Then it dawned on her that they were planning to keep the child. Beatrix saw her sovereigns flying out the window (if there had been a window in the room).
‘But you aren’t ever going get a husband with a child under your feet!’ she blurted before she could stop herself.
She saw Edie stiffen. The girl’s face turned stone cold. ‘But that’s hardly your concern, Nurse Drake,’ she said and her chin jutted forward. ‘Besides, what do you suggest I do? Put my own sister in the orphanage?’
Now Beatrix was taken aback. ‘Well, I should take her. I’m sure it’s what your mother God-bless-her-soul meant to happen. That’s why she mentioned my name, I’m sure,’ she said, her voice becoming quieter under the dagger glare she was getting, and she realised that Edie had taken control of the whole situation. This was something Beatrix, who was always the boss, wasn’t used to and she sat up primly in her chair as though in fact she was overseeing everything. Under her breath she muttered, ‘Your dada might be rich but you need me, young lady.’
Beth heard her mutter and glared at her, so she glared right back.
‘Medical knowledge is of great interest to me. I’m fascinated but I also know my limitations, and caring for infants isn’t my area of expertise — yet. We will pay you a worthwhile sum if you will teach me and Beth all we need to know.’ Edie nodded at Beth.
‘Hmmm,’ said Beatrix, biding her time and looking around the room at the carved oak tallboy and the two gold-framed pictures hanging on the wall. One was of Jesus caring for the little children and the other she assumed was a portrait of the child’s mother as a young woman, which personally she thought was a bit macabre but rich people were odd, everyone knew that, and this lot took the cake. Her mind ticked, counting the possibilities.
‘Now,’ said Edie, ‘what do you think?’ and without giving Beatrix a chance to answer, the girl continued as if she’d known all along that of course Beatrix would take the job because of course she was desperate for the money. ‘The first thing is a shopping list. Mother wasn’t expecting to deliver for some time, you see, and we only have things that a few kind people have lent to us and the things Papa bought for in here.’ At this Beth pulled out a pencil and notepad from her apron pocket.
Beatrix sighed loudly, as if this was such a burden for her given her busy schedule. She dug in her bag and put on her nurse’s cap. The best way to get respect was to look the part. She wriggled in her seat as though she was still considering, thus giving the proper air of authority and letting them know her expertise didn’t come cheaply.
Finally she began. ‘Two sovereigns a week,’ said Beatrix. She saw Beth’s eyes pop open but she ignored her and went on, ‘I’ll come on Mondays and Wednesdays and Fridays. On Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday you can manage on your own but you can call for me if need be. Now, for the proper care of an infant you need three dozen nappies, two feeding apparatus, seven matinee jackets, fourteen nightgowns, seven pairs of booties, seven caps, one cot before she is six months old, one perambulator, which I see you have already managed to obtain and a very nice one at that, or is it on loan as well? Four blankets, one cot lay-out, one perambulator lay-out, one bassinet lay-out, one layette, seven baby frocks, one bottle of Doctor Sheldon’s Colic Remedy, one jar of rash ointment, one bottle of Scott’s Emulsion, you can get a free sample if you send them four pence for postage, you’ll need to buy Castlemaine beer for her asthma — yes, she has asthma, I spotted it at once — some Lloyds cocaine toothache drops for when she teethes, and I assume you’ve already got infant formula and an Indian rubber teat or the baby wouldn’t be here with us today. Have you got all that?’
‘Beth, did you get all that?’ asked Edie. ‘Never mind you can tell Beth anything she’s missed later.’
Knowing she’d impressed the girl with her knowledge of child raising and finally got the respect she deserved, she continued. ‘Now, these things are essential,’ and she counted them off on her fingers, ‘One — the baby must be swaddled tightly, which you haven’t done at all. You can’t just let her lie about, arms and legs akimbo. If you neglect to do this and let her lie loosely in her blankets as I see she presently is, she will undoubtedly grow up to be of an insecure and nervous disposition, not to mention her hips and knees can dislocate given she is unable at this young age to control her limbs.’ She looked at Edie sternly and waited for her to tighten the baby’s wrappings. But the girl just sat poised for the next instruction, and realising she’d be waiting till the cows came home she said firmly and pointedly, ‘Two — the baby must not be cuddled as she presently is, this is most serious, and if I were her permanent nanny I would insist you put her in her bassinet immediately. Where does she sleep at night, by the way?’
‘Down here, in the other room — in bed with me,’ said Edie, as though this was perfectly normal.
‘Oh heavens! No, no, no.’ No wonder these rich women all have nannies; they have no idea of how to bring up an industrious child. ‘If you cuddle her more than once a day you will bring up a spoilt, rebellious and demanding child who will be the bane of your lives! Now, three — she must not be fed more than one bottle every four hours. This is most essential otherwise she will be fat
