Doctor's Orders (22 page)

He kissed her, and she swayed in his arms in a heaven of delight.

“And you?” he asked. “You had a young man who caused me concern at one time; that time on the mountains, when I believe I would have told you what I was feeling, if you hadn’t produced your Scotsman.”

“As long ago as that?” she asked.

“As long ago as that. But I thought I would wait and see this rival. And he turned out to be no very serious rival after all. When I saw you both together, I thought I could mean much more to you than he ever would.”

“How right you were,” she whispered.

“I invented excuses to see you—I invited you to the children’s home so that I could see you at least once a week.”

Oh, my dear, and I came so that I could see you at least once a week. I would, perhaps, have dared to hope, but that Antoinette loomed so large.”

“You haven’t answered my question, Diana. Will you marry me?”

“It’s such an unnecessary question; you must be able to see that it matters to me more than anyth
i
ng in the world.”

“So you aren’t angry with me any more about the job at the children’s home?”

“Of course not, Dr. ... oh dear, I can’t call you Dr. Frederic if I am going to marry you, can I?”

“You’ll have to try Armand.”

“Yes.” But there was still a little shyness which held her back.

“And
when
will you marry me?”

“That is for you to say. I have
no commitments,
no ties, no relations. I can marry you whenever you say.”

“No relations to see you married?”

“No. One or two friends, very few. You will be the one with the commitments and so on. And relations?”

“Oh yes, hundreds of them. My parents are still alive and will certainly want to see you and approve of you: and I have enormous numbers of cousins, aunts and uncles
...”

“Oh dear,” said Diana.

“But you should be glad to have a family ready made. They will all like you, but they will not bother you much. But we have plenty of time before us to talk of such dull creatures as relations. It is more interesting to talk about us
...
”

A long time later Diana remembered the packing she was supposed to be doing; and Anthea, who would certainly wonder what had happened to her. She said:

“Armand, I must go and tell Anthea. I have to see her safely back to London, of course.”

“Of course; and you can buy your trousseau while you are in Paris.”

“I doubt it,” said Diana, laughing. He made a mental note that some arrangement could be made with Mr. Wellis so that Diana could buy all the things she would need and would like.

“And when you have Anthea off your hands, you will come straight back here. And I will engage rooms in a hotel for you, until we can be married. Diana, darling, it
will
be
an
exasperating job, you know: all the times when I shall be late, when you will expect me and I can’t come
...
”

“It won’t exasperate me,”
she
promised him. “I shall try to be very easy to live with.”

“I'm sure that I shall find it easy,” he said.

Next day, he put them on the train for Paris. Anthea, who was thrilled and delighted by their news, was faintly envious of the love that shone from their eyes. When they were on their way, she said: “I must say you both kept everything frightfully dark.”

“I was in the dark myself until last night.”

“Really? You didn’t know?”

“Oh, I knew what
I
felt, of course; but never imagined what Armand was feeling.”

“What a bore for you that you had to come with me today. You would much rather have stayed behind. But, in any case, we are going to Paris
—
all the lovely things you will be able to buy.”

“If I can afford them,” said Diana ruefully. Anthea also made a mental note that, somehow or other, Diana must be able to buy them.

“My father is sure to give you a tremendous cheque for a wedding present,” she said, “he is so grateful to you for coping with me.”

“It wasn’t such a hard task after all,” said Diana.

“No? I know I did give you rather a lot of worry, and I know you really were quite right.” (This was the nearest she ever got to discussing
Hans with Diana). “But after all without me you would not have come to Switzerland, without me you wouldn’t have met the doctor ... so perhaps I brought you good luck after all.”

“Good luck indeed,” said Diana, overwhelmed by her own good fortune. They smiled at each other with real affection as the train carried them swiftly on towards Paris.

THE END