Elephant Man - Christine Sparks [89]
Alexandra’s lips twitched faintly. She knew perfectly the role she was being called on to play and she responded to Carr-Gomm’s cue without hesitation. “Indeed I am, sir, as is the Queen. I have a brief communication from Her Majesty, which she has requested I read to you.” She moved forward. Carr-Gomm stood back to make his place at the head of the table available to her and she came to stand there. Instead of sitting down she took a piece of paper from her reticule and began to read from it: “To the Governing Committee, London Hospital. I would very much like to commend you for the charitable face you have shown Mr. John Merrick, the Elephant Man. It is laudable that you have provided one of England’s most unfortunate sons with a safe and tranquil harbor, a home. For this immeasurable kindness, as well as the many other acts of mercy on behalf of the poor, of which Mr. Carr-Gomm has kept me informed, I gratefully thank you. Signed Victoria, Empress of India, Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland.”
Alexandra folded the paper and looked round the table. Her gaze came to rest on Broadneck, the man who had been standing when she entered, and therefore presumably the author of the unpleasant squeals of anger and outrage that had reached her down the corridor. She felt a flinch of distaste for his violent face and hard, piggy eyes. But she allowed none of this to show. Instead she gave Broadneck the full power of her magnificent eyes and although her words took in the entire Committee it was to Broadneck she spoke.
“I am sure you gentlemen may be counted on to do the Christian thing.”
Then she seated herself with the air of someone prepared to stay there all day if necessary. With a small nod of her head she indicated that she wished them too to be seated.
Carr-Gomm replied quickly. “Thank you very much, Your Highness. You may be sure we shall.”
Alexandra exchanged a conspiratorial glance with him. She had an intuitive gift for understanding atmosphere and she understood this one exactly. She and Carr-Gomm had never met, but already they were like actors playing predetermined roles in a drama. Treves watched the whole performance, as stunned as any man there, hardly able to take in the immensity of what had happened. It was too soon yet for joy.
Broadneck sat down because his legs were collapsing under him. He was thoroughly unnerved. He realized that much of his outburst must have been audible down the corridor. He felt a fresh surge of hatred for Carr-Gomm, who had tricked him into this.
The Chairman continued in a smooth voice: “Well then, I move that Mr. John Merrick be admitted to the London Hospital on a permanent basis, on condition that the Hospital shall receive a yearly payment equal to the cost of occupying one bed, and that the funds for his care shall be clearly separate from hospital funds. All those in favor?”
He raised his own hand at once. For a dreadful moment it was the only hand raised. The other members, puzzled, stared at Broadneck, as if waiting his lead. Their action seemed to give him a last stab of courage for his hand remained stubbornly down. Red in the face he stared at Carr-Gomm, then at Treves, then at Alexandra. She beamed back at him with eyes as apparently innocent as a child’s.
Before that gaze he retreated, seemed to deflate in front of them all. Slowly his hand was raised, and after it came the hands of all the others, confused by the loss of their leader.
After that there was nothing for it but to close the meeting at once. Broadneck had no heart for any further business, and the royal guest must be attended to. Carr-Gomm escorted her to his office, followed by Treves. Formalities followed, Mothershead was sent for to make her curtsey, tea was served, polite conversation was made. Through it all Treves was in agony, longing to get away to tell Merrick the good news, but unable to move.
Alexandra made him tell her the whole of Merrick’s known history. The version Treves offered up was suitably edited,