Sea of Strangers (Nurses of New York Book 1) Read online

  A moment later, a lovely, kind-looking woman about twenty-five years old stood before the group, dressed in a nurse’s uniform, her hands clasped across her slender stomach.

  “Good morning. My name is Irene Cantrell, and I’m Dr. Frank Russell’s head nurse. I’d like to welcome each of you to Woman’s Hospital. Dr. Russell is sorry that he can’t be here in person to greet you, but he had to perform an emergency surgery. He asked me to explain some changes in your course of study, and then to help you get settled in.”

  One of the men in the crowd raised his hand. “Changes? What kind of changes, Miss Cantrell?”

  “It’s Mr. Montgomery, isn’t it? And this is your daughter, Laura?” Miss Cantrell waited for his nod of confirmation before she continued. “We had a slight miscommunication with the hospital for this training session, and it appears that too many students were scheduled. However, this will not present any difficulty, as Dr. Russell has been working hard to sort everything out. This group will be taught personally by myself and Dr. Russell, and will board in Dr. Russell’s home. I have taken up residence there as of this morning, and Mrs. Everett, the housekeeper, lives on site as well. Your girls will be well cared for.”

  Jeanette looked over at Gabe. His lips were pressed together, as though he didn’t like what he was hearing. “I’m sure it will be all right,” she whispered.

  “This isn’t the original agreement,” he whispered back. “I don’t like last-minute changes.”

  “I hope you’ll all find yourselves comfortable in your new surroundings. I, for one, am quite glad for the change. Mrs. Everett is a very good cook, and I’m looking forward to our dinner tonight. I couldn’t say that about the boardinghouse meals I used to eat.” Miss Cantrell smiled. “For those of you who have left your luggage at the train station or a hotel, you may have it delivered to Dr. Russell’s home.” She gave the address, and Jeanette saw Gabe nod out of the corner of her eye. “In the meantime, if you’ll follow me, I’ll give you a tour of the hospital grounds and a short history.”

  Jeanette fell into step behind the other girls, Gabe at her elbow. He still didn’t seem pleased, but his face had lost some of that pinched, annoyed look.

  “As I’m sure you’re aware, Woman’s Hospital was founded by Dr. J. Marion Sims in response to women’s healthcare needs. He developed a surgical technique that was greatly needed to help women overcome certain issues surrounding childbirth.” Miss Cantrell cast an apologetic look at the men in the group. “We’ll go into greater detail in our classes. Dr. Sims first began his practice in the South, then came up here and opened a thirty-bed hospital, where he performed all the surgeries himself. As time went on, however, he was no longer able to keep up with the demand, so this facility was opened, and he brought on Dr. Thomas Emmett to help him. Dr. Emmett is a very talented doctor, and you will have the opportunity to watch him at work.”

  Miss Cantrell stopped the group on another patch of grass. “Dr. Sims has traveled extensively throughout Europe and done much good in those countries, and he has also studied cancer. It’s his dream to establish a hospital specifically for treatment of that disease. Dr. Russell, who will be your instructor, has worked closely with Dr. Sims and Dr. Emmett, and is rather a genius in his own right. If you’ll follow me, I’ll now take you to his home, where you will live and be trained. We have also arranged for observation time both at Woman’s Hospital and St. Timothy’s, so your experience will be broad.”

  She led the way across more grass and between a couple of buildings to a large, stately home a street or two over. Jeanette thought it looked something like the Brody Hotel, only more grand. Miss Cantrell paused and waited as the group filed inside. “Here at Dr. Russell’s home, the students will be kept on a strict schedule comprised of sleep, study, and practical application. Curfews will be kept, mealtimes will be observed, there will be a chaperone at all times, and every propriety will be seen to. There will be no gentlemen callers after eight o’clock, and if there are any infractions of the rules, the student will be expelled from the program.”

  “Must there be gentlemen callers at all?” asked one man standing near the back, and the other fathers chuckled.

  “Those are optional,” Miss Cantrell replied with a smile. “You have my word that should they come around, the situation will be closely monitored. Now, I’d like to get the girls settled in their rooms. Those of you who have come as escorts, it’s time to say your goodbyes, and then you can arrange for the delivery of the luggage.”

  Jeanette turned to Gabe, squeezing the top of her reticule to keep her hands from shaking too noticeably. “Thank you again, Gabe. You’ve made this journey so much more pleasant.”

  He seemed embarrassed at the praise. “I didn’t do much of anything.”

  “Nonsense. Now, listen. Please don’t tell Abigail about this change of plans—let me do that. If she finds out that they’d scheduled too many students, it would just upset her. I’ll see how the first few weeks of training go before I mention it to her. There’s no need to alarm her.”

  Gabe nodded. “I won’t say anything.”

  “Thank you. She worries about me far too much as it is.”

  “She just cares about you.”

  “I know—she truly is the kindest sister I could ever ask for.” Jeanette reached out and touched his sleeve. “And she’s well worth getting to know.”

  He looked down at the floor. “I imagine she is.”

  “Well now, let me send you on your way, or saying goodbye will be even harder.”

  Gabe gave her hand a slight squeeze. “Take care of yourself, Jeanette. Be safe.”

  “Thank you. And have a good trip back to Kansas.”

  He nodded. “I’ll have your things sent over from the hotel.” Then he was gone, striding down the street.

  One of the girls moved toward the window, watching Gabe as he disappeared. “Do tell me. Who was that fine-looking gentleman?”

  “He’s just a friend of mine.”

  The girl looked at Jeanette with amusement on her face. “Friend? As in, a close friend?”

  Jeanette blushed. “No, actually. I’m engaged to marry someone else.”

  She put a hand on her hip. “Well, aren’t you lucky with the fellows? You’ll need to teach me all your secrets. I’m Laura Montgomery. And you are?”

  “Jeanette Anderson.” Thankfully, her new last name rolled off her tongue without any difficulty this time. “I’m glad to meet you, Laura.”

  “Girls, if you could please gather back around,” Miss Cantrell called out over the chattering voices in the room. “Now that your escorts have gone, let’s get you assigned to your rooms. Laura Montgomery and Tess Watkins, you’re in the first room at the head of the stairs to the right.”

  Laura moved toward the staircase. “We’ll talk later,” she said to Jeanette over her shoulder. One of the other girls stepped forward, and the two of them went upstairs.

  “Meg Wilhite and Phoebe Henderson, you’re in the first room at the head of the stairs to the left,” Miss Cantrell announced.

  Two other girls broke off from the group and climbed to the second floor.

  Jeanette studied the girls who were left, wondering who she would share with. They each looked friendly enough, and she supposed it didn’t really matter.

  “Libby Green and Millie Forsythe, you’re in the second room at the top of the stairs to the right. Jeanette Anderson and Sophie Jones, you’re in the second room to the left.”

  Jeanette spotted Sophie easily—she had begun waving her hand as soon as her name was called. The girl bounded across the room and tucked her arm through Jeanette’s. “I’m so glad we’ve been assigned to each other,” she said, giving Jeanette’s arm a little hug. “I knew as soon as I saw you that we were going to be good friends.”

  Jeanette didn’t know whether to be alarmed or comforted by this girl’s straightforward manner. “Where are you from, Sophie?”

  “Pennsylvania. And am I ever glad
to be here! My father didn’t want me to come—he said I’d be better off getting married and having a house full of babies. But he wanted me to marry Elmer Tompkins. Elmer Tompkins! Can you believe that?”

  “No, I suppose I can’t,” Jeanette replied, good-naturedly following along as Sophie tugged her up the stairs.

  “When I told my father I couldn’t possibly marry Elmer, you’d have thought I’d renounced my religion or something. He was completely scandalized. I don’t think he has the faintest notion what to do with me—I simply won’t do what I’m told.”

  They came to the door to the room they’d been assigned, and Sophie reached toward the knob with a giggle. “Well, here we are—what do you think it will be like? Thin cots, or soft beds?”

  “I say soft beds. This is a home, not a dormitory.” Jeanette hoped she was right—after days of sleeping on the train and then a night at a cheap hotel, she was ready for a real bed.

  “All right, let’s find out.” Sophie threw the door open with a dramatic flair, and they stepped inside. The room was beautiful, decorated with mauve and cherry wood, a big bed in the corner, and chairs by the window. “Oh, my.” Sophie spun around in the center of the room, her arms flung out wide. “This is even better than I’d dared hope.”

  “This must have been one of the nicer guest rooms,” Jeanette said, trailing her finger along the edge of the dresser. The highly polished wood felt like silk. “I’ve never seen furniture so elegant.”

  “Me neither. My grandmother’s house is lovely, but it doesn’t come close to this.” Sophie plopped down on the bed. “Which side do you want?”

  “It doesn’t really matter to me,” Jeanette replied. She couldn’t wait to try out that mattress, regardless of which side she was on. It looked like a cloud under a coverlet.

  “I’ll take the left, then. I always sleep on the left when I share with my sisters.”

  “That’s fine.”

  Jeanette was about to ask about Sophie’s family, but was interrupted by Miss Cantrell’s voice out in the hallway. “Girls, please wash up and prepare for your noontime meal. Dr. Russell sent a message to let us know he’ll be joining us, so you’ll have the opportunity to meet him. We will eat in twenty minutes.”

  Sophie jumped off the bed and walked over to the washstand in the corner. “There’s already water here. And rose-scented soap! How elegant. Do you want to go first?”

  “No, that’s all right. You go ahead,” Jeanette said absently. She wandered over to the window to gaze down at the street. This was a lovely view, one she would enjoy every day.

  “You know, you’re terribly quiet,” Sophie said as she poured water from the pitcher into the basin. “I’m probably talking far more than I should, but even at that, you’ve hardly let out two peeps.”

  “I’m sorry.” Jeanette chuckled and she sat down in one of the chairs by the window to wait for her turn at the basin. “I’m not very talkative to begin with, but all this . . .” She waved her hand around to indicate the room, the house, and all of New York. “I’m just a little bit overwhelmed.”

  “But isn’t it exciting? Imagine all the things we’re going to learn, all the things we’ll get to do. My older sister told me to be sure that I take in a play or a concert once in a while. She spent a whole summer in New York once, and it changed her life. She married a very wealthy man she met while she was here, and now they live in Toronto in a mansion.” Sophie turned, still clutching her washrag. “Can you imagine it? A mansion in Toronto?”

  “That would be lovely,” Jeanette replied. She’d never given Toronto one second’s thought in her entire life, to be honest. “Are you here to find a husband, then?”

  “Oh, gracious, no. Not after Elmer.” Sophie gave a dramatic shudder. “I do want to learn nursing, if for no other reason than to show my father that a woman can do more than just have babies. After that, I wouldn’t mind a bit of travel. Maybe go see my sister. What about you?” She scrubbed her cheeks while waiting for Jeanette to answer.

  “I’m engaged to marry a doctor back in Topeka,” Jeanette replied. “When I’m done here, I’ll go back, we’ll get married, and I’ll work with him.”

  “Oh, that’s so romantic.” Sophie clutched her washrag to her chest, seemingly unaware of the wet spot she was making on her dress. “Was it love at first sight?”

  Jeanette considered that for a moment. “I found him attractive from the start, but it didn’t occur to me that there might be more there until later, after I’d begun training with him.”

  “You’ll have to tell me all about him. Here, it’s your turn.” Sophie stepped to the side, her dark curls bouncing, and Jeanette took her place at the basin. She found another washrag waiting for her and dipped it into the water, eager to wipe off the dirt and grime from walking around in the city that morning. Still, it was better than taking a stroll in Kansas, with that never-ending dust.

  Fifteen minutes later, all eight girls gathered in the hallway and walked down the stairs. They sounded like a merry bunch of magpies, all chattering away with their roommates. Sophie was just telling Jeanette about Clyde, Elmer’s brother, when they walked into the dining room and drew up short. There, waiting for them at the head of the table, was a tall, imposing man with dark hair and a beard. There was something about him that inspired their silence.

  “Welcome, students,” he said, holding out his arm in an expansive gesture. “Please, be seated. Mrs. Everett will bring out our meal directly. I am Frank Russell, and this is my home. I hope you will be comfortable here.”

  The girls took their seats quietly. Jeanette found herself seated between Sophie and Laura, the only two students whose names she could remember.

  “Very good. Now, may I inquire as to which of you is Jeanette Anderson?”

  Jeanette’s heart froze. Why was he asking after her specifically? “Here, sir,” she replied, and his gaze swiveled to meet hers.

  “Ah, Miss Anderson. It’s a pleasure to meet you. I’m sure Dr. Wayment told you of our friendship.”

  “He did, sir.”

  “And he told me about your aptitude and quick mind. I’ll hold you to a high standard, Miss Anderson, having heard such good things about you.”

  Jeanette felt her cheeks flame. A glance around the table told her that all the other girls, including Miss Cantrell, were staring at her. “I shall do my best to live up to that recommendation, sir.”

  “Very good indeed. Now, let’s eat.”

  Mrs. Everett bustled into the room, carrying a heavy tray. Moments later, each girl had a steaming bowl of soup before her. Jeanette supposed it was delicious, but she couldn’t actually taste anything. Homesickness, longing for Phillip, and sheer embarrassment warred inside her, making her numb to anything else.

  “Dr. Wayment? Is that your fiancée?” Sophie whispered.

  “Yes. He arranged for me to come here,” Jeanette replied. It had never occurred to her that Phillip had called in special favors, but from the way some of the other girls were looking at her, she wondered if that’s exactly what had happened. They seemed almost disdainful, as if they didn’t think she had a right to be there.

  Laura nudged Jeanette with her elbow. “I think this is the perfect time for you to tell us the story of your two men.”

  Jeanette’s cheeks immediately felt as though they were on fire. “I don’t have two men,” she protested.

  “That’s not what it looked like to me.” Laura took a sip of her water. “If that good-looking man who delivered you here isn’t your beau, who is he?”

  “He’s the deputy marshal in Topeka, where I’m from,” Jeanette said. “My fiancé wasn’t available to escort me here, so he asked Deputy Hanks to do it. My father is dead, you see, and there really wasn’t anyone else.”

  “Oh.” Laura seemed disappointed, as though she’d been hoping for some sort of delicious scandal. “But that means the deputy is unattached, then.”

  “He is.” Jeanette hoped he wouldn’t remain that way for
long, though.

  “Topeka’s a long way to travel for a beau, Laura,” Sophie said.

  “Oh, I don’t know about that. Any distance would be worth it for the right man.”

  Everyone went back to eating, and for several minutes, there was no sound but the clinking of silverware. Then Dr. Russell rose and stood at the head of the table.

  “Please, continue eating. I’d like to take advantage of this moment together to apologize for this upset in your schooling arrangements and to explain how it came to be.

  “Yesterday morning, I was in consultation with Dr. Sims and Dr. Emmett, and I happened to mention the upcoming training schedule. As we talked, it was discovered that we had made an egregious error and scheduled too many students at once. I was not, however, going to go back on my word and cancel the students I had registered. I knew that many of you were coming great distances for this opportunity, and at great personal expense. My word is my bond, and I could not countenance the thought of sending you away.

  “So I concocted this rather unorthodox plan and convinced Miss Cantrell to go along with me.” He glanced at his nurse, who smiled. “We believe we will be able to keep our promise to you and deliver a fine education. Thank you for your patience with us. Now, do you have any questions?”

  A blonde girl with a pixie face raised her hand. “Miss Cantrell said we’d have observation time at St. Timothy’s as well as at Woman’s Hospital. What is St. Timothy’s?”

  “What’s your name, young lady?” the doctor asked.

  “Libby Green, sir.”

  “Miss Green, St. Timothy’s is a nearby general care facility. We will be expanding your education beyond the confines of just women’s health to include various different types of procedures for men, women, and children. Are there any other questions?”

  Another girl spoke up. “My name is Phoebe Henderson, and I just want to say thank you for what you’re doing. If you had sent us away, I wouldn’t have had anywhere to go. So . . . thank you.”