Shaken to the Core by Jae Page B

just…” Unable to explain, Giuliana shook her head. “Is nothing.”
    Miss Kate jumped down, rounded the automobile, took her mysterious suitcase from the backseat, and then helped Giuliana climb down.
    For a second, Giuliana imagined herself as a wealthy lady being handed down from a motorcar by her suitor, after a Sunday afternoon trip to the beach or the Sutro Baths. Madonna, what was she thinking? They were heading for the hospital, not for a leisurely trip to Land’s End, and Miss Kate was her employer’s daughter, not her suitor. It had to be the pain making her light-headed. She tried to shake off her strange thoughts as they passed through the pillars of City Hall and entered the building.
    * * *
    As Kate held the massive door for Giuliana to enter, two policemen in their blue uniforms and helmets passed them. She gripped the carrying case with her camera more tightly, but with Giuliana’s obvious limp, they didn’t look out of place. No one stopped them as they entered the huge building.
    Kate bit back a smile. If I’d known what an effective cover this was, I would have climbed up on a chair and fallen off myself months ago.
    But Giuliana’s pained expression reminded her with every step that this wasn’t a cover. Giuliana was hurt. Kate ducked her head in shame. How horrible of her to think of this just as an opportunity to take photographs, gather newsworthy information, and prove herself to the Call’s editor. Then stubbornness reasserted itself. Why couldn’t she do both, help Giuliana and keep on the lookout for anything worth photographing?
    The nurse who greeted them once they stepped through the hospital’s entrance took one look at Giuliana’s threadbare coat and told her it could be several hours until one of the doctors had time to take a look at her ankle.
    Hours? Kate frowned at the white-gowned nurse. There didn’t seem to be that many patients around. “Are you sure?”
    The nurse turned her attention to her. “Quite sure. Are you a member of her family?”
    “I’m Kathryn Winthrop, her employer—and the person who’ll settle the bill for her medical expenses.”
    The nurse’s attitude changed immediately. “Oh. I didn’t know that, Miss Winthrop. Or is it Mrs.?”
    Kate lifted her chin and stared her down. “It’s Miss.”
    “I’ll make sure your employee is seen to right away.” The nurse bustled away.
    Kate watched her go and shook her head. Making people wait according to the amount of money in their bank account, not the severity of their injuries, just wasn’t right. Not that Giuliana was hurt that badly. Still, it rankled her.
    “You did not need to do that,” Giuliana whispered. “I can wait for the dutturi .”
    “Why would you have to? That’s no way to spend your Saturday evening.”
    “You do not need to stay. Go home. I wait alone.”
    “That wasn’t what I meant. I’ll stay and take you home once a doctor has been by to see you.”
    It wasn’t long before the nurse returned with another one.
    Kate regarded them through narrowed eyes. What was this? Were they trying to shunt Giuliana off to a nurse instead of a physician? “Oh no, you’re not going to do that,” Kate murmured, more to herself. She stepped forward and put her hands on her hips.
    Behind her, Giuliana tugged on her sleeve, but Kate shushed her. “Let me handle this. I won’t allow them to treat you like a second-class patient.” To the two nurses, she said, “I demand that she be seen by a doctor.”
    “Then it’s a good thing that I am one,” the woman behind the nurse said. She was as tall as Kate, so they faced each other on an even level. The stranger’s green eyes held Kate’s gaze calmly, not exactly challenging her, but also not flinching back. “I’m Dr. Lucy Hamilton Sharpe.”
    She held out her hand, and Kate shook it, delighted to meet another woman who had made it in a profession many thought not suitable for a female. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to offend