Read The Nightingale Sisters for Free Online Page B

meet our consultant, Mr Cooper. You’ll want to look your best for him.’
    She felt light-headed as she fastened the laces of Mrs Venables’ nightgown. Not only had she not eaten, she hadn’t sat down since she came on duty at seven that morning. But she didn’t dare complain to Sister Wren. Students might be entitled to three regular breaks during their shift, but if the ward sister forgot or they were too busy, then they didn’t get them.
    Which would be fair enough if they really were busy. But somehow all the other students had been given leave to go for dinner except Dora.
    She knew from talking to the other nurses that Sister Wren could be very spiteful if she didn’t like someone, whether it was a patient or a student. But why she had taken against her Dora had no idea. She’d tried to do her best, did everything she was asked to do without complaint, even though she knew for a fact that she was given all the dirtiest jobs on her work list. But nothing she did could please Sister Wren.
    It wasn’t just Sister who was out to make her life a misery either. Her old neighbour Lettie Pike was the ward maid on Wren, and ever since Dora had arrived, she hadn’t missed a chance to make a sly dig about the Doyle family.
    ‘How’s your mum?’ She sidled up to Dora now as she pushed her trolley back to the sluice. Her narrow, pinched face was a mask of pretend concern. ‘I saw her out the other day, but I hardly recognised her. Shocking, she looked. Really shocking. White as a ghost. And so thin! But no wonder, with all the worry she’s got. I saw the rent man knocking again yesterday. That’s the third time he’s come looking for his money this week. And Rose was always such a regular payer, and all.’
    She shook her head sadly, but her pretence of concern didn’t fool Dora for a moment. Lettie had bitterly resented the upturn in Rose’s fortunes when she’d married Alf Doyle, and now Dora knew she was rubbing her hands together in glee at the thought of her neighbour falling on hard times.
    ‘As long as he’s not knocking on your door, you haven’t got anything to worry about, have you?’ she replied shortly.
    ‘There’s no need to take that tone with me.’ Lettie’s beady little eyes turned cold. ‘If you don’t want me to show a bit of neighbourly concern, then I won’t bother.’
    ‘If by that you mean sticking your nose in where it doesn’t belong, then no, I don’t want you to bother.’
    Dora barged at the sluice door with her trolley, shoving it open and letting it fly back in Lettie’s face.
    By the time they served dinner to the patients, Dora’s stomach was groaning in protest. She was so hungry, the smell of baked cod and mashed potatoes almost made her feel sick.
    ‘Here, have mine. I’m not that hungry,’ Mrs Venables offered, pushing her plate towards her.
    ‘I can’t.’ Dora eyed it longingly, her mouth already watering. ‘We’re not allowed to eat on the ward.’
    ‘But you must be starving. You’ll pass out if you don’t get something to eat.’
    ‘I’ll be all right. Now, can I get you a cup of tea to have with your dinner?’
    But as she stood in the kitchen later, scraping the leftovers into the pig bin, Dora felt faint with hunger. It was so wrong to throw food away when it was almost untouched. And why should the pigs eat when she couldn’t?
    She lifted a plate to her face, letting the aroma waft towards her nostrils. Even the smell of the food made her head spin.
    Her eyes darted towards the kitchen door. Surely no one would notice if she just helped herself to a morsel of cold cod?
    She’d barely shovelled it into her mouth when the kitchen door was flung open and Lettie Pike stood there.
    ‘Look at you, eating leftovers off patients’ plates.’ She shook her head. ‘You know that’s against the rules, don’t you? What would Sister say about that? I wonder.’
    ‘I expect you’ll find out, won’t you?’ Dora helped herself to another piece of