Honorary Surgeon (11 page)

“
I haven
’
t. I learned my lesson that night; I
’
ll never forget an opener again,
”
Veronica declared.
“
By the way, I
’
ve got some apples and jam tarts as well.
”

“
I thought you said you hadn
’
t brought much? It sounds like a feast to me.
”

“
We
’
re nearly there,
”
Veronica broke in.
“
You see, we don
’
t go near the house at all; it
’
s hidden behind that belt of trees beyond the hill.
”
Veronica indicated the direction with her hand.
“
There
’
s acres of land, but here beyond the pool it
’
s just uncultivated woodland. The garden surrounding the house is lovely, but we don
’
t go through the main drive; the pool is in a wonderful spot in a sort of glade.
”
Veronica changed gear, turned off the road and down a narrow, sanded path beneath overhanging trees. She pointed ahead.
“
There, do you see it? Between those bushes; diving-boards and everything
...
it
’
s simply marvellous!
”

Mary could not restrain a gasp of delight as Veronica braked the car at a clearing in the trees. A clear pool sparkled like a million diamonds in the sunlight, and the reflection of the coloured tiles made fantastic patterns on the surface. Man had constructed a model swimming-pool, while nature had provided an exquisite background. Tall trees, reaching nearly to the water
’
s edge, encircled the pool, and provided a green screen, while a trellis of creeping plants made a natural canopy above the stone terrace flanking one end of the bath.

Veronica jumped from the car and collected her bundles from the back.
“
Come along, don
’
t stand gaping!
”
she bade her friend with a smile.
“
Isn
’
t this gorgeous? And the best of it is that we have the whole place to ourselves. It is scarcely ever used, although the owner does throw an occasional party when he is here. I
’
m always telling him it
’
s absolutely wasted. Think of it. When I go back there probably won
’
t be anyone to use it again for another five years!
”
Veronica grimaced.

Mary followed her along the stone terrace.
“
Where do we change?
”

“
There
’
s a changing-room here.
”
Veronica bowed mockingly.
“
This way, madam; your ladyship will find everything she requires.
”

Chatting merrily, the two girls repaired to the tiny room set aside for changing, a
nd
soon, clad in close-fitting backless suits, they emerged again on to the terrace. Veronica pulled a rubber cap over her hair, staring appraisingly the while at, her friend.
“
By Jove, Mary, in that bathing-costume and cropped hair you look about twelve!
”

“
I know! It
’
s awful! I oughtn
’
t to have done it.
”
Mary put her hand instinctively to the golden halo of her hair.
“
I shouldn
’
t have listened to you. I feel terrible, although I must admit it
’
s nice and cool,
”
she added grudgingly.

“
Of course, it must be. I can
’
t see why you mind looking young; most people want to.
”

“
You forget,
”
Mary protested with mock gravity,
“
I
’
m a nurse; in my third year, too
.
”

“
I don
’
t care if you are
...
anyway, you won
’
t be for long; I
’
ll bet all the medicos are crazy about you.
”
Veronica sank into a wicker chair and, crossing one leg over the other, stared fixedly at her companion.
“
Own up; you
’
ll soon be marrying, won
’
t you?
”

Mary felt the warm colour creep up her cheeks.
“
Of course not,
”
she denied emphatically.
“
We never even meet the
‘
medicos,
’
as you call them, except under working conditions. I
’
ve had no opportunity for meeting men since I
’
ve been earning my living.
”

“
What about that fellow who got you the job, the man you knew in the old days?
”

“
Oh, Noel! He
’
s just a friend.
”
Mary was herself surprised at the steady assurance of her voice. Veronica would never guess how different that answer might have been.

Veronica jumped to her feet.
“
You
’
ll see; now you
’
ve taken my advice and cut your hair, you
’
ll be literally overwhelmed with proposals,
”
she teased, carefully dodging a slipper which Mary held threateningly in her hand.

“
Put that down. Come and bathe.
”
Veronica called as she ran to the water
’
s edge and, with a whoop of delight, plunged into its cooling depths. Mary was not long in following her friend, and in a few moments they were treading water side by side.

“
You used to be such a marvellous diver; do you ever do any nowadays?
”
Veronica asked.

Mary nodded.
“
Now and again, but I don
’
t get much chance.
”

Veronica swam to the side and, pulling herself up, sat on the edge of the bath, her legs swinging in the water.
“
Go and have a shot now. The water is at least seven feet deep; you are quite safe to use the top spring-board.
”

“
It looks irresistible.
”
Mary clambered up the steps and a moment later did a perfect
“
swallow
”
through the air, cutting the water with scarcely a splash.

“
Lovely!
”
Veronica clapped her hands,
“
I adore watching you. Go on; do some more.
”

For fully an hour the two girls swam and dived in the water. Mary, thoroughly, engrossed in the sport she loved, was scarcely aware of the time until Veronica reminded her.
“
It must be quite lunch-time; anyway, I feel very empty. Go on; just do one more dive and then I think we ought to get out.
”

As Mary stood on the spring-board, poised for a final dive, her
sl
im figure in the green costume outlined against a background of blue sky and green trees, she looked like some water sprite. She never quite knew if it were as she prepared to dive, or when she emerged breathless from the water, that
she
first became aware of an advancing figure. As she swam towards the side, the figure became more definite, and showed itself to be that of a man clad in grey flannels and open-necked shirt. Mary realized that, since she knew nothing of the house or its occupants, her surprise, almost amounting to dismay at the sight of the stranger, was somewhat uncalled for. She experienced even greater surprise when she perceived Veronica scramble hastily to her feet and rush with outstretched hands towards the newcomer, while excited laughter and happy words of greeting reached her ears across the dividing expanse of water. If Veronica
’
s friend, as this man no doubt was, was only passing by, Mary decided she might possibly remain in the water and avoid the formality of introduction. She didn
’
t feel exactly dressed for meeting strange men, and fervently hoped that Veronica
’
s friend would not stay long. Her hope was soon dispelled, however, by Veronica
’
s urgent call.
“
Mary, come on out; here
’
s a friend of mine I want you to meet.
”
There was a note of repressed excitement in Veronica
’
s voice, and Mary had no option but to obey. She withdrew herself reluctantly from the sheltering depth of the pool and slowly mounted the steps, pulling off her cap and shaking loose her damp curls as she approached her friend, who stood in animated conversation with the new arrival. Mary suddenly stopped short, and her grey eyes opened with amazement. With bated breath she stared at the two figures. Surely it couldn
’
t be!
...
No, it was impossible! She seemed suddenly paralyzed, powerless to advance.

Veronica turned to Mary and, apparently quite unaware of her emotion, drew her forward.
“
Mary, let me introduce a , very old friend, the owner of this pool
—
Sir Richard Alymer.
”
Still blind to the other
’
s distress, she prattled on:
“
He promised to try and get down this weekend, but that means nothing; I never thought he
’
d really come.
”
She smiled happily in Sir Richard
’
s direction, and slipped her arm confidently through his.
“
Mary is an old school friend. Goodness!
”
she laughed merrily.
“
I haven
’
t introduced you properly now. Miss Grant ... Sir Richard Alymer.
”

Mary had been hardly aware of her friend
’
s words, for during the whole of the discourse she had scarcely dared to lift her eyes, and her limbs still felt strange, as if they no longer belonged to her.

“
Oh, but we know each other
...
quite well.
”
Mary could have sworn that Sir Richard
’
s formal words held a hint of
l
aughter, a fact which only served to increase her discomfiture. With cheeks that burned, she slowly raised her head to find the speaker
’
s pair of steely eyes staring into her own. Murmuring acknowledgment of his greeting, she excused herself to Veronica and hastened back to the sanctuary of her dressing-room.

With trembling fingers she fastened the door and sank down gratefully on the wooden bench flanking the wall. She pressed her fingers to her throbbing temples as she made a valiant endeavour to collect her chaotic thoughts. Sir Richard was of course the owner of the house to whom Veronica had referred. She believed she had heard he had a country place where he occasionally visited his mother. That Veronica
’
s neighbour should turn out to be Sir Richard Alymer, of all people, was really the most ironical twist of fortune. It seemed impossible that this should be the second factor to disturb her holiday. Still, she tried to comfort herself, Veronica had said he was only down for the weekend, and today was already Monday. She had also said he was but a rare visitor. With any luck, Mary decided, she needn
’
t see him again at all. If she lingered in the dressing-room, by the time she emerged he would already be gone. She buried her face in her hands. He had been the one man to intrude on her short
-
lived serenity, and, worst of all, why should he, of all people, be Veronica
’
s friend? She seemed so very fond of him, too; Ma
r
y had rarely seen her more animated, more childishly excited. There appeared to be an extraordinary understanding between them. Mary recalled them as they stood arm in arm, smiling into each other
’
s eyes
...
She jumped to her feet and with feverish haste commenced to remove her clinging suit. She was getting silly ideas now, jumping to conclusions. Veronica was like that; apt to get absurdly enthusiastic over people. A smile twisted Mary
’
s lips. Sir Richard, too
...
she had forgotten for a moment that he was able to inspire unusual enthusiasm in the opposite sex!

“
Mary, where are you? Not dressed yet?
”
Veronica burst into the room, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
“
You can
’
t think how thrilled I am to see Richard!
”
She picked up a towel and began to dry her legs.
“
I
’
ve only seen him once since we got back, and then only for a short time; you know, just a formal call to pay respects.
”
She began to peel off her costume.
“
He really is a dear, and his mother, she
’
s awfully nice too.
”

Mary pulled her dress over her head and fumbled with the fastenings. She found it difficult to speak, and was grateful for her friend
’
s loquaciousness. Scarcely aware of her friend
’
s silence, Veronica chatted on.
“
Richard just told me that he is on the staff of St. Jude
’
s. It
’
s really extraordinary that you should know each other. I wonder you never mentioned his name in your letters.
”
She slipped on her tussore skirt and twisted round to adjust the fastening.

“
I didn
’
t think you
’
d be interested; I never thought you
’
d know him.
”

“
Know the Alymers!
”
Veronica gave a ripple of laughter.
“
Why, they were neighbours of auntie
’
s when I used to stay with her as a kid. I can
’
t understand how you
never met them; I
’
ve known them all my life.
”
She paused, then added:
“
Fasten this thing for me; I can
’
t for the life of me find the hook.
”

Mary was glad of an opportunity to hide her face. So that was it, a childhood friendship. Perhaps that accounted for the intimacy
...
She experienced a feeling of relief which was quickly dispelled by her friend
’
s next remark.

“
I don
’
t think there
’
s a kinder man in the world,
”
Veronica remarked in more serious tones.
“
Finished fastening me? Thanks, that
’
s better.
”
She pulled a sleeveless jumper over her head and smoothed it into her waist.
“
Ready? We
’
ve been an awful time; Richard will be tired of waiting.
”

“
Tired of waiting? Sir Richard! Hasn
’
t he gone?
”
Mary asked with dismay, which she was utterly at a loss to conceal.