Honorary Surgeon (13 page)

“
Thank you, Mary.
”
There was such deep feeling in Sir Richard
’
s words that she experienced a momentary feeling of surprise. What an amazing personality Sir Richard was. He had made her feel that it really mattered tremendously to him
what she thought. Strange, too, that despite her resolutions she had speedily been swayed by his charm. No wonder Veronica
...
She hesitated. Yet
why deny the fact, when he had practically admitted he was in love with her friend? Poor Veronica! She deserved some happiness out of life, but could she find it that way? Surely such an attachment could only add to her unhappiness.
Mary could not resist a surreptitious glance at her companion. At that moment, although she had previously despised him so much, she felt her dislike lessening, and in its place came a certainty that, whatever her personal feelings might be, whether or not she ever forgave the wrong he had done her, Veronica
’
s love would be perfectly safe in his keeping.

“
Sorry I
’
ve been so long. The bathing things were dry, so I changed straight away,
”
Veronica called out as she joined her friends on the terrace.
“
I
’
ll have a smoke while you two get into your costumes.
”

Sir Richard offered her his case.
“
I won
’
t be a moment changing, so Mary had better run along first.
”

The three of them were soon disporting themselves in the cool depths, of the water. Sir Richard was a strong swimmer, and he and Mary raced against each other up and down the length of the pool, until, tired out, they joined Veronica, who was quite happy splashing about in the shallow end.

“
I hope Mary beat you,
”
she declared, when, still panting from their exercise, they stood beside her.

“
She very nearly did! B
y
Jove, Mary, you
’
re a wonderful swimmer,
”
Sir Richard declared admiringly.

“
Mary, do let Richard see you dive,
”
Veronica broke in.
“
She
’
s absolutely marvellous: it
’
s a joy to watch her,
”
she added, turning to Sir Richard.

Mary flushed.
“
Don
’
t be silly, Veronica. I couldn
’
t possibly give an exhibition in front of Sir Richard.
”

“
I have already seen you
...
when I came along. I stood spellbound. I thought some sprite had invaded my pool. You looked scarcely mortal; more like some water maiden.
”

Mary laughed.
“
Scarcely that, I assure you. I
’
m very mortal. There is nothing ethereal about me.
”
She pulled herself out of the water and stood on the edge of the tiled bath.
“
I think I
’
ll sun-bathe now. It
’
s my first swim for months, and I feel quite tired.
”

Veronica sighed.
“
All right, I suppose that means no more diving. Still, as Sir Richard did see you, I don
’
t
mind so much. I think I
’
ve had enough too; a spot of sun-bathing sounds good to me.
”

Sir Richard soon joined them, and, stretched out on cushions, they exposed their damp bodies to the warming rays of the sun. Laughing and talking, the long hours slipped happily by. No one wanted tea; the fruit that Sir Richard had so happily provided was pounced on by Veronica, and enjoyed by them in preference to a conventional meal.

Sir Richard sat up and, offering a cigarette to the others, took one himself. Exhaling a cloud of blue smoke, he turned to Veronica.
“
Tell me, what has happened to Mary?
”
He glanced at her appraisingly, then turned back to Veronica as he continued.
“
Only two days ago I saw her; in that short space she has undergone some indefinable change. Tell me, what have you done to her?
”

Veronica burst into peals of laughter.
“
There you are, Mary, what did I tell you? The shorn lamb is already attracting undue attention.
”
She curled her arm through Richard
’
s as he sat beside her.
“
I thought you were a little
distrait
this afternoon, darling! Is the newly bobbed Mary causing that very susceptible heart of yours to flutter?
”

“
So that
’
s what it is!
”
Sir Richard raised his eyebrows quizzically.
“
Mary has cut her hair short, and, incidentally, her age!
”
He turned back to Veronica and
gave her a playful dig.
“
And please don
’
t dare suggest in front of Mary that I have a susceptible heart, when I
’
ve spent hours trying to persuade her otherwise. I
’
ve been faithful to you since I wore knickerbockers, haven
’
t I?
”

“
So you tell me!
”
Veronica teased, then added more seriously:
“
You
’
re so wretchedly attractive, Richard darling I can
’
t think why you
’
ve never married.
”

“
Ah
—
wouldn
’
t you like to know!
”
Richard laughed. Mary listened to the conversation in silence. Of course, Veronica was just talking like that in an endeavour to suggest that her friendship with Sir Richard was purely platonic. Couldn
’
t she realize that Mary had already seen through that foolish subterfuge? Mary rolled over on to her side and closed her eyes. Perhaps they
’
d think she was asleep; anyway, she hoped so. Dear Veronica, Mary pitied her from the bottom of her heart. She and Guy were so hopelessly unsuited, while Richard—well, he surely was her ideal mate. Mary bit her lip. What could she be thinking about? Here she was deploring her friend
’
s bad fortune in not marrying Richard, when, a few hours before, she couldn
’
t have found a single word to say in his favour! He wasn
’
t as bad as she
’
d thought: why, away from hospital he was really quite human, and, now she came to think of it, she must agree with the majority, he was amazingly attractive, and had quite the most winning personality that she had ever known.

CHAPTER
NINE

Mary sealed the envelope
she had just finished addressing, and gazed dreamily out the window. Writing to Joan Howe had brought thoughts of London and the hospital to the surface, thoughts which had lately been entirely banished from her mind. What a perfect holiday it had been! But how depressingly quickly each day passed! It seemed no more than a moment ago that she had very nearly fainted in Sister
’
s room, since that night when she had almost accepted Noel Mayton
’
s proposal of marriage. He hadn
’
t replied to her note suggesting that he should take Joan out in her absence, and Mary wondered idly whether he had acted on her advice. Joan hadn
’
t written either but there wasn
’
t much time for letter writing in her crowded working day. Well, it wouldn
’
t be long now before she would be hearing all the latest news from Joan
’
s lips. It would be lovely seeing Joan again and telling all the details of her holiday—if only she hadn
’
t the other nurses to face.

With a less popular doctor than Sir Richard, the storm of petty jealousy would soon have blown over, but Mary feared that it would take months before she would be able to live down that wretched incident. Even being on a more friendly footing with the cause of all the trouble wouldn
’
t help much. In fact, Mary was inclined to think that it might make matters wors
e
, presuming that Sir Richard maintained the familiar attitude of the impromptu picnic. A smile curved Mary
’
s red lips as she recalled the way in which he had so readily addressed her as
“
Mary.
”
If only Sister Tudor could have heard him! But unfortunately Sir Richard had not been seen since that care-free outing; he had said that he would probably have to return to town the following day, but had promised to come down
again if he possibly could. Mary unconsciously found herself hoping that that opportunity would present itself, and yet why on earth should she want him to come
?
Of course, he was an excellent companion, and perhaps the wish was more on Veronica
’
s account than on her own, Veronica, who had been so gay and
insouciant
throughout that day. Still the last few; days had passed without untoward incident. Guy had motored Veronica and herself all over the countryside, lunching at ancient oak-beamed inns, and afterwards rambling over the thickly wooded hills. They seemed to have explored Oxfordshire and all the adjacent counties, spending long, happy days in the open air. Once they had driven to Marlow and punted far up the river, coming home in the late evening, and dining on the terrace of a well-known riverside hotel. There had been dancing that night, and, rather to her surprise, Mary had discovered that Guy, in spite of his great height and breadth of shoulders, was a graceful and light-footed partner. Dancing with him had been thoroughly enjoyable
...
She bit her lip at the memory. They had gone into the garden together to get cool, and, again without warning, he had kissed her, kissed her passionately, long fiery kisses that she had been unable to resist, and then there had been an equally swift transition to his normal self, perhaps more morose than before, and with an inclination to heavy drinking, but no word of explanation or apology. And, deeming that silence was the best policy, Mary had refrained from open comment or criticism.

The chiming of the grandfather clock in the hall roused her from her meditations. Why, it was eleven o
’
clock already, and they had arranged to drive into the Wye Valley that day. They had decided to start at a much earlier hour than this; perhaps something was wrong with the car; perhaps she ought to go out to the garage to see what was happening; but before she had time to carry out her plan Veronica came into the room.

“
I suppose you
’
ve been wondering what had happened to us? Although you don
’
t look very ready to go out yourself.
”
She smiled at Mary, but there was a tiny furrow between her brows, and her usually sparkling eyes had lost their luster.

“
I hadn
’
t realised it was so late, but, Veronica dear, is anything wrong? You look utterly fagged.
”
Mary
’
s tone was gentle, and she approached her friend and urged her into an armchair.
“
What is it, darling? Don
’
t look so miserable.
”

Veronica
’
s eyes filled with tears, but she brushed the
m
aside hastily, and sat twisting her han
d
kerchief between her fingers.
“
It
’
s Jeanette
...
she
’
s running a temperature
...
a touch of malaria probably; she
’
s already had i
t
awfully badly.
”

“
Oh, my dear, I
’
m so sorry; what frightful bad luck. Poor wee kiddie. But it
’
s no use crying about it; that won
’
t help. Would you like me to go and sit with her for a bit?
”
Mary suggested.

“
No, thanks, Mary. It
’
s sweet of you to offer, but I
’
m not going to have you wasting your precious holiday in a sick-room!
”
She smiled wanly.
“
As a matter of fact, Jeannie
’
s fallen into a doze now, and she
’
s had some quinine; she
’
ll probably be better when she wakes. Anyhow, fortunately I understand how to tackle the beastly fever.
”

“
That
’
s one comfort, dear, so you must try to cheer up. A nurse looking as miserable as you would soon be shooed out of a hospital.
”
Mary tried to make her voice sound as bright as possible, although her heart ached for her friend.

“
It isn
’
t only Jeanette that
’
s worrying me,
”
Veronica burst out after a moment
’
s silence.
“
It
’
s Guy, as usual; he
’
s been so much nicer lately. I thought perhaps he
’
d turned over a new leaf, but of course I knew that it was too good to last.
”
She sighed dismally.
“
Somehow, now that he
’
s turned disagreeable again it seems worse than ever.
”

“
What
’
s been the difficulty? Won
’
t you tell me? Perhaps it will help to get it off your chest,
’
as we always used to say. Besides, I do believe in the old saying that a trouble shared is a trouble halved.
”