Honorary Surgeon (14 page)

Veronica stopped fidgeting with her handkerchief, and rose to her feet.
“
It doesn
’
t do to dwell on these things. I can cap your own adage by replying: that the least said the soonest mended.
”
She took a step towards Mary and
p
laced her hands on her shoulders.
“
I
’
m afraid I shan
’
t
b
e able to leave the house today, but you can do me a favour if you will: go out with Guy as we had arranged. I know it
’
s rather a lot to expect of you, especially as he
’
s in a foul temper, but he
’
s bound to recover with you, and it would be, oh, such a relief to have him out of the way for the day.
”

Yes, it did seem rather much to ask, but of course Veronica would never have made the request if she had as much as suspected her husband
’
s attitude towards Mary. Still, she didn
’
t know, and it would be absolutely churlish to refuse in the circumstances; she would have to make the best of the situation. She met Veronica
’
s troubled eyes with an unflinching gaze.
“
Only too glad to take him off your hands, if that
’
s going to help. Now stop worrying, and mind you
’
re looking less mournful when Guy and I return.
”

“
You really are a pet!
”
Veronica replied.
“
You can
’
t imagine how grateful I am!
”
She gave Mary an impetuous hug.
“
I believe that Guy
’
s tinkering about with the car. Will you go out to him?
”

Mary nodded assent.
“
I
’
ll collect a hat first,
”
she murmured briefly, and with slow steps walked from the room. The prospect of a day alone with Guy positively appalled her, but what else could she have done?

A short time later she was standing beside her host in the garage.
“
Veronica suggests that you and I go out after all; naturally she doesn
’
t feel like leaving Jeanette, and, unselfishly, she says that she doesn
’
t want to spoil my pleasure. I did try to get Aunt Bess to come too, but you know how she detests motoring.
”
Mary hoped that her tone sounded as matter-of-fact as her words.

“
Damned nice of Veronica to suggest such a cosy little
tete-a-tete
.”
The timbre of Guy
’
s voice was icy, and struck a dismal chill into Mary
’
s heart. How could she put up with him if he was going to adopt that attitude? That was cowardly of her. Poor old Veronica had to put up with him always; she was merely doing this to allow her friend a brief respite.

“
I thought you would have been pleased
...
Isn
’
t it better than idling around the house? I thought it sweet of her to bother about my enjoyment when she
’
s filled with anxiety. Naturally, if you
’
d rather not go
...”
Mary paused interrogatively.

Guy looked up at her quickly, and his voice softened in the unexpected way that Mary was beginning to know.
“
You know I want to go, but do you? I don
’
t want you to come against your better judgment.
”

“
What rubbish!
”
Mary retorted, hoping that her words carried the conviction she was far from feeling.
“
Why on earth should I come if I didn
’
t want to?
”

“
That
’
s all right then! Scramble in! He held open the door of the car, and carefully wedged a cushion at her shoulders to ensure her greater comfort. Then he got into the driving-seat, and scanned the petrol gauge.
“
Good! Enough juice to take us up to Gretna Green! Would
you come, Mary darling?
”
With which ominous query he drove deftly through the gates of Windyridge.

They drove for some time without speaking; then Mary broke the silence.
“
We
’
d better not go too far. I don
’
t want to get back late.
”

“
All right,
”
Guy answered briefly, and speeded up the pace of the car, making conversation difficult because of the rush of wind. At last they began to climb to higher ground, up and up, and finally stopped outside a grey stone hotel, situated in solitary seclusion at the summit of a steep hill. Mary was compelled to admit that he had chosen a spot greatly to her liking, for the view as she descended from the car was of breath-taking loveliness. For miles and miles around, the countryside stretched beneath them, far into the misty distance; field upon field of variegated hue, like a multi-coloured map in an atlas.

“
This is gorgeous; how nice of you to have brought me here,
”
she exclaimed with deep sincerity.

“
Glad you approve, but let
’
s come inside. I know this place well, and there
’
s an equally beautiful vista from the lounge, and comfortable chairs as well. Besides, I
’
ve got a thirst.
”
He led the way indoors, and thereby proved the truth of his words. The panorama which met their gaze from the open window was like some fairyland, and the soft air, as it blew in on them, was refreshingly cool.

A waiter brought them cocktails and stood chatting with them for a few minutes, glad of the welcome diversion of chance customers, for the hotel was practically deserted. As he left them alone again, Guy leaned towards Mary and turned her face towards him until her grey eyes were fixed by his coal-black ones.
“
Mary, I want today to pass without a hitch. I don
’
t suppose I shall have the luck to bring you out alone on any other occasion. Besides, I realize that you didn
’
t want to come; that this outing was more or less forced on you; so I
’
m determined to prove to you that I am not the much-to-be-dreaded companion that you seem to think I am.
”

Mary felt the colour slowly mount into her cheeks. Somehow she hadn
’
t credited Guy with such powers of observation. She returned his steady gaze and addressed him in low tones.
“
You
’
re quite right, I didn
’
t particularly want to accompany you today, but can you blame me? Has your general behaviour been such that I should feel drawn toward a
tete-a-tete
?”

“
What
’
s wrong with my
‘
general behaviour,
’
as you call it?
”
he demanded a trifle sulkily.

“
Well, in the first place, look how brusque you are with Veronica. I should resent your attitude to her if she were a mere stranger, but you mustn
’
t forget that she
’
s my best friend.
”

“
I can
’
t help being brusque with her; somehow she seems to bring out the worst in me. That
’
s probably a question of damaged pride; a man doesn
’
t like to feel that his wife has fallen out of love with him.
”

“
But, Guy, whose fault is that? No normal wife would remain in love with a husband who spoke to her as you do, and it seemed to me, judging from your flirtatious manner the night I arrived, that your attitude towards other girls wasn
’
t all that it should be. After all, if you cannot even treat a guest properly
...”
Mary
’
s words trailed off; she felt that it was useless to argue; she
’
d never be able to make a man of Guy
’
s calibre see her point of view.

“
I
’
m sorry about that. I am truly. I was fed up, and captivated by your pretty face, but please forgive me,
”
he urged.

“
I don
’
t think you
’
ve any right to be captivated by a pretty face. You surely couldn
’
t wish for anyone sweeter to look at than Veronica. Why don
’
t you try to be nicer to her? She
’
d be so appreciative.
”
Mary made her plea as persuasive as she was able, but she felt that she was pleading with a stone wall; there was a hard, granite-like quality about Guy that was unyielding.

“
I
’
ve given up being nice to Veronica; she doesn
’
t either want or expect it from me any more.
”
He looked at Mary searchingly.
“
Would you want your husband to make love to you if you no longer cared for him?
”

“
But Veronica
...”
Mary bit her lip; it was no use pretending what she knew to be untrue.

“
No, Veronica doesn
’
t care for me any longer,
”
he continued.
“
From the moment Alymer came on the scene again I knew I hadn
’
t a dog
’
s chance.
”

Mary felt as though she had been drenched in an unexpected cold shower. It was like a physical hurt to hear her inmost thoughts put into words. So Guy knew, then; knew that Veronica and Sir Richard
...

“
If Veronica
’
s in love with someone else
...”
Mary hesitated, then plunged.
“
Why don
’
t you give her grounds for divorce?
”

Guy rose to his feet and thrust his hands deep into his jacket pockets.
“
Why the devil should I?
”
he jerked out angrily.
“
You seem to forget that I
’
m still fond of her.
”

“
Are you, Guy? I
’
m afraid I hadn
’
t quite understood that.
”
Mary
’
s voice was thoughtful.
“
Would you like to tell me how this wretched state of affairs has come about? I
’
m more than half in the dark.
”
She stretched out her hand and touched his sleeve in a gesture of appeal.

Guy looked down on her from his great height.
“
You
’
re a real pal, Mary; different from other girls. I
’
ve never known one I felt I could talk to, or trust. You
’
re so ... so sincere. I
’
ve almost forgotten that I ever wanted to flirt with you. I
’
d like you for a friend, someone to confide in, especially about Veronica. You
’
d be able to fathom her point of view. I suppose at times I hadn
’
t bothered about that, haven
’
t tried to put myself in her position. I dare say that
’
s why I
’
m often such a cad,
”
he ended contritely.

“
I don
’
t quite understand the state of things either—that is, not completely. You loved one another when you married, didn
’
t you?
”
Mary queried.
“
What
’
s come between you? Is it
...”
She hesitated.
“
Is it Alymer?
”

“
Yes, he
’
s at the root of the trouble. Of course, Veronica has always loved him, although I didn
’
t know that when we married. She was actually engaged to him for a brief period, before she
’
d ever met me; but surely you know that, and the whole miserable story?
”
He sighed despondently.