Ring for the Nurse (20 page)

“
O.K.—I daren
’
t argue with you now you are in that starchy uniform.
”
Alaine stifled a yawn as she rose from her seat on a low stool at Guy Brenton
’
s feet. Stretching her slender limbs she stood erect, then turned away from Felicity to address her
fiancé
.
“
Good night, darling, see you in the morning. I hope you
’
ll have shaken off all this invalid stuff by then and we can begin to have some real fun—how about a ride, think you
’
ll feel up to it?
”

“
Please wait until tomorrow, don
’
t make plans just yet,
”
Felicity interposed with an almost imploring look at Alaine.

Completely ignoring her words, Guy spoke.
“
Right, Alaine, leave a message for Adams to have the horses ready, and saddled by eleven—better get along now or Nurse Dene may have something to say!
”

Felicity was sure that he had accompanied his statement to Alaine with a sly glance in her direction. Like a child, she thought angrily, enjoying the chance to flaunt authority and taking every opportunity to press the point home. Her expression was unsmiling as she drew back the bed covers, then, when he was comfortably settled against the pillow, she neatly folded his dressing-gown and laid it across the end of the bed.
“
Now what about a sleeping draught
?
”
She tipped two capsules carefully into the palm of her hand.
“
There doesn
’
t seem to be any basin in this room, where do I get water?
”

“
This is one of the few rooms with an adjoining bathroom—over there, the door is concealed in the panelling.
”
Felicity returned with a tumbler of water and set it within reach.
“
I
’
ll leave the capsules here, you may not need them, I should try and sleep without them if you can.
”
Her tone was icily formal, his attitude forbade any further attempts at cajolement.
“
What about a fresh dressing, it will only take a few minutes, and will make you more comfortable.
”

“
Just as you like.
”

The occupation was mechanical and allowed Felicity to keep her face lowered; she was glad of that for fear her expression might betray the inward tumult of her thoughts.

“
Thanks—that
’
s fine.
”
He lay back again as Felicity re-rolled a bandage and replaced the sterile gauze in its package.
“
As you heard, I propose to follow my normal pursuits tomorrow, I can
’
t stand much more of this nursing. I think the rest must be left to Nature.
”

Unconsciously Felicity tilted her chin a trifle higher as she turned to face him.

“
Then I suppose, sir—with your permission—I might as well leave in the morning. There appears to be no reason whatever for me to prolong my stay—it would, in fact, be unfair to Matron.
”
She found herself taking a deep breath as she went on.
“
You told me you were afraid of placing any added responsibility on the Mackerleys—you were quite right, I realize that with the staff difficulties that exist today, they have as much as they can manage already, but then I did not know Miss Jason would be here—as she said, she can easily give, you what help you need.
”
Although Guy Brenton made to interrupt, Felicity, ignoring him, went on.
“
I
’
m sure Miss Jason could learn to do your dressings and apart from the help which you
’
ll need until your arm is
out of plaster—which no doubt Mackerley could give you—there remains only the question of guarding against any after effects of concussion. Mr. MacFarlayne didn
’
t want you, for the first few days, to take any st
r
enuous exercise on your own.
”
She paused for a moment, then added,
“
I am sure Miss Jason won
’
t mind accompanying you.
”

“
But it was arranged, you were to
—”

Deliberately she forestalled Guy Brenton
’
s argument.
“
Well, good-night. I shall not be leaving until the afternoon, that will give me an opportunity of showing Miss Jason what to do—there are one or two other details too, but don
’
t let that bother you, I
’
ll see that everything Is left in order.
”

CHAPTER
THIRTEEN

With that perversity
which is inexplicable, Felicity found herself not only willing, but anxious to get up long before anyone else at Weir Court appeared to be stirring. The sound of a cock crowing had been the first thing to penetrate her consciousness; to some it might be an annoyance but to her, as she lay in her four-poster bed, it was pleasing, that shrill note symbolic of the English countryside, nature
’
s call waking the world to another day. She had watched the rosy tints of dawn filter gradually into her room, bathing the dark furnishing with a soft radiance until suddenly the first rays of the sun swept away the
l
in
gering
shadows and patches of bright light dappled the painted walls and danced on the satin eiderdown.

Sounds of movement now echoed through the house and, unable any longer to restrain her impatience, Felicity slipped from her bed and began to dress; her familiar uniform was her obvious choice and since she would be returning to hospital that day, clothes now seemed of slight importance. It was still barely eight o
’
clock and uncertain whether to make her appearance so early, she crossed to her window and throwing it wide, leaned out, her two hands gripping the sill. As she breathed in the sweet morning air and her eyes rested on the dew-drenched lawns and flower beds, she was overwhelmed by a deep sense-of nostalgia, a longing for her own home, for Somerset—for anything which would take her away from the
close
d-in atmosphere of London. If only she could have stayed here for a few more days, enjoyed a brief spell of all this loveliness—she stifled a sigh
... yet one day soon she
’
d hear from Tony and then a new li
f
e in a new world would stretch before her. But the thought
was not unmixed with doubt, he
’
d arranged now to come home to fetch her, yet to leave England
...
Felicity crossed deliberately to the door, there must surely be someone about now and anyway, it was time she attended to her patient
’
s breakfast.

“
Good morning!
”

Felicity looked up in surprise as through the opened door of the dining-room she saw Colonel Brenton already seated at the breakfast table. Entering the room she returned his greeting.

“
I had no idea you would be breakfasting so early, I was frightened to come down too soon,
”
she explained with an apologetic smile.

“
We are early risers here—but that doesn
’
t mean we expect our guests to be early too.
”
He stood up to pull out a chair for her, then with that genial courtesy which marked his personality, waited for her to be seated.

“
If you don
’
t mind—I think I should get Mr. Brenton
’
s tray first,
”
Felicity demurred.

“
Sit down and have your breakfast, my dear. Guy finished his some time ago, he is round at the stables now.
”

A warm flush mounted Felicity
’
s cheeks.
“
Oh—surely not!
”
she protested, unable to keep the note of concern from her voice.
“
I—I had no idea, he shouldn
’
t have done that— he ought to have sent for me
—”

“
Now don
’
t worry, sit down and eat your breakfast, he has got to accustom himself to managing alone so I suppose he felt, since you were leaving today, the sooner he
ma
de a
start the better.
”

“
He has told you I
’
m leaving?
”
Felicity
had now no alternative but to take the proffered chair, but the colour still stained her cheeks and there was an air of appeal in the glance she threw her companion.

“
Yes, he told me at breakfast this morning,
”
Colonel Brenton admitted briefly, then, apparently unwilling to pursue the subject, busied himself passing her the dishes set out on the hot-plate.

“
No—no, nothing, thank you, just coffee—and toast.
”
After a brief uncomfortable silence
,
she queried,
“
You do understand about me leaving, don
’
t you? I mean you do agree that it
’
s useless for me to stay
?
”

“
My dear girl, why ask me?
”
He spoke gently and for a second rested his hand on Felicity
’
s.
“
I am sure you would only do what you felt to be right. Guy managed quite well this morning, at least with Mackerley
’
s help—still I am rather concerned as to what will happen after the plaster is removed, I understand that the original operation was fairly extensive and that dressings may be required at first,
”
he admitted with a note of doubt.

“
I don
’
t think any definite time has yet been decided for the removal of the plaster—Mr. Brenton was X-rayed yesterday morning before we left, I wasn
’
t on duty, I didn
’
t hear the result, but I don
’
t imagine there will be any question of removal for another week or so.
”

“
My son tells me that the X-ray result was excellent. Bones
uniting
well—
I
don
’
t know if that is the medical jargon—but didn
’
t he tell you? Mr. MacFarlayne is coming down tomorrow afternoon to remove the plaster. That was arranged before Guy left yesterday.
”

“
No, I didn
’
t know,
”
Felicity admitted shortly. Guy Brenton had not told her, he had hardly spoken to her since liv
in
g hospital and not even troubled to volunteer that important information, although she was entitled to know of such a decisive step.
“
He will certainly require a nurse here to assist Mr. MacFarlayne. As he made no demur when I suggested leaving, I imagine he is making other arrangements.
”
No longer able to hide her deep resentment, she
rose to her feet.
“
Please excuse me, I ought to
—”

Colonel Brenton laid a restraining hand on Felicity
’
s arm.
“
Come on to the terrace, it
’
s a lovely morning and far more pleasant out of doors.
”

Felicity had no option but to be led through the wide french windows which gave access to the garden. At the
back
of the house the ground sloped away and stone steps, bordered with trim box hedges, led down to a circular rose garden where the closely pruned trees already showed a profusion of buds.

“
Nurse, do an old man a favour and let me show you round the grounds. I expect Guy has told you that flowers are my hobby.
”

Felicity felt that it would be ungracious to refuse and for the next half-hour she gave herself up to the full enjoyment engendered by their stroll through the gardens and orchard. Colonel Brenton took pleasure in extolling the flavour of the velvet skinned peaches in the hothouse and with justifiable pride pointed out the size of the magnificent grape-vines, and it was only as they retraced their steps that his words recalled her to the present.
“
There are things I should like to discuss with you, will you be warm enough on the terrace?
”
As
Felicity
nodded assent, he continued.
“
You see, I know my son very well, I realize how difficult he can be, won
’
t you try to bear with his trying ways?
”
he asked, with a quizzical lift of his shaggy brows.

“
I
’
ve good reason to know how difficult he can be, I worked for him long before I nursed him,
”
she explained with a wry smile.
“
Besides, I came here with every intention of staying on for a few days if necessary.
”
Conscious of her companion
’
s sympathetic understanding,
Felicity
could no longer deny herself the relief of pouring out her troubles.
“
He seemed to change yesterday
...
from the moment we left hospital, he allowed Miss Jason to have her way about everything and entirely ignored any remonstrance I might make. I wasn
’
t fussing either,
”
she interposed quickly, fearful that Colonel Brenton might put the wrong interpretation on her story.
“
And when I told him last night I was going back, he didn
’
t even protest.
”
Although now she came to consider the matter, she wasn
’
t sure she had given him any chance to demur.

“
Probably Miss Jason
’
s unexpected presence upset him?
”
Colonel Brenton suggested quietly.
“
You see, no man likes to appear at a disadvantage before a woman. It was different of course in hospital, but now he is up, I
’
ve no doubt he would have preferred her to delay her visit until he had completely returned to normal. Just think things over and see if you can change your mind.
”
He lowered his voice at the sound of approaching footsteps on the flagged terrace and rose to his feet as Guy appeared at the top of the steps.
“
Here he is ... he mustn
’
t think we
’
ve been discussing him!
”
Colonel Brenton raised his voice again and called to his son.
“
Come and sit down. Apparently you gave Nurse the slip this morning, she was thinking in terms of breakfast trays when you were already dressed and out!
”

With a natural impulse, Felicity also stood and waited while Guy approached them. After a formal exchange of greeting and some desultory conversation, Colonel Brenton turned towards the door leading into the house.
“
You two stay out there for a bit, the sun
’
s got a lot of warmth in it this morning, do you good, my boy! I
’
ve got some seed catalogues I must go through and I want to get the order off today.
”

As his tall figure disappeared into the house, Felicity deliberately seated herself by Guy Brenton
’
s side and brought up the subject which was uppermost in her mind.

“
I understand that Mr. MacFarlayne is coming down to remove your plaster tomorrow—the information came from your father. I feel it might have been better if it had come from you.
”

“
Didn
’
t I tell you?
”
The question was casual and if Felicity had expected to embarrass him with her direct statement, she was disappointed, he was entirely unperturbed.
“
Anyway, the information is quite correct.
”

“
It would have been more courteous to tell me yourself,
”
Felicity insisted, grateful for the air of detachment she had managed to instil into her voice, for despite his uncompromising attitude, she still longed for the easy-going friendship and understanding which had grown up between them while she had nursed him in hospital. Despite her annoyance at the casual way in which he had treated her, she wanted to sink her own feelings, to swallow her pride and disregarding all that had occurred, to
_;
remain by his side.

Wholly unaware of his companion
’
s emotions, Guy Brenton glanced casually at his watch.
“
Alaine not down yet?
’
We said we
’
d ride at eleven, didn
’
t we?
”

“
Half past,
”
Felicity replied curtly, then determined not to be so readily turned from her grievance, she went on,
“
Since you only
thought
you told me of Mr. MacFarlayne
’
s decision
”
—she laid emphasis on the verb—
“
perhaps you
’
d be good enough to tell me your plans now. You haven
’
t forgotten that I am returning to St Edwin
’
s today?
”

“
Oh, of course, you did say something about that last night, didn
’
t you?
”
His lips curved into a smile, one of those rare smiles which had gradually become a part of that new-found understanding and intimacy of the la
st
weeks. It was certainly the first time he had relaxed in her presence since their arrival and refusing to allow herself to be too easily cajoled, Felicity deliberately ignored his more genial manner.