Ring for the Nurse (19 page)

W
iping her hands on her apron Mrs. Mackerley turned from the stove. Her opening remark was anything but encouraging.
“
And what were you wanting? I
’
m busy now, right in the middle of cooking the dinner, can
’
t take my eyes off it neither, not with this old-fashioned oven, things either burn or go off the boil, daren
’
t turn my back and that
’
s the truth.
”

“
Then please don
’
t let me interrupt you—you just get on with what you are doing.
”
Felicity paused, then added with truth,
“
What a wonderful kitchen and how beautifully you keep it
...
how can you cook a meal and yet have everything so tidy?
”

“
That
’
s method, Miss, that is.
”
Mrs. Mackerley
’
s plump face now creased into a smile at the praise, Felicity
’
s opening remark could not have been better chosen.
“
Is there anything I can do for you?
”

“
Mr. Brenton
’
s dinner—on a tray—he has had such a tiring journey I don
’
t think he should dine downstairs tonight. I hate causing you extra trouble but it will only be for tonight.
”

“
I reckon the journey was tiring.
”
Mrs. Mackerley tossed her head.
“
I was just saying to Mackerley that Mr. Guy would have got better quicker without Miss Jason, she
’
ll likely fill the house with them noisy friends of hers, fair racket it is, she don
’
t give me a moment
’
s peace, coming out here too with her
‘
Please Mrs. Mackerley this
’
and
‘
Please Mrs. Mackerley that
’
. Always wanting something for them flighty friends of hers—just a bit of savoury with the drinks—cups of coffee all hours of the day and night—I
’
ve only
one pair of hands—meals!
—”
She threw her two hands
despairingly above her head.
“
They just turn up when they
’
re hungry, why can
’
t they eat regular, like Christians?
”

“
I don
’
t expect the young lady come down here to listen to all that!
”
Mackerley interrupted while he gave the silver dish he was han
dling
an extra rub.
“
She come down for a
tray for Mr. Guy, there isn
’
t no call for you to go on like that.
”

“
Miss Jason may be all right in her way but she and me don
’
t see eye to eye and that
’
s the truth,
”
Mrs. Mackerley retorted, then turned again to Felicity.
“
I
’
ll fix a tray now. Miss—how about a drop of soup, it
’
s on the boil and I can snip off a bit of duck—he
’
s very partial to duck—and the potatoes and peas is just on ready too.
”

“
That
’
s marvellous—but you must let me help,
”
Felicity exclaimed, as
following the older woman, she began to collect the cloth and cutlery.

By the time Felicity had left the kitchen, balancing the loaded tray—after a firm refusal to allow Mackerley to carry it for her—she was satisfied that as far as the Mackerleys were concerned, they
’
d give her any help she might need.

On re-entering Guy Brenton
’
s room Felicity found him, true to his promise, clad in dressing-gown and slippers, ensconced in the arm-chair before the fire, but the smile with which he had recently been greeting her arrival in his room at hospital was still missing and he scarcely acknowledged her entry. While she pulled up a small table and set the tray at his side, he remained immersed in the paper he was reading, and it was only at her reminder that his meal would get cold that he folded up the paper and gave his attention to the tray.

“
Mrs. Mackerley seems to think this would suit you—a bit different from hospital food,
”
Felicity added with an attempt at levity.
“
You shouldn
’
t need any persuasion to eat this.
”

“
You
’
d better be getting down to your own dinner. Mrs. Mackerley is a dear old soul but she does hate unpunctuality at meals.
”

Luckily Felicity was able to bite back the retort which sprang to her lips. She had longed to tell him that, from what she
’
d heard, Mrs. Mackerley was quite accustomed to that sort of thing when Alaine Jason was a guest in the house. Smothering the impulse, Felicity forced a smile.
“
Right, I
’
ll be getting along, but are you quite sure you have everything you want?
”

“
Everything, thanks.
”

He really was in the most atrocious mood but, determined to ignore it, Felicity paused again as she reached the
door.
“
You
’
d better have your shoulder redressed before you settle down tonight, I
’
ll get you a sleeping draught too, I imagine you
’
ll need it.
”
She opened the door but before closing it behind her, added,
“
I
’
ll come up again immediately after dinner.
”

Colonel Brenton rose to greet her as she walked down the stairs and across the lounge towards the fireside.
“
So you have managed to get your way and Guy is dining in his room?
”
His brown eyes, so like his son
’
s, smiled down at her as he drew forward a chair.

“
Whatever made you change into that hideous uniform?
”
Alaine interrupted before Felicity had time to reply to Colonel Brenton.
“
You look so much more attractive in mufti—perhaps you felt that you could get your own way with Guy more easily when garbed in all the trappings of your profession?
”
she ended laughingly.

Alaine
’
s words were far too near the truth for Felicity to find them amusing and she was glad to be saved the need for any reply by the Colonel
’
s timely offer of a glass of sherry.

“
All right for you, my dear, or do you prefer one of those unpleasant concoctions known as cocktails?
”
he asked her, as seeing her comfortably settled in a chair, he reseated himself and picked up his own glass.

In the soft light of the small candle-shaped electric bulbs, the lounge had taken on an added air of homeliness. It still retained the stage effect which Felicity had felt when she had first entered but, as in her own bedroom, it was as if the very solidity of the heavy furnishings gave one a sense of security, the tapestry-covered chairs invited rest and even the family portraits offered her a smile of acceptance.
“
I prefer this, thank you.
”
Felicity
was glad of the inward warmth which the sherry gave her, she even accepted a second glass, feeling sure that, before the evening was out, she might be grateful for the extra stimulus.

Dinner, served in an enormous dining-room which Felicity felt would easily have seated a regiment, was, surprisingly enough, a cheerful meal. She had to admit that on such an occasion Alaine
’
s chatter was a distinct advantage, and Colonel Brenton listened attentively to her vivid description of working in a film studio.

“
I
’
m going up to say good night to Guy,
”
Alaine announced as she put down her empty coffee cup on the polished dining-table.
“
I promise I
’
ll not tire him,
”
she added with a laugh which
Felicity
had to admit held no vestige of rancour, in fact Alaine
’
s whole manner was so disarming that
Felicity
found it impossible to harbour any further resentment.

“
More coffee, Nurse?
”
As
Felicity
smiled her refusal Colonel Brenton refilled his own cup, then went on.
“
There are quite a lot of things I want to ask you, but Alaine—well, the child is such a chatterbox that I haven
’
t had a chance.
”
He drew pensively at his
ci
gar before continuing.
“
Tell me—will my son be all right—I mean his hand, you think he
’
ll regain full use of his fingers?
”

“
Yes, I really think so.
”
Felicity
spoke without hesitation, glad to see the look of relief which her assertion evoked.
“
The surgeon was worried alt first, a perfect result was very important in Mr. Brenton
’
s case. At first I know that Mr. MacFarlayne was deeply concerned; it seemed as if Mr. Brenton himself had lost heart, he made no effort to use his hand, he seemed so apathetic. Just lately he has made much more effort, the results have been most gratifying. It will be easier to tell when the plaster is removed but I know that Mr. MacFarlayne believes now that the chances of full recovery are excellent
.
”

“
That
’
s a great load off my mind—Guy hasn
’
t said much in his letters—I expect you know that the early ones he had to di
ct
ate and even lately he has only managed to scrawl a few somewhat illegible lines.
”

“
It isn
’
t easy to write with one
’
s right arm encased in plaster,
”
Felicity smiled.

“
I
’
m glad to have him back here.
”
The old man sighed.
“
I think, however, it would have been more restful for
him
without his
fiancé
e; she is such a high-spirited child,
I
can
’
t think what possessed him to bring her down until he
’
d had a few days
’
complete rest and quiet.
”

Felicity felt it might be scarcely fair to volunteer any explanation so, with a deliberate change of subject,
she
began to question her companion about the date and history of Weir Court. His response was immediate and
Felicity
found herself listening with enchantment to his vivid description of the old house as it had originally stood three hundred years earlier. He told her of the various families who had
lived there, the wing that had been added and all the architectural changes through which it has passed until now it bore but little resemblance to the old yellowed and faded print which he took down from its place on the wall to show her.

Felicity had been so engrossed in the narrative that she had scarcely noticed the lateness of the hour.
“
If you
’
ll excuse me I think it
’
s time I persuaded Mr. Brenton to settle down.
”

Much as Felicity hated the prospect of intruding, her sense of responsibility won and thrusting aside her doubts, she knocked firmly on Guy Brenton
’
s door, then, without awaiting a reply walked in.
“
I
’
m sorry to disturb you but
it
’
s getting late—Miss Jason, if you don
’
t mind
—”
She
broke off, it seemed scarcely necessary to put her wishes into words, Alaine should have sense enough to. know that she had stayed long enough already.