Ring for the Nurse (12 page)

“
I hadn
’
t thought of that, I suppose it is somewhat disarming.
”
His eyes twinkled again.
“
From now on I
’
ll be a model patient. How do we start? Shall I begin by attempting to finish that extremely unappetizing breakfast?
”

Felicity rose to her feet and looked down laughingly at her companion.
“
I won
’
t ask you to do that, but I suggest you make an extra effort with your lunch and—rather more important—persevere with those fingers, don
’
t give in, try to use them.
”

Felicity felt with some elation that she had certainly emerged from the interview with flying colours. It had been a harassing ordeal but if she had managed to rouse Guy Brenton from the state of depression into which he had sunk, then it would have been well worth while. If only his
fiancée
e hadn
’
t been so absorbed in her own affairs, she could have done much towards encouraging him herself. His other visitors had been largely fellow medical men who had no doubt kept strictly off the subject of his injury, but for Alaine it should have been easy.

In spite of her elation there remained an underlying feeling of disappointment that she would not be able to see the good which might result from her efforts. Soon he would go down to his home in Buckinghamshire and his progress would no longer be any concern of hers. Engrossed in her thoughts, the hours passed rapidly and when Alaine Jason appeared in the corridor leading to the ward, Felicity realized that it must be close on tea-time.

“
Hallo.
”
Alaine waved her hand airily.

“
Good afternoon, would you like me to get you some tea while you
’
re with Mr. Brenton?
”

“
Not for me—I
’
m not stopping.
”
Alaine flashed a smile at Felicity.
“
I
’
ve already seen Guy, I came along early, I didn
’
t see you anywhere around so I went along in.
”
She paused, then, apparently choosing her words carefully, added:

“
I want to talk to
you
—there is something I must say, I haven
’
t very long, is there somewhere private where we can go?
”

“
Sister
’
s office is available.
”
Felicity led the. way and threw open the door. She hoped that her voice sounded cordial but she didn
’
t feel in the least like a prolonged talk with Alaine Jason.

“
I knew that once Guy was out of bed he
’
d get restless— he tells me that this afternoon he arranged with Mr. MacFarlayne to go home to convalesce.
”

“
He mentioned it to me this morning,
”
Felicity admitted.
“
I knew he meant to discuss it with the surgeon but I haven
’
t spoken to Mr. Brenton since then.
”
Felicity sincerely hoped there was no apparent, sign of despondency in her tone.

“
Guy is leaving the day after tomorrow.
”
Alaine gave a short laugh.
“
I
’
m not too pleased about it, I can
’
t run down to Buckinghamshire every five minutes. I may be able to get down at week-ends but that
’
s about all.
”
With a restless movement she flung off her furs and delved in her handbag for the inevitable cigarette.

“
You wanted to ask me something?
”
Felicity began tentatively as she pulled up a chair for her visitor and seated herself at the desk.

Ignoring the chair, Alaine crossed restlessly to the window, stared out in
sil
e
nce
for a moment, then turned back to confront her companion.
“
I am in a bit of a jam, I want you to help me.
”

“
I don
’
t quite understand, of course if there
’
s anything
—”

“
There is something—something important!
”
Alaine broke in impatiently.
“
You
’
ll be packing for Guy, won
’
t you? I mean you
’
ll be getting his things together for him?
”

“
I suppose so.
”
Felicity laughed lightly, she couldn
’
t help it, Alaine instilled such drama into the most trivial words.
“
He hasn
’
t got much to pack, just his pyjamas and dressing-gown, shaving tackle and oddments which his secretary sent over after the accident and of course the suit and overcoat he was wearing when he arrived.
”

“
That
’
s it!
”
Alaine exclaimed vehemently as she stubbed out her half-smoked cigarette.
“
You remember telling me that occasionally shock will cause people to forget what happened before an accident? You explained that sometimes memory never comes back, you do remember, don
’
t you?
”

“
Yes, that is quite right,
”
Felicity agreed with some curiosity.

“
Guy doesn
’
t remember a thing about it, I
’
ve realized that from the first, he asks me such odd questions, I know he hasn
’
t the remotest idea of that evening
’
s happenings, they seem to be entirely blotted out. He didn
’
t even recall where we were when the car crashed, where we were going and hadn
’
t any idea where we had been. I reminded him about the cocktail party but I could see it didn
’
t convey much and although I have brought it up since, not one single memory of that evening remains.
”

“
Then I think it
’
s unwise to continue probing, it may cause him unnecessary distress. Why not accept things as they are and not worry about him? Apart from that very brief blackout there won
’
t be any other effects,
”
Felicity assured her.

“
But don
’
t you see I haven
’
t finished explaining,
”
Alaine persisted, with rising excitement.
“
I don
’
t want him to remember, I want him to forget every wretched moment of that awful night!
”

“
Then it
’
s all happened for the best, hasn
’
t it?
”
Felicity asked brightly, while she wondered with inward annoyance why on earth this girl persistently wasted her time. With the deliberate intention of terminating the interview, Felicity made to rise but Alaine quickly urged her back.

“
You can
’
t go yet, I haven
’
t nearly finished!
”
She pressed her hands together until the knuckles whitened.
“
It was a ghastly evening, everything went wrong, I should never have persuaded Guy to go, he never hits it off with my friends! We were both at daggers drawn from the start, then I got mad with Guy, drank far too many cocktails and completely lost my head. It all came to a climax in the car, I told him I wouldn
’
t go through with our engagement and I flung his ring back at him!
”

“
I
think I begin to understand.
”
Felicity spoke quietly in
direct contrast to her companion
’
s hysterical note.
“
It seems
th
at the issue is your affair, presumably you prefer the incident to be forgotten and nature has obligingly done it for you.
”

“
I didn
’
t mean a word of what I said that nig
h
t, I
’
ve told you I was overwrought, I don
’
t want to break my engagement, I never meant to do it, I promise you I didn
’
t!
”

“
Then that seems to clinch the matter,
”
Felicity spoke
firmly. “The whole
affair is conveniently forgotten.
”

“
That is just the trouble, it isn
’
t!
”
There was a sudden break in Alaine
’
s voice.
“
It will upset Guy terribly. Can
’
t you see what a shock it would be if he were to know that I had thrown him over, just when he most needs me? He is terribly proud and unforgiving, I know that he
’
d never take me back. When he sees that ring it will all come back to him, he may even remember the hateful things I said.
”
Then with a choking sob, she buried her face in her hands.

Felicity stared in astonishment, and a feeling of unreality assailed her. Could this emotion be genuine, did Alaine really feel so deeply
?
“
It is possible, but I have told you I consider it extremely unlikely.
”
She spoke gently and reassuringly.

“
I don
’
t believe he will remember
... unless he finds the ring, my engagement ring, I told you I gave it back to him in the car that night.
”
Alaine lowered her hands and lifted her misty eyes appealingly to her companion.
“
Don
’
t let him find it, promise me you won
’
t let
him,
promise me!
”
she implored.

What was this girl asking? That she be a party to deceiving Guy Brenton, assist in hiding from hi
m
evidence that the love he had offered had been thrown back at him? Felicity gripped the arms of the chair as if by its firm contact she would still the angry beat in her veins. Could one such as Alaine ever have appreciated the true value of love from such a man? She was shrewd enough to realize her mistake now and to know that the finding of her ring would probably bring back an all too clear recollection of the unfortunate events leading up to its return.

“
You
’
ll help me, won
’
t you?
”
Alaine went on anxiously, as she became aware of Felicity
’
s impassive expression.
“
That first night I visited him, he scarcely knew I was there,
I hunted everywhere but his clothes weren
’
t in his room—
I
’
ve tried to look since but I haven
’
t had a chance, he is always awake now and I daren
’
t let him see me.
”

“
His clothes were not brought up until later,
”
Felicity announced calmly, although inwardly fuming at Alaine
’
s shameless admission.

“
It will be in his overcoat pocket, I saw him put it there,
”
Alaine went on eagerly.
“
When you pack his things, y
o
u
’
ll get it for me, won
’
t you? It will be so easy for you, and as for me—well, I
’
ll never, never be able to thank you enough —say you
’
ll do it for me, you will, won
’
t you? Won
’
t you?
”
she insisted anxiously as Felicity remained silently staring at her.

“
I can
’
t possibly, you must realize that I couldn
’
t. Do you really expect me to search my patient
’
s pockets?
”
Felicity demanded with ill-concealed anger.