The Courtyard by Marcia Willett Page B

rose and he was able to believe that things were going to pick up at last.
    Nell, relieved by this improvement, now started to worry very seriously about Gussie. There could be no doubt that she was going without things that were important to her health and she looked thin and haggard. When she mentioned, quite casually, that she’d been looking at smaller flats, Nell took fright. She could guess how much Gussie would hate living in quarters even more cramped than those she presently occupied and realised that her fears were quite justified. But what to do about it? She knew quite well that, even if she and John were in a position to do anything substantial to help, Gussie would refuse it. As she pursued her daily round, Nell’s thoughts were busy with this problem and, when Gussie fell ill with flu, Nell finally took matters into her own hands and telephoned Henry.
    â€˜Nell. How nice.’ His voice was so warm and friendly that Nell felt her courage rising. ‘Are you all well?’
    â€˜Well, we are, Henry. But Gussie isn’t. She’s got flu.’ His expressions of distress encouraged her and she hurried on. ‘Oh, Henry, I’m so worried about her. Oh dear. This is so difficult to say but … the thing is, I don’t think she’s managing very well. You know? Financially.
She’s going without things. Food. And heat. And now she’s talking of moving into a bedsit. Just one room and a shared bathroom. She’ll hate it so much. And now she’s ill and there’s no food in the place and it’s freezing. I put the heat on when I’m there but I know that, after I’ve gone, she drags herself out of bed and turns it off.’
    Nell stopped and took a deep breath. Her voice seemed to echo on and on in the silence but at least she’d managed to say it all. She waited for Henry’s reaction.
    â€˜Nell, this is dreadful,’ he said at last. He was obviously quite shocked. ‘I knew nothing about it. Somehow I just assumed that she was perfectly all right. How ill is she? Not in any danger?’
    â€˜Not if she keeps warm and eats properly. I wanted to move her in with us but she wouldn’t hear of it. The doctor goes in every day.’
    There was a pause. Nell held her breath.
    â€˜If I were to drive up to Bristol tomorrow, would she be well enough to travel back to Nethercombe with me?’
    Nell closed her eyes with relief, thanking God that it hadn’t been necessary to suggest it herself.
    â€˜If she’s wrapped up cosily and there’s a warm bedroom waiting for her.’ Knowing Nethercombe it was essential that this must be emphasised. ‘She mustn’t have temperature changes. Straight out of the car and into bed and I should think she’d be OK. I could check with the doctor. Anything must be better than that freezing little flat.’
    â€˜Then that’s what I’ll do. I’ll ask Mrs Ridley to get the bedroom sorted out. Don’t worry. We’ll look after her between us.’
    â€˜Oh, Henry, that’s wonderful. I’ve been out of my head worrying about her.’
    â€˜I should have thought about it myself.’ Henry’s tone indicated that he was put out with himself. ‘I’ve been so taken up with things, the Courtyard and so on. I feel very ashamed. May I come to you first tomorrow and perhaps we could go round to see her together?’

    â€˜That’s a good idea.’ He was making it very easy for her to protect Gussie’s independence. ‘She’s given me a spare key so that she doesn’t have to keep getting out of bed and I’m doing her shopping and cooking for her.’
    â€˜That’s incredibly kind of you.’
    Nell laughed. ‘You haven’t tasted my cooking. And, Henry, don’t tell her that I phoned you. Listen. I shall go round to see her in a minute. I go in every morning and then again in the afternoon. Telephone