She might be small, Gwen thought, but she’s quality through and through. And then before she could stop herself she said out loud, ‘Yes, good stuff in a little room.’ Gwen could have bitten her tongue off, instantly regretted repeating this comment Charlie had made about Audra, who hated any reference to her height, or lack of it. She cleared her throat nervously.
Audra said, with a puzzled look, ‘Excuse me, I don’t quite understand what you’re referring to, Gwen.’
Deciding it would be better not to mention Charlie, Gwen explained, ‘Oh it was just something my mother said about you – good stuff in a little room means that a small person often has a lot of wonderful qualities. Haven’t you heard the expression before? It’s very Yorkshire. ’
Audra shook her head. ‘No, I haven’t, but it’s a nice compliment.’
‘Yes,’ Gwen said, delighted that she had taken it so well, and tucked her arm through Audra’s companionably. ‘And talking of Mum, she says I can have a party for my birthday, so I hope you’ll come and stay with us at The Meadow, the third weekend in September. There’ll be Charlie, Jem and Harry, of course, and I can invite a few friends. But only a few. ‘Cos Mum couldn’t cope with a big crowd after her illness. You will come, Audra, won’t you? It wouldn’t be the same without you.’
‘Of course I’ll come. It’ll be a lovely treat for me, and I always enjoy staying at your house. Thank you for inviting me.’
Gwen laughed gaily. ‘You’ll get to wear your gorgeous blue dress. Finally. Why, Audra, you’ll be the belle of the ball. All the boys will be after you.’ Especially our Charlie, Gwen added to herself, and hoped he wouldn’t be rejected.
Audra glanced up at Gwen, who was a few inches taller, and joined in her laughter. ‘You’ll be the belle, after all it’s your birthday party. But I must admit, I am dying to wear my new dress. And what frock are you going to wear, Gwenny?’
‘Oh I don’t know. I’ll find something suitable, I expect. Now, who else do you think I should invite?’ Not giving Audra a chance to reply, Gwen hurried on, ‘I’ll tell you what, let’s go and sit over there on that form and talk about the party. You’re so clever, Audra, I’d like your advice about a few things. You know…such as what kind of food and drinks to serve and your suggestions in general. Come on, lovey.’
Gwen steered Audra in the direction of a park seat positioned under one of the lovely weeping willows which were planted throughout the Valley Gardens. Here the two girls sat themselves down and brought their heads together. They chatted animatedly about Gwen’s twentieth birthday party for the next half hour, covering all the different aspects of it, planning the menu and the guest list.
Finally Gwen said, ‘Thanks Audra, you’ve been a great help, and I appreciate your ideas, I really do. It’ll be a nice party…’ Gwen left her sentence unfinished as she began to fan herself with one hand, then fished around in her fabric shopping bag for her hankie. She patted her face with it, exclaimed, ‘Phew! I am hot. It’s still close even though the sun’s gone down.’
‘There’s no breeze at all.’ Audra lolled back against the seat. She glanced up at the sky, hoped it would not rain.
They fell silent for a while.
Audra turned her attention to the passers-by, thinking how smart some of the women looked, dressed in their finery, and out for a stroll before dinner at one of the swanky hotels. They were obviously from London, judging by their clothes, and visiting Harrogate to ‘take the cure’. It had been a renowned spa since Victorian times, and people came from all over the world to drink the different waters available in the Pump Room, and visit the hydros at the Royal Baths. Her mother had always loved Harrogate for its elegance and the Beautiful Edith Kenton had called it a throwback to Victorian times and a more civilized age.
Their mother had often brought them here for the day. Audra recalled a memorable afternoon in 1911 when they had come to get a glimpse of the queens of England, Russia and Poland, who had all been visiting Harrogate on the same day. Their Uncle Peter had been with them, and he had lifted her up on his shoulders so that she could see above the crowds. There had been lots of excitement and flags waving and a band playing…Audra drifted along with her remembrances of things past.
Gwen, however, was thinking of the future, and wondering how to break her awful news to Audra. Earlier, she had toyed with the idea of not saying anything, of writing a letter at a later date. But Gwen knew that Audra, who had so much integrity and was such a fair person, deserved better from her than that. She decided there really was only one way to do it, and that was to jump right in, both feet first.
Reaching out, she touched Audra’s arm tentatively, and said in an unusually subdued voice, ‘There’s something I want to tell you before we go to the bus station for our buses…’
Audra looked at her, instantly coming back to the present. ‘You sound very serious all of a sudden, Gwenny. Is there something wrong?’
Gwen swallowed and cleared her throat. ‘I’ve wanted to tell you this all afternoon, but I haven’t known how to begin. Well…look, it’s like this, Audra…I won’t be coming back to work at the Fever Hospital. I’m ever so sorry.’
Audra gaped at her friend, flabbergasted at this announcement. It was a bombshell, the last thing she had expected to hear. ‘Oh Gwen,’ she murmured so softly it was a whisper.
Observing her closely, detecting the misery now flooding her bright blue eyes, Gwen cried, anxiously, ‘Please, oh please don’t be upset, Audra. I’m not going to Australia. I’ll only be a couple of hours away, either in Leeds or Horsforth. We can see each other all the time, and listen, Mum wants you to come and stay for Christmas, like you did last year. And we’ll be together on my birthday next month.’
Audra, considerably shaken by Gwen’s news, was only able to nod mutely.
‘You see, it’s like this, Audra. Dad wants me to be nearer home, because of Mum’s weak heart. He says I have to apply for a position at the Infirmary or St James’s Hospital, and until I get something at either place I’ve got to stay at home with Mum. Dad’s ever so set on it, Audra, I can’t make him change his mind.’
Audra heard the distress in Gwen’s voice, and she smiled faintly, and nodded. ‘I understand, Gwenny,’ she said. But her heart sank at the prospect of being all alone in Ripon. She felt as though she was being abandoned, left behind once more.
Gwen, who was watching her intently, had a sudden idea. She exclaimed, ‘Look, Audra, why don’t you apply too? For a hospital job in Leeds, I mean.’ She drew closer, took hold of Audra’s small hand and was surprised how cold it was on this muggy day. She clutched it tightly, begged, ‘Say you will. Please, lovey.’
‘I’m not sure whether I should –’
‘Why not?’ Gwen demanded, her voice rising. ‘There’s not one good reason for you to stay in Ripon.’
Audra blinked and returned Gwen’s hard stare, realizing immediately that her friend was absolutely right. She began to nod her head emphatically. ‘Yes, I’ll do it, Gwenny!’ And a smile broke through at last, expunged the sadness which had darkened her lovely eyes.
Gwen threw her arms around Audra. She hugged her tightly, bursting with happiness and filled with relief. The thought of leaving her friend behind at the Fever Hospital had been more than the girl could bear.