Vow of Compassion, page 21
‘Dr Geeson?’ Sister Joan raised delicate black brows.
‘Dr Geeson has been greatly misunderstood,’ Sophie Meecham said. ‘Sister Merryl was actually of the opinion that he should have been struck off by the Medical Council!’
‘My respect for Sister Merryl’s common sense has gone up by leaps and bounds,’ Sister Joan couldn’t resist saying.
Sophie Meecham looked hurt.
‘Dr Geeson is a fine doctor with the highest qualifications,’ she said reproachfully.
‘Forgive me but didn’t he seduce two women and then drop them flat?’ Sister Joan said.
‘Even doctors are human when attracted by unscrupulous young women,’ Sister Meecham protested. ‘They were clearly after money. Anyway Dr Geeson intends to set up a small private clinic in Devon and has offered me the post of head sister. I shall miss St Keyne’s, of course, but I shall remain loyal to Dr Geeson.’
‘Yes, of course,’ Sister Joan said, glancing at her with compassion.
‘And I will be sorry not to be able to stroll on the moors when my duties permit but there are moors in Devonshire too. Russell – Dr Geeson – says there are some most interesting walks there.’
Her eyes were shining and she looked young and eager. Sister Joan knew that words of warning would be both impertinent and futile. Sophie Meecham had temporarily corked up the brandy bottle in the belief she’d just been offered the Holy Grail.
‘I wish you luck, Sister Meecham,’ she said sincerely. ‘Truly I do!’
‘Thank you, Sister. Goodbye then.’
‘Goodbye. God bless.’
Sister Joan watched the other turn and walk away across the moor.
It had been an unsatisfactory affair altogether, she thought. She had been slow to make connections, to pick up on clues.
‘I think that about winds everything up, Sister!’
Detective Sergeant Mill drove slowly through the convent gates and stopped, winding down his window.
‘Yes.’ Sister Joan nodded sombrely. ‘Too many deaths and I got on to the trail too late. I should’ve checked on the fact that Dr Meredith and Ceri Williams were both from Wrexham. I should’ve asked who was on duty with Tracy Collet when the old tramp was given his cocoa, and I ought to have remembered that Ceri Williams had just come off duty in the children’s unit as Sister Collet took over the reception desk there. Tracy Collet told me that Ceri had gone into the garden to check on the children there. She must’ve pulled on that red wig and gone and hit poor little Amy, not realizing that Luther had ducked down behind the wall. I ought to have found out things sooner, Alan!’
‘Hey, have a bit of compassion on yourself!’ he said vigorously. ‘If you and Mother Dorothy hadn’t felt uneasy about Louisa Cummings’s sudden death Ceri Williams would’ve gone on doing away with people whom she considered were useless to society until the cows came home. You did well, Sister.’
‘Thanks. I’ll try to believe you,’ Sister Joan said, smiling. ‘You’re always very kind to me you know!’
‘It’s not difficult,’ said Detective Sergeant Mill, his own smile rueful as he put the car into gear again and drove off across the moor.
By the Same Author
Echo of Margaret
Pilgrim of Desire
Flame in the Snow
Hoodman Blind
My Pilgrim Love
Vow of Silence
Last Seen Wearing
Vow of Chastity
My Name is Polly Winter
Vow of Sanctity
Vow of Obedience
Vow of Penance
Vow of Adoration/Vow of Devotion/Vow of Fidelity
Vow of Poverty
Vow of Evil
Copyright
© Veronica Black 2014
First published in Great Britain 1997
This edition 2014
ISBN 978–0–7198–1448–8 (epub)
ISBN 978–0–7198–1449–5 (mobi)
ISBN 978–0–7198–1450–1 (pdf)
ISBN 978–0–7090–6122–9 (print)
Robert Hale Limited
Clerkenwell House
Clerkenwell Green
London EC1R 0HT
www.halebooks.com
The right of Veronica Black to be identified as author of this work has been asserted by her in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988
Black, Veronica, Vow of Compassion
