Heart Specialist (17 page)

CHAPTER TWELVE

Valentine stood hugging
the bouquet of flowers she had received back from the manservant and looked upward into the doctor
’
s face with an almost ludicrous expression of concern on her own face.

“
I didn
’
t expect
...”
she began.
“
I mean,
I
didn
’
t
...”

“
You didn
’
t think you would find me here,
”
he helped her out in a perfectly cool and ordinary voice.
“
Well,
I
often look in on Tante Minette, and today she telephoned me to do so. As I said, she
’
s a bit low spirited.
”
They both turned to follow the manservant upstairs, and as he moved at her side, Leon Daudet asked with quite a different note in his voice,
“
What have you been doing to your hair, my dear Valentine, if I may ask?
”
As she turned her head and met his eyes she thought they were peculiarly expressionless.

“
You look rather like a shorn lamb, and I wasn
’
t expecting to meet a shorn lamb today. Hence my rather obvious surprise.
”

Valentine felt the flowers tickling her chin and stared straight ahead.

“
I
thought it was a good idea to have it cut really short,
”
she said.
“
Short hair is less of a distraction than long, don
’
t you agree?
”

“
I see,
”
he said quietly, and they entered the main living room together.

The
marquise
was lying on the settee on which Philippe
had reclined on the occasion of Valentine
’
s first visit. She looked around in surprise when the manservant flung open the door, and then the surprise changed to delight when she caught sight of Valentine.

“
My dear
,
”
she exclaimed.
“
Why,
cherie
, how very, very sweet of you to take pity on me like this!
”
She held out her hand, and Valentine found herself drawn down so low that it was obvious the older woman expected her to kiss her. In return she received two impulsive kisses on her own smooth cheeks.
“
And the flowers! For me? That is indeed thoughtful of you, my child. How did you know that white lilacs always make me think of the south—where I would be at this moment but for this crippling leg, which makes it so painful for me to travel?
”

“
I
’
m so sorry about your leg,
”
Valentine murmured with genuine sympathy and then was disconcerted because the elderly dark eyes—so like another pair of dark eyes—seemed to become glued to her.

“
But
...
but, my dear child
...!
What
have you done to your hair?
”
the
marquise
demanded.

Valentine sat down on the foot of the couch and she could feel Dr. Daudet looking at her from behind. She didn
’
t have to reply because his voice came provocatively,
“
She cut it all off, Tante Minette. Or rather, since it looks so very elegant, she got someone highly skilled in such matters to cut it off for her. She decided that it was too much of a distraction worn in the way you saw it before.
”

“
It is easier to handle this way,
”
Valentine amended quickly and she thought that the
marquise
looked at her very penetratingly. After which it was her nep
h
ew who came in for a thoughtful scrutiny.

“
Well, well,
”
she remarked at last.
“
I remember when I was young and had rather a lot of hair, I was always anxious to have some of it cut off, but in those days a woman had to put up with her
‘
crowning glory
’
whether it was uncomfortable or not. But nowadays, what with
‘
urchin cuts,
’
and one thing and another, almost anything is fashionable. And
I
must say you look very charming as you are, my dear, very, very charming!
”

“
Thank you,
”
Valentine heard herself saying and although conscious of those unseen eyes that were fixed on her, she managed to appear as if she was unaware of them and more or less at ease.

“
It is good for an old woman like me to see young things occasionally,
”
the
marquise
said just before the tea was brought in.
“
Chained to a couch like this as I am on my bad days,
I
can
’
t tell you how welcome the sight of anyone as attractive as you is.
”
She beamed warmly at Valentine.

“
You very nearly didn
’
t see her at all,
”
Leon Daudet informed her rather dourly.
“
She was handing over her flowers and about to depart when I prevented her and insisted on her coming up here to see you.
”

“
Quite right, Leon. Oh, but dear child, you must never do that again,
”
the old lady said, leaning forward and grasping at the girl
’
s slim hand.
“
I
love your flowers, and Alphonse shall put them in water—
”
she rang a bell
“
—but I
’
d much rather see you personally. Leon is very good, and never neglects me; but he has so many commitments, such an ever-increasing number of patients, and so many social engagements
...”
She looked at him rather quizzically.
“
Did you know, Valentine—and I
’
m going to call you Valentine from now on—that a doctor who is also a bachelor is the one person who will never be left out when a hostess is preparing her list of invitations for a dinner party? In a world where there are so many women a bachelor is always desirable, but a doctor, it seems to me, has a kind of fatal fascination ... for the mamas, as well as the young women they are anxious to find husbands for!
I
tell Leon that he should take a wife if only to provide himself with a means of protection!
”

L
e
on picked up a book and examined it idly.

“
I
am not in need of any such protection,
tante
,
”
he told her composedly. He sat down and gave a hitch to his beautifully creased trousers.
“
And
I
am not in any hurry to take a wife.
”

“
But
I
am growing old, Leon,
”
she protested,
“
and
I
would like to see you surrounded by a family.
”

“
Whether or not
I
would like to see myself surrounded by a family?
”

Her dark eyes twinkled as she divided her glance between him and Valentine.

“
But think how much more satisfying that
w
ould be than an endless round of engagements when your professional day is over. How much more rewarding than taking someone like Madame Faubourg to the opera!
”

“
Madame Faubourg is capable of appreciating opera, and a wife might not have that same capacity,
”
he returned, his voice very smooth as he continued to turn the pages of the book.

His aunt shook her head.

“
He is quite hopeless, Valentine. I have tried so often to get him to change his views about marriage, but apparently it is quite useless.
”

“
You should turn your attention to Valentine herself,
”
he recommended.
“
For whereas
I
haven
’
t altogether forsworn marriage, she is determined to have nothing to d
o
with it. That, I can assure you, is nothing less than the truth, for she made the admission to me herself.
”

The
marquise
shook her head again, but this time she also laughed gently and patted Valentine
’
s hands.
“
Whatever admission Valentine may have made to
you, with her looks, her delightful freshness and her English charm, the matter will certainly not be left to her. Men have eyes, my dear nephew, and occasionally they have persuasive tongues. Valentine will listen one day, and then I shall have the happiness of sending her a wedding present. And now, my dear,
”
as the tea trolley was wheeled in,
“
will you pour for me, because I feel so very awkward on this couch, and it is a little painful for me to move?
”

Valentine told them about the arrival of Jane, and the
marquise
said she would be giving a dinner party before long—just as soon as she felt up to it—and Valentine and Jane would both receive invitations,

“
And we will invite Madame Faubourg for Leon,
”
she said with a kind of tired dryness,
“
and Philippe must of course be included, because I am very fond of him; and if you, my dear child, know of anyone particular whom you would like to be included
...?
Preferably a man, because it is not always easy to get enough men for such occasions! Not young personable men!
”

“
What about Peter Fairfield?
”
Leon suggested, looking downward at Valentine.

“
He is someone special?
”
the
marquise
asked.
“
And English, of course. Therefore he must be invited! You must provide me with his address, my dear, and
I
will see that he receives an invitation.
”

Leon
’
s voice developed a note of brusqueness.

“
You are tired,
ma tante
, and we will go.
”
He rose abruptly.
“
I will drive Valentine home.
”

“
Oh, but
I
needn
’
t trouble you,
”
Valentine said quickly.
“
I
will get a taxi.
”

“
I have said that I will drive you home,
”
the doctor said even more brusquely, and in spite of the exhaustion that had quite noticeably descended on his aunt, she looked suddenly very much amused.

“
Don
’
t argue with him, child,
”
she begged Valentine.
“
He can be very obstinate, and if he says that he will drive you home he will drive you home!
”
She drew Valentine down to her and kissed her affectionately.
“
Come and see me again soon.
”

In
the car
Leon appeared to be in the blackest mood Valentine had yet been permitted to see him in, and he said coldly,
“
You cut off your hair in order to annoy me, and now you will permit my aunt to invite your fellow countryman to her dinner party! I suppose you feel that you are being very clever,
n
’
est-ce pas
?”

“
I?
”
Valentine was so surprised that she almost gaped at him.
“
But it was you who suggested Peter! I never even thought of him and I would certainly not have suggested to the
marquise
that she invite him to her party. She was obviously trying to think of making up numbers—for you, Madame Faubourg, for me, someone I know. And as for my hair
...
”

“
Yes?
”
he said tautly, gripping the wheel.
“
As for your hair?
”