‘No? Will you tell me what’s wrong with him? I’d really like to make him better.’
‘He has a pain.’
It was too much for Hugo. He moved in close and Nell shooed him back, out of the way. She leaned over the bed, holding Claude where Nadine could reach him. ‘Where does Claude have a pain, Nadine?’
‘There.’ Nadine traced her finger over Claude’s chest. Out of the corner of her eye, Nell could see Hugo flipping through Nadine’s notes again.
‘She’s been having pain relief regularly. Not as much as she might, and my guess is that she’s been telling everyone that it doesn’t hurt. Nadine will do that.’
‘Don’t the nurses know?’
‘They should. But the nurse who usually looks after her is on holiday at the moment. I was supposed to be here.’ Nell heard Hugo’s voice crack suddenly.
There was no answer to that, other than to remind Hugo that he’d been under orders to stay away. Nell smiled at Nadine. ‘Uncle Hugo’s going to find someone to make Claude better.’
‘Thank you, Dr Nell.’ Nadine spoke slowly, her eyelids drooping. Nell arranged the sheet carefully back over her and stripped off her gloves. When she turned to follow Hugo, she found that he was already gone.
She caught up with him, deep in conversation with another doctor, an older man. This must be Dr Bertrand. Nell wondered whether Hugo was admitting that they’d carried out a brief examination of Nadine, and guessed he probably wasn’t. Dr Bertrand was nodding, and he turned to walk quickly back to the ward with Hugo.
It was all worked out in the space of a couple of minutes. Dr Bertrand examined Nadine, listened to what she had to say about how Claude was feeling and spoke to one of the nurses, who hurried away.
Dr Bertrand gestured to Hugo, motioning him out of the ward. He clearly had more to discuss, but Hugo seemed reluctant to leave Nadine.
‘I’ll sit with her.’ Nell plumped herself down on the chair next to Nadine’s bed, holding her hand over the guard rail and feeling the little girl squeeze her fingers. Hugo shot her a smile, and followed Dr Bertrand out of the ward.
By the time Dr Bertrand returned, a nurse had given Nadine the extra medication, and she seemed a little happier, declaring that Claude felt better now. He spoke briefly to Nadine and then pulled up a chair next to Nell.
‘I gather that you too are a doctor.’ Dr Bertrand spoke in studied, careful English.
‘Yes, that’s right. I’m sorry, I know that this is highly irregular...’
Dr Bertrand smiled. ‘I have known Hugo for some years. His talent for being highly irregular, when circumstances require, is what helps make him one of my best doctors. This little one is feeling better now, and I have made sure that this will not happen again. Her nurse says that she was not in pain twenty minutes ago, on her last half-hourly check.’
‘We just came at the wrong time, then.’
‘No, it was quite the right time. If we can spare Nadine ten minutes of discomfort, then we are grateful. I have told Hugo that I cannot have him working while he is certified as sick.’
‘How did he take that?’
‘He has apologised and the matter is closed.’ Dr Bertrand regarded Nell thoughtfully. ‘He has many responsibilities, and is under a great deal of pressure. More than most men would be able to deal with.’
‘Do you have any advice for me, Dr Bertrand?’ Nell wanted to hear what this kindly, perceptive man had to say.
He leaned forward, as if he was about to impart some gem of wisdom. ‘No. I do not.’
Nell had to think for a moment before she got the point. ‘We all have to find our own way?’
‘If anyone can, Hugo will.’
‘Thank you.’ Nell got to her feet, shaking his hand. ‘May Hugo come to say goodbye to Nadine? He’ll be no more than five minutes, I promise.’
‘You will give him five, and he will take ten. And that is quite all right.’ Dr Bertrand smiled at her.
* * *
One of the nurses directed Nell to Hugo’s office and she found him sitting behind the desk, staring out of the window. She sat down and waited for him to say something.
‘You don’t need to tell me. I know I was wrong.’ He didn’t look at her.