Rose Rivers Read online

  ‘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