Honorary Surgeon (25 page)

“
I am afraid that will never be.
”
Mary
’
s voice was so low that the words scarcely reached her companion.

“
What was that you said, dear
...
‘
never be?
’
”
Lady Alymer leaned heavily on Mary
’
s arm as she led her towards the door.
“
Don
’
t say that
...
You
’
re challenging fate
...
I may be old, but I
’
m still observant
”
She looked up at the girl beside her.
“
You
’
re very simple to read, my dear. Young girls think they
’
re so deep, but, dear me, we old ones can see through them all right. You
’
re in love with my boy—no, my dear, don
’
t bother to deny it.
”
She stopped for a moment as they reached the wide f
o
lding doors, and, removing her hand from Mary
’
s, shook her finger laughingly before her face.
“
You were going to deny it, weren
’
t you?
”
As Mary remained mute, she continued:
“
I say that Richard is in love with you
...
he
’
s in love with someone, trust his old mother to know that. If it isn
’
t you
...
well, I ask you
...
who is it?
”

Still silent, for Mary could find no word to say, she led the older woman towards the open door of the dining-room, in the centre of which a long oak table was laid for two. Candles set in tall silver candelabra provided the only illumination of the dim, paneled room. Mary seated herse
l
f by her companion, an
d
, while the conversation during dinner was of various subjects, she was infinitely grateful that for the rest of that evening, anyway, the painful question of her relationship with the son of the house did not arise.

CHAPTER
FIFTEEN

“
Four spades
is the call, then. My lead, isn
’
t it?
”
Richard glanced interrogatively at his partner.
“
I
’
m afraid this is the end of the rubber as far as we are concerned. What a disgraceful beating, too
...
We
’
ll challenge them again next time I come down; can
’
t let them think they can do as they like with us.
”

Lady Aylmer laid her cards on the table in four neat rows.
“
There, Dr. Granville, isn
’
t it a lovely hand?
”
A tiny frown creased her forehead.
“
Perhaps I ought to have called a
‘
slam
’
; but there, I never quite know when I ought to go on and when I ought to stop.
”

Dr. Granville, her old friend and medical adviser, viewed the displayed hand critically.
“
Well, I certainly think it was worthy of more than the one miserable lift you gave me; but never mind, we
’
re winning enough from our opponents already.
”
Then he laughed good-naturedly.
“
Mustn
’
t rob them too much.
”

Mary smiled across at Richard.
“
We
’
re good losers anyway, aren
’
t we, partner?
”
She played her card, and murmured as it was trumped:
“
I did think I
’
d make that queen. Sorry, partner. I
’
m afraid I
’
m playing badly tonight,
”
she apologized.

“
Never mind.
”
Richard threw down his last card, then sat back in his chair.
“
They
’
ve made a
‘
slam.
’
We
’
re lucky they didn
’
t call it, but I feel we
’
ve held our own against fearful odds!
”
He took a cigarette from his case and lit it.
“
I didn
’
t play well, either, but none of us could ever hope to be quite as erratic as mother!
”
The fond smile he gave Lady Alymer belied his words.
“
Darling, I think you play worser and worser.
”

“
Now, don
’
t grumble at me, but pay up the four-and-eightpence you owe,
”
Lady Alymer laughed.
“
Play badly, indeed!
”
she reiterated with mock indignation.

“
You can
’
t even add up, my love
...
it
’
s four-and-twopence,
”
Richard teased as he drew a handful of change from his pocket.
“
Here you are, and that
’
s four shillings more than you deserve!
”

“
I deserve a good night
’
s rest, I know that. I
’
m very tired, and if you
’
ll excuse me, I
’
m going straight up to my room.
”
Lady Alymer rose to her feet.
“
Good night, doctor. You must come and make a fourth again next Sunday night
...
that is, if Richard comes down. Anyway, I
’
ll let you know.
”
She turned to Mary.
“
No, dear, don
’
t come up with me; I
’
d rather you stayed down and looked after Richard and the doctor. See about drinks for them, and mind you don
’
t let them dig themselves in until the early hours.
”
She lifted her face for her son
’
s kiss.
“
Now mind, Richard, don
’
t be late. You come down here for a rest; you can have all the late nights you want.in town.
”

“
Right you are, darling. I promise to turn out your guest by midnight—forcibly if
necessary,
”
he assured his mother as he accompanied her to the door.

“
It won
’
t be necessary,
”
the doctor announced as Richard turned back into the room.
“
If you and Miss Grant will excuse me, I
’
ll be making a move now; I must look in at a case oh my way back. It
’
s a bit off my road, and I
’
m not as young as I was. Late nights don
’
t agree with me, either.
”
He extended his hand to Mary.
“
Good night, Miss Grant.
”
He held her hand for a moment in his.
“
I can
’
t tell you how glad I am you
’
re here. I know Lady Alymer finds you a boon and, in my opinion, she
’
s been much happier and better since you came.
”

Mary flushed with pleasure.
“
Thank you. I
’
m awfully glad you think so.
”

“
I
’
ll see you to the door.
”
Richard followed Dr. Granville.

When she was alone, Mary began to tidy the litter of the bridge-table; she carefully stacked the scattered cards, collected together the markers and pencils, then replaced them all in the bureau drawer. With the ease of habit, she folded back the veneered top of the bridge-table and pushed it back to its usual position against the wall. It was strange how quickly she had become accustomed to the detailed arrangements of Lady Alymer
’
s home; she had only been there a few weeks, and already knew the exact way her employer liked things done. With a sigh of pleasurable fatigue she sank back into a deep chair beside the fire. How happy she was
...
how gloriously happy ... so happy that it frightened her. Supposing it didn
’
t last? Supposing one day she should be thrown on the world again?
...
Even Richard
’
s presence couldn
’
t mar her contentment; his few visits had been so brief, and Lady Alymer took up so much of his time, that Mary had been scarcely aware of his presence
...
Well, that was not quite true, for she was conscious of his proximity during every moment he was beneath the roof of Frensham Manor; conscious and almost fearful of the effect his presence had on her; terrified lest she might show by a word, by a look, the love he had so unwittingly aroused. Mary had made and followed one resolve: to see as little of Richard during those visits as possible, and to avoid being left alone with him more than she could possibly help.

“
Dr. Granville
’
s gone. I think mother
’
s bridge must have worn him out!
”
Richard entered the-room and drew up a chair opposite Mary.

“
Poor darling!
”
Mary laughed softly.
“
She did make one or two awful blunders.
”
Her tone became more serious.
“
I played badly, too
...
I
’
ve played so little lately I
’
m afraid I let you down badly.
”

“
Rubbish!
”
Richard
’
s eyes twinkled.
“
You were a little absent-minded at times, but you certainly made the most of our awful cards, really you did!
”

Mary smiled gratefully.
“
It
’
s very nice of you to say so.
”
She rose to her feet.
“
I think I
’
ll follow your mother
’
s example and get along to bed.
”

“
You won
’
t do anything of the kind! Do you realise this is the third time I
’
ve been down here since you arrived, and I haven
’
t had time to exchange a dozen words with you yet? Why, I believe I saw more of you at St. Jude
’
s!
”

“
You probably did, and I don
’
t think that is any reason why I should stay up now,
”
Mary rejoined.

“
Please sit down again and don
’
t be obstinate. There are heaps of things I want to ask you, and I don
’
t intend to let you go yet!
”

Mary bowed mockingly.
“
Don
’
t you indeed!
”
Her long fringed eyes challenged her companion
’
s.
“
At St. Jude
’
s you could order me about, you can
’
t here; that
’
s just the difference. Good night, sir!
”

“
Come back and sit down.
”
Sir Richard was across the room in two strides and his two hands held her arms.
“
Do as I tell you, or I
’
ll use force,
”
he threatened laughingly.
“
Are you coming back to your chair willingly, or am I to carry you?
”

For a fleeting second Mary felt herself held against him. The sudden contact, so unexpected, sent a quiver of excitement through her. Momentarily she stood irresolute, then, almost fearful of the joy pervading her, released herself from his grasp.

“
I suppose if you really want to talk to me I can stop for a few minutes.
”
Mary turned away to hide her embarrassment, and crossed again towards the chair she had just vacated.
“
But I warn you I am feeling very sleepy,
”
she added, sincerely hoping that her companion was oblivious to the quiver in her voice.

“
I promise I won
’
t keep you too long,
”
Richard countered.
“
Have a cigarette?
”

“
Please.
”
Mary accepted it gratefully. Somehow, smoking a cigarette gave her confidence.

“
A light? Good!
”
Richard flicked the burnt match into the grate and seated himself facing his companion.
“
I want to know how you are liking it here
,
whether you are happy?
”

“
Very, very happy.
”
There was such assurance in her tones that Richard had no doubt of her sincerity.

“
I
’
m glad.
”
There was a quiet pleasure in Richard
’
s brief reply, and as they smoked in silence his eyes searched the slender figure before him as he reclined in the large armchair, almost buried in its depth. For the hundredth time he felt immeasurably glad that he had been able to persuade Mary to live with his mother. This girl had appeared to him to be entirely unsuited for the profession she had so bravely adopted, the work altogether too exacting, the atmosphere incongruous. To him she appeared almost ethereal in her beauty, unfitted for anything but the life to which she had been born.

Mary moved uncomfortably under her companion
’
s scrutiny.
“
Well ... I thought you wanted to talk to me,
”
she ventured in a voice which she hoped sounded natural.

Richard started at the sound of her voice and aroused himself from his speculation.
“
I wanted to tell you what a relief it is for me to know that you are here. Mother
’
s doctor was right; you
’
ve made a lot of difference to her.
”

“
But it
’
s so easy, she
’
s such a darling!
”
Mary exclaimed feelingly.

“
I
’
m so afraid that you must find it dreary. Mother does not entertain much these days, and when she does
...
well, her friends are all somewhat old and dull. It must be rather lonely for you, especially after the busy life at St. Jude
’
s.
”

Mary shook her head.
“
Frankly, I
’
m glad of the change. I
’
ve already told you that, apart from the nursing, I wasn
’
t particularly happy there. Of course. I do miss Joan and Noel, and should love to see something of them. But there, please do not think I
’
m complaining; I daresay I shall be going up to town soon to do some shopping, and I shall try to arrange to see Joan there. I assure you that Joan
’
s the only thing about St. Jude
’
s that I do miss,
”
she asserted
.

“
Not very complimentary to me,
”
Richard teased.