Honorary Surgeon (23 page)

“
The jolly-looking dark girl you were talking to?
”
Mary nodded.

“
Yes, that
’
s Joan; she is sweet and very popular.
”

“
Well, that
’
s splendid news,
”
Lady Alymer agreed, then, dismissing the subject, continued,
“
Richard will be back soon, you know, and I haven
’
t got your answer.
”
Lady Alymer placed a blue-veined hand over Mary
’
s.
“
I want to get you to say
‘
yes.
’
Richard has been strange lately, not like himself at all. He
’
s the dearest boy, but he doesn
’
t confide in his old mother. I believe that trouble he caused here—something he did that made things difficult for you—has upset him more than you realize. He would be so much happier if he felt that, by your acceptance of his suggestion, he had in a measure put things right.
”

Mary remained silent. A smile played round her lips, but there was no merriment there. So Richard had been strange lately. Poor dear old lady; she thought it was over that silly little hospital affair. She could have no idea that Veronica was probably the cause of her son
’
s unrest. Mary shook her head.
“
I don
’
t see how I can
...”
Even as she spoke the vision rose before her of St. Jude
’
s, the long dreary months stretching ahead, the unfriendliness, the loneliness without Joan, the only one who had made the past months bearable. Mary choked back a sob, then spoke with an obvious effort.
“
I
’
ll come
...
and thank you ... I
’
ll do my best to please you, and I shall, always be grateful for your kindness in asking me.
”

CHAPTER
FOURTEEN

It was but a few weeks
to Christmas when Mary next found herself, suitcase in hand, on the platform of the station at Oxford. Following her decision to accept Lady Alymer
’
s offer, she had stayed on a further month at hospital, then, at Joan
’
s urgent request, had put up at an hotel in London in order to assist her friend to arrange her few possessions in the little house at St. John
’
s Wood, and make preparations for her wedding. Mary had stayed for the wedding, and now, her farewells made and her own things packed, had set out to start her new life at Frensham Manor. Time had not succeeded in easing her conscience regarding the acceptance of this new position; the more she thought of it the more certain she became that the position, if it existed at all, had been manufactured expressly for her. Still, she had argued, she hadn
’
t had much option, for staying on at St. Jude
’
s without Joan would have been unbearable. However, if her post proved to be a sinecure, she wouldn
’
t be able to remain there, and much as the prospect frightened her, she was determined to seek a position elsewhere and stand on her own feet.

Veronica, thrilled at the prospect of having Mary as a close neighbour, had insisted on fetching her herself from the station and driving her to her destination. During the three-mile drive she talked eagerly, hardly having the patience to wait for her friend
’
s replies.

“
Fancy your working for Lady Alymer! I can scarcely believe it. It
’
s marvellous that you
’
re going to be so near us.
”
She chatted on.
“
I still can
’
t see why, since you decided to leave hospital, you couldn
’
t have come to stay with us while we are in England.
”
There was a slight grievance in her tone.

Mary pulled her coat more closely round her to protect herself from the biting wind which swept over the open car.
“
I couldn
’
t do that.
”
She smiled.
“
You seem to forget that I have to earn my living nowadays. Aunt Bess can
’
t afford to keep me. It was sweet of her to have me before, but I can
’
t very well land myself on her for good. She isn
’
t even a relation of mine.
”

“
Of course, Guy pays her for having us, but she
’
d love to have you. Even if you stayed on after we go back East, she wouldn
’
t charge you much,
”
Veronica argued.

“
Don
’
t be silly,
”
Mary laughed.
“
Can
’
t you understand I couldn
’
t even pay her a little? I am absolutely dependent on my earnings.
”

“
I don
’
t know how you do it!
”
There was an air of wonder in Veronica
’
s tone.
“
You were so awfully rich before.
”

“
It
’
s easy enough when you have to,
”
Mary responded briefly, then changed the subject.
“
Veronica, you know I
’
m supposed to be a sort of nurse-companion to Lady Alymer; do you think she really needs one? Will there really be anything for me to do?
”
she questioned a trifle anxiously.

“
I should think there would; I believe she is very fragile these days, although we haven
’
t seen her much this leave. It
’
s a bit awkward, you see
...
having once been engaged to her son
...
and Guy, well, I don
’
t think he cares much about going there.
”

“
I see.
”
Mary lapsed into silence, then, after a pause, spoke again:
“
I met her once at hospital. She seemed awfully nice.
”

“
She is. We were such close neighbours years ago. I was always at Frensham Manor. Everyone loved her. I expect she
’
s lonely these days; Richard doesn
’
t seem to get down much.
”

Veronica drove the car in through the wrought-iron gates and along the gravelled drive to the stone steps flanking the entrance. Mary had not seen the house before, as on that previous occasion in the summer they had driven through the woods beyond the house, which had led them directly to the pool. The house, of grey stone, was large, and, apart from its surroundings, which in s
um
mer Mary imagined must be exquisite, was somewhat austere.

“
You
’
ll come in with me, won
’
t you?
”
There was a hint of appeal in Mary
’
s voice.
“
I feel awful going in alone. It is a big place, isn
’
t it?
”
She cast another nervous glance at the grey edifice rising before her.
“
It looks horribly cheerless and depressing, so different from Windyridge.
”

“
Of course it is!
”
Veronica laughed.
“
Aunt Bess
’
s place is a cottage compared with this.
”
She paused, then added:
“
You
’
re seeing this at the worst time of year; it
’
s gorgeous in summer, and, although it
’
s huge inside, Lady Alymer succeeds in making it very homely.
”

“
All the same, please come with me,
”
Mary begged.

“
No, I
’
d rather not. I
’
ve told you, although I
’
m sure Lady Alymer would probably welcome me with open arms, I feel a bit awkward about things. No, I don
’
t think I will.
”

“
I see.
”
Mary saw that persuasion would be useless, and, bidding her friend
au revoir,
steeled herself for the ordeal. She need not have been nervous, however, for the welcome she received far exceeded her expectations, and her first glimpse of the room in which her employer reclined filled her with joy. It was a long room with french windows opening on a terrace overlooking the garden. There was an uninterrupted view of the garden and, beyond that, a vast sweep of hills and valleys. An enormous log fire burned in the grate, filling the room not only with warmth, but with a faint aroma of pine-wood. The most important furnishings of the room were the deep chintz-covered armchairs which were invitingly arranged about the huge fireplace. A small table drawn up near Lady Alymer
’
s chair was already set with tea, the large old-fashioned silver teapot and jug reflecting the firelight. Mary seated herself in the chair the older woman had indicated and began nervously to draw off her gloves.

“
You must be very cold after your journey ... Come along, draw your chair up closer while I pour you out your tea,
”
Lady Alymer insisted as she picked up the teapot.
“
Sugar?
”
she asked, handing the cup across to Mary.

“
No, thanks.
”
Mary drank gratefully. She wasn
’
t cold now, but most ridiculously nervous. The warm drink revived her spirits, however, and she accepted her companion
’
s offer of another cup. It was stupid, she mused, to feel shy when Lady Alymer was being so kind and making every endeavour to put her at ease; yet it would have been impossible, unnatural, if she hadn
’
t felt some reaction at the strangeness of her, situation. Here she was, seated in Richard
’
s home, possibly even in Richard
’
s chair not just for a moment, not just for an afternoon
’
s visit, but to stay, to live perhaps indefinitely in his home.

“
When you feel rested, I
’
ll ring for Evans; she
’
s my own maid, and will take you to your room and see that you have everything you want.
”

“
Thank you.
”
With renewed confidence, Mary smiled appreciatively at the older woman.
“
You
’
re being very sweet. I
’
m ready to go to my room now, and when I
’
ve
washed away the dust of my journey may I come down and talk to you again?
”
Mary paused.
“
You see, I want you to tell me my duties; I want to do all I can for you.
”
Her face flushed.
“
Unless you really make me useful, you know, I won
’
t be able to stay here,
”
she added diffidently.

Lady Alymer
’
s eyes smiled into Mary
’
s.
“
Silly child! You
’
ll be kept busy enough, don
’
t worry. Looking after a cantankerous old lady isn
’
t all honey.
”
Her voice became serious.
“
I
’
ve rung for Evans; now you run along and have a rest and change. I shall be going to my room presently, but I
’
ll see you down here again just before dinner. I like to be down about seven.
”

“
Very well, I
’
ll be down at seven; but are you sure there is nothing I can do for you before then?
”

Lady Alymer rose and stood beside Mary.
“
Nothing at all. You shall start fussing over me tomorrow, but for today
...
nothing.
”
She tapped Mary
’
s cheek playfully with the tips of her fingers.
“
Now be a good girl, and do as you are told.
”

Without further demur Mary left the room and followed the waiting maid up
t
he wide staircase. Her bedroom, situated at the end of the gallery which overlooked the entrance-hall, filled her with delight. She stood for a moment on the threshold, her eyes taking in every detail. It had been a long time since she had occupied a room so much to her taste. This room, decorated in a faded shade of blue, reminded her almost painfully of her own room in the home now almost forgotten.

The maid, conscious of Mary
’
s pleasure, spoke.
“
It
’
s a pretty room, isn
’
t it, miss? I
’
m always telling her ladyship I think it
’
s far and away the prettiest one in the house.
”
As Mary remained silent, the girl chatted on.
“
She said to me this morning, her ladyship did,
‘
The blue room is the most suitable for a young lady; prepare that one, Evans.
’
”
Evans paused.
“
She
’
ll be glad you like it.
”
Mary turned a flushed face to her companion.
“
I do like it; I think it
’
s lovely!
”
she exclaimed enthusiastically.

“
If you
’
ll come inside, miss, I
’
ll shut this door and keep the room a-bit warm. A place gets cold in no time on a bitter day like this.
”

Mary, recalled by the maid
’
s words to the fact that she was still standing on the threshold moved towards the centre of the room. Evans followed her inside, closing the door behind her.