Kit Cavendish-Private Nurse Read Online Free Page A

Baylis’s room so she had a few precious moments in which to overcome the involuntary tension that seeing him again produced.
    “Dr. Heathfield has just arrived,” she was able to tell Mr. Baylis quite naturally. “And Dr. Grainger’s car is just coming up the drive. I’ll go down and meet them.”
    It was, of course, the proper thing to do, but by the time she was halfway down the stairs, not only were the two men already in the hall, but Mrs. Baylis, who unknown to Kit had evidently stayed at home that day, was just coming out of the study to greet them. Kit had no idea whether Mrs. Baylis noticed her or not, but certainly she ignored her as she graciously shook hands first with Jason and then with the older doctor.
    “I’ll take you up to my husband,” she announced.
    Dr. Grainger made no comment, though the corner of his mouth twisted very slightly. Clearly he was leaving the next move to Jason, who met the challenge with complete imperturbability.
    “No need to do that, Mrs. Baylis,” he told her, his manner subtly suggesting that his sole wish was to save her trouble. “The nurse is here, I see. She will take us up.”
    He turned to Kit and smiled, but it was a smile that went no farther than his lips.
    “Nurse Cavendish,” he greeted her formally. “I’m delighted to know that a St. Magnus graduate is to look after my patient.” Kit murmured a few words of thanks, but as she turned to lead the way upstairs her heart felt like a stone. She told herself that this was most certainly not the moment to make any reference to past friendship. They were both on duty, and in addition, Mrs. Baylis was listening attentively to every word that passed between them. Even from the little Kit knew of her, it was not difficult to imagine how she would have reacted to any suspicion of a bond between her husband’s consultant and his nurse.
    And yet ... and yet ... Kit knew that he did not relish the situation. He had accepted her presence, and he had made it clear that though Dr. Grainger had evidently told him of Victor’s maneuver, he nonetheless had confidence in her integrity as a nurse. But that he heartily wished it had been anyone but herself who had come to Moneyhill, Kit was quite certain. And in the circumstances, that was not surprising.
    Kit had always appreciated the necessity of the rigorous discipline that was a St. Magnus tradition. Now she was thankful for it. It enabled her to put everything else out of her mind and give her undivided attention to her professional duty. Even when, making his examination of Mr. Baylis, Jason’s hand accidentally touched hers, Kit barely noticed the fact. She was Nurse Cavendish, on duty, not Kit, the girl who had been so deeply in love with the man standing so near to her.
    Something else helped her. Jason, when he had been at the hospital, had been confidently considered as a man with a brilliant future. Even if, at that time, that future had not meant so much to her, she would have been intrigued to discover whether that promise had been fulfilled. That he should have obtained his current eminence in so comparatively short a time more than suggested it, but Kit knew by experience that a first-class consultant needs more than knowledge of his subject, however profound. He must also have the ability of welding those he is working with into a team, of which he is the undoubted leader, but a team he can rely on. Only so can the best results be obtained, particularly because in no other way can the patient’s confidence be given to those caring for him.
    That Jason had that ability became abundantly clear as the consultation progressed. Kit felt the exultation that comes from the knowledge that, comparatively small though one’s share may be, it is still an integral part of the whole and appreciated as such by those one works with. The knowledge put her on her toes. Jason became not the man she had loved but a man with whom it was an honor to work. She simply could not