Julia gave a short bark of a laugh. “My dear, I root in people’s entrails for entertainment. I’m hardly going to quail at a bit of filthy lucre.”
Kate knew she shouldn’t, but she couldn’t help herself. “Even if it’s charity? You wouldn’t want to have anything to do with charity.”
That caught Julia’s attention. She stared at Kate for a moment and then said, very slowly, “Not such a mouse, after all, are you? You do have teeth.”
Kate wasn’t sure why Julia should mind; it was Julia who had sneered at Kate for being a charity case all those years ago, not the other way around. But for whatever reason, Julia retreated into an offended silence. The silence continued all the way to Amiens, where Julia remained elegant and uncommunicative as Kate wrangled her way through the various levels of underlings to the commander’s office.
“Do feel free to join in at any time,” muttered Kate, who knew that her French, while good, was nowhere near as aristocratic as Julia’s, and that these things did matter.
“You’re the assistant director,” said Julia blandly in English. “Do go on. . . .”
Monsieur le Commandant was more than willing to help them. And by help, he meant chat for longer than they could spare, offer a coffee they hadn’t time to take, and direct them to the hospital with his compliments. He was, Kate knew, being exceptionally helpful and she was being exceptionally ungrateful. It was Julia’s presence setting her on edge as Monsieur le Commandant escorted them to the hospital, making the necessary introductions, interspersed with compliments and small talk that strained Kate’s French and her courtesy.
A nurse was sent to fetch a junior doctor, who, in turn, was sent to fetch a more senior physician.
“We only need to borrow supplies,” said Kate in desperation. The rain was pouring and the clock was ticking.
“It is good to know one’s colleagues,” said the commandant, patting her arm in a fatherly way. “And everyone wants to know the so intrepid dames Américaines.”
“More muddy than intrepid right now,” said Kate, and everyone laughed as though she’d said something very clever. Except Julia, of course. “Dr. Pruyn has prepared a list of the items we need most desperately. . . .”
“We must not have you reduced to desperation!”
Underlings were dispatched to fetch various items. More coffee was offered and refused. Kate suggested that she sign a receipt and felt that she had committed a faux pas.
“Ah, one of your countrymen!” The commandant waved at someone above Kate’s head. “Dr. Stapleton! Dr. Stapleton is visiting from the hospital of the Red Cross in Nesle. Have you met les dames Américaines?”
They had, Kate noticed, gone from being collégiennes to being dames. She wasn’t sure whether that was a promotion or a demotion.
“Not in this country, I haven’t,” said an American voice. A man wearing a white medical coat walked up to them, stopping at the sight of Julia. “Julia. What brings you to this mud pit?”
“That’s Dr. Pruyn.” Julia’s voice was as sharp-edged as ground glass.
“On such long acquaintance?” He began humming something. Kate recognized it immediately as “Auld Lang Syne.” “Should old acquaintance be forgot . . .”
The song had the most remarkable effect on Julia. Her back tensed; her face was totally expressionless except for her eyes, which glittered in a most disconcerting way, like seeing the painted eyes in a portrait come alive.
Kate looked from one to the other. “I take it you know each other.”
“Classmates,” Julia bit out, her lips clamping down hard on the words. “At Johns Hopkins.”
“And now colleagues.” Dr. Stapleton held out his hand. Julia pointedly failed to take it. Dr. Stapleton shrugged, not visibly distressed. “I look forward to renewing our acquaintance.”
“We’re very busy,” said Julia flatly. “Kate. We have everything?”
It was, thought Kate, the first time she had ever heard Julia use her name. “Yes, we should be getting back. I’d rather not drive after dark.”
“No,” agreed Dr. Stapleton, falling into step with them as they walked to the door. Julia made sure Kate was between them, but since Kate was considerably shorter than both, she proved a less-than-effective barrier. “It’s dangerous out there for young ladies.”
“Don’t worry,” said Julia, looking straight at him over Kate’s head. “I have a revolver and I’m not afraid to use it.”