a true friend. She didn't want to upset her by telling her if she really wanted to help the troops, she would stop throwing silly parties that brought in very little money and volunteer at the hospital. Or the family could sell that fancy car and provide meals to starving orphans for a month.
Beth obviously liked her little parties. Something to dress up for and see and be seen at. All the while telling herself she was helping bring her brother back home safe.
Ariadne tried not to grumble about how the money Beth no doubt spent on a party dress, could have gone to buying a box of badly needed penicillin.
Beth seemed to read her thoughts.
"Ariadne, you must think I'm so silly. I talk about my fund raising while you were there. You were really doing some good." Beth said kindly. "I would have given anything to have joined the WASPS or even done nurses' training.
"Women of this family do not work outside of the home." Lydia said harshly.
Beth threw her mother a look.
"Dad had been sick for a long time and I couldn't leave him. You understand." Beth told the pretty nurse.
"I understand." Ariadne said sadly.
In a way, it was lucky Ariadne had no ties to anyone. No one who kept her from doing what she wanted. Who told her she had to stay at home when she wanted to do something more. Beth wanted to do more like her brothers, but she had too many obligations at home.
"Arthur and I were thinking I might try medical school. Just to see if I could make it as a doctor." Ariadne said suddenly. A part of her knowing full well how Lydia would react. She wasn't disappointed.
The lady of the house almost chocked on her soup.
"I think that's a fine idea." Beth said with a wide smile. "Arthur was always so enlightened. He got it from our Dad's side of the family. Dad's mother was a suffragette back in the day. Got arrested and everything. We were always so proud of her. I can show you her arrest record after dinner. She took the most glamorous mug shots."
Lydia seemed to restrain herself and glared at Beth.
"I can see this isn't going to work out." The lady muttered.
~ After that, Lydia kept her side of the conversation neutral. She didn't ask about Ariadne's family or work. She wanted to know only if things were pleasant and didn't want to hear about things that were not. Ariadne was used to the loud, friendly gossip of other nurses in the mess halls. Not this cold and distant conversations over the five course dinner.
"The family took a trip to Paris before the war broke out." Beth said fondly. "It was a lovely city. Arthur had just graduated high school and I was at Wellesley."
"Nice school." Ariadne said savoring the roast beef. Beef! In war time! She hadn't seen real beef in years.
"Yes, they give a girl all the important skills for catching a husband and keeping him looking good to his peers." Beth huffed.
"And yet, you still failed miserably!" Lydia chided. "I can't tell you how many suitors I had arranged. Stupid, headstrong child!"
"Don't mind her." Beth said coolly. "She's shocked at the state of women theses days. How we can dress ourselves and vote, have careers and babies with no husbands. It's one of the four horseman I'm sure."
"Elizabeth!" Lydia scolded sharply.
The lady of the house sat back in her chair and tried to compose herself.
"By the way, Linda will be coming over for dinner tomorrow night." She said stiffly.
Beth stared in horror at her mother.
"What? Why?" The young woman asked. Ariadne looked between the two women. Not understanding.
"Linda is my friend. If I was my friend in my home, I think I'm allowed that privilege." Lydia told her daughter.
"Linda is Arthur's ex-girlfriend." Beth hissed with a nervous look at Ariadne. The pretty nurse suddenly felt uncomfortable.
"Linda has been subjected to a horrible tragedy." Lydia told Beth without acknowledging Ariadne. "Her poor husband past away last year. She is a widow."
"The old geezer had one foot in the grave with that gold digger married him!" Beth exclaimed.
"Elizabeth!" Lydia scolded.
"Mother, it is not apporite for Arthur's wife to have dinner with his ex-girlfriend." Beth said. "I'll call Linda and cancel."
"You most certainly will not. I desire the both of you at dinner. Linda is a fine girl and she wants to meet Ariadne. I have told her all about this... situation and she had been most sympathetic." Lydia said curtly.
~ Ariadne was happy to go back to her room. Arthur's mother and sister had exhausted her. Beth had promised to take her shopping in the morning for some new clothes.
"It's the only way to keep mother happy. We can't have my brother's wife looking like a normal person." Beth laughed.
"I have a little money." Ariadne said. "We can go to the Woolworth."
Trixie had told her that was where she always shoped.
Beth held back a horrified laugh.
"Oh no, my darling sister." Beth said pityingly. "We don't shop there. We'll go to Bloomingdales for your things. I don't doubt you'll need new everything. And don't worry about the money, God knows we have plenty of it. Mother will allow the expense so long as you look like one of us."
"That's very kind." Ariadne said blushing.
"No, it's not kind. It's how mother is. Appearance is everything to her."
"Of course." Ariadne said as the two women were alone in her room.
Beth was about to leave when she stopped at the door.
"Is Arthur... I mean, was he well the last you saw him?" Beth asked timidly. "He doesn't tell me very much in his telegrams and letters.
"Very well." Ariadne assured her. "He's been promoted to Major and received the Distinguished Service Cross and Bronze star for heroism."
"Really?" Beth exclaimed her eyes lighting up.
Ariadne sat down on her bed and pulled out her compact. She carefully unfolded the newspaper clipping and showed it to Beth.
"My French is so rusty." Beth laughed as she looked at Arthur's grumpy picture. The pretty nurse read over the article. Ariadne showed her the few photos of her and her husband. Arthur looking heroic and happy in his dress uniform. His medals weighing him down.
"I don't think I've ever seen my brother so happy." Beth said with a sad smile. Ariadne could tell the fine comportment of Arthur's sister was cracking a little.
"It must have been a shock to hear he was getting married." Ariadne said with a laugh.
"That's putting it mildly." Beth said with a laugh. "Arthur never does things like this. Sensible to the last. You must really be something special."