Honorary Surgeon (31 page)

CHAPTER
EIGHTEEN

“
Not likely to be down
for Christmas?
”
Lady Alymer stared at her son across the breakfast-table.
“
But, Richard, it
’
s ridiculous!
”

“
Sorry, mother, but I
’
ve explained. I think a complete change will do me good.
”
He picked up the folded paper from beside his plate.
“
I hope to get away for a fortnight, and the prospect of winter sports is irresistible.
”
He smiled at his mother.
“
I hate disappointing you, darling, but you do understand, don
’
t you?
”
He shook the paper out of its folds and glanced at the headlines.

“
Put down the paper, Richard, and listen to me,
”
Lady Alymer admonished.
“
No, I don
’
t understand! You
’
ve scarcely been here at all this year, and now you threaten to desert me at Christmas!
...
But there, what
’
s the use
?
I mustn
’
t interfere; you need a holiday if anyone does, and I expect the mountain air and the ski-ing will do you a lot
more good than overeating yourself here.
”
Her kindly features were illuminated by an indulgent smile.

“
Darling, I knew you
’
d understand!
”
Richard rose, and, crossing to his mother, dropped a gentle
k
iss on her cheek.
“
Now may I read my paper in peace?
”
he enquired jokingly.

“
Go along and do as you like; you always get your way in the end, so I don
’
t know why I bother with you at all!
”
She pushed back her chair and, rising, stood beside her son.
“
What time do you want the car?
”

“
In half an hour. I want to be in my rooms early; I
’
ve a pretty busy day ahead of me.
”
He strolled towards the door.
“
I
’
ll go and read in the library, and don
’
t come and talk to me before I
’
ve finished!
”
He shook a playful finger at her.

“
Talk to you, indeed! You
’
ll be buried in your wretched
Times
and I shouldn
’
t be able to get a word out of you, anyway.
”
Lady Alymer laughed.
“
Well, read your paper while you can; I
’
ll see about the car. Indeed, I
’
ll be glad to see the back of you!
”

As Richard left the room, Mary rose from her seat at the table and advanced to Lady Alymer.
“
I
’
ll see the chauffeur for you. In half an hour, Richard said, didn
’
t he?
”

“
Yes, ring the bell; don
’
t bother to go round to the garage.
”
Lady Alymer turned to Mary, and there was a worried expression on her face as she spoke.
“
I hated trying to stop Richard from going abroad, but I can
’
t understand him.
”
She paused for a moment in thought, before continuing:
“
He
’
s never missed a Christmas here before; he was abroad all the summer, too. It
’
s most unusual.
”
Her brows wrinkled in perplexity.

“
It
’
s really easy enough to understand.
”
Mary sought for words of consolation.
“
Going abroad is much more of a change, and, as Richard says, there is nothing quite so fascinating as winter sports.
”
She sincerely hoped her explanation sounded convincing. She didn
’
t think she would have far to seek for an explanation for Richard
’
s sudden distaste for Frensham Manor. No doubt Veronica
’
s proximity and the danger it afforded would be reason enough for his decision. Perhaps they had decided on the policy of keeping away from each other for the present. Mary could hardly choke back the hysterical laugh which
rose in her throat ... to keep apart until she and Guy openly declared their own love.

“
Of course, I know it
’
s very selfish of me.
”
Lady Alymer sighed.
“
But there, being alone doesn
’
t hold the terrors it used to; I
’
ve got you now.
”
She patted Mary
’
s cheek af
f
ectionately.
“
And what a treasure you are!
”

“
Possibly that
’
s the reason Richard goes away more now; he realizes you aren
’
t really alone,
”
Mary blurted out, thankful to have some likely reason to offer.

“
I shouldn
’
t be at all surprised!
”
There was obvious relief in Lady Alymer
’
s voice .
“
That probably accounts for his brief visits lately; he knows I have you. Well, I
’
m glad; I don
’
t mind so long as I know it isn
’
t that he
’
s taken a dislike to the place. Frensham Manor belonged to his father and his grandfather before him. Richard has always loved it so; I want him to keep it always; to bring his wife here so that his children may live in the home that belongs to them.
”

“
Of course.
”
Mary turned with relief to give her orders to the maid who had appeared in answer to the bell. When she faced Lady Alymer again, she had regained her composure.
“
I
’
ll go and see cook for you. No visit
o
rs expected today, are there?
”

“
No, no one, but go and ask Richard whether he is likely to be down any evening this week. I do like to know ahead if possible.
”

“
I
’
ll ask him before he leaves; I
’
d better let him read his paper for the moment.
”
Mary smiled.
“
You know he always insists on a ten minutes
’
respite after breakfast.
”
“
All right, run along. I believe you spoil that boy more
than
I do myself. I wonder if he realizes how lucky he is.
”
There was a wealth of meaning in Lady Alymer
’
s intonation.

Mary hurried away before her companion could see the tell-tale blush which rose to her cheek. Realize it indeed! Mary doubted whether he cared at all about her attitude towards him; he was probably far more concerned over the progress of her affair with Guy. She made her way down the long flight of stairs to the basement, and for the next ten minutes discussed domestic details with the cook.
“
Mary!
”
Richard
’
s voice reached her.

“
Coming!
”
she called, and, with a few final instructions to the cook, hurried up the stairs.

“
Did you call me?
”
Mary stood at the library door in
questioning attitude.
“
I was in the kitchen.
”

“
Sorry. Did I disturb you
?
”
Richard broke in.
“
I wanted a word with you before I left.
”
He took his pipe from his pocket and proceeded to fill it with meticulous care.
“
Come in, and shut the door.
”

Mary closed the door and advanced a few paces into the room.
“
What do you want me for? The car will be here in a few minutes; I ordered it for ten o
’
clock, as you asked,
”
she informed him.

“
I know, but there
’
s plenty of time. Draw up a chair and sit down,
”
Richard said, without lifting his eyes from his pipe, to which he was applying a lighted match. For a second or two he drew at it until it was burning to his satisfaction, then, flicking the dead match into the fire, he turned again to his companion.
“
It
’
s rather a shame to keep you here when you have probably heaps of things you want to do.
”
Richard
’
s eyes twinkled.
“
Women always seem to get most deeply involved with household matters immediately after breakfast.
”

“
I
’
m glad you know that! I
have
got heaps of things I ought to be doing, so get along quickly with what you have to say.
”
Mary forced a hint of levity into her voice, although she was feeling far from happy. What could Richard want with her? Surely they had said all there was to be said the previous evening?

“
What on earth
’
s the matter? You look as if you
’
d seen a ghost.
”
Richard
’
s matter-of-fact tone cut in on Mary
’
s consciousness. She pulled herself together and, smiling wanly, lifted her eyes to those confronting her.
“
Do I? I didn
’
t realize that I looked strange. I was just thinking, that
’
s all,
”
she ended a trifle lamely.

“
Must have been very deep thoughts.
”
There was a teasing quality in Richard
’
s voice which, with an abrupt change, became serious again:
“
I wanted to see you alone. You see, I may not get down again before I go away.
”

“
Not at all?
”
Mary could not hide her agitation.
“
But it
’
s nearly a month to Christmas!
”
she ejaculated.

“
I know, but, all the same,. I think it
’
ll be better if I stay away. It
’
s useless for me to come here now. Surely you understand?
...”

He walked over to Mary
’
s chair and looked down on her.
“
Mary, say you sympathize a little bit.
”

Mary looked up quickly.
‘
Of course I sympathize, Richard; but your absence will upset your mother.
”

“
I think I
’
ve made mother understand. She
’
s so marvellously unselfish that she wouldn
’
t wish me to remain if she thought a holiday abroad was going to benefit me. But it
’
s you, Mary, that I
’
m worried about. I don
’
t want to stay away without telling you the truth ... the real cause of my proposed absence.
”

“
Why should you?
”
Mary asked rhetorically. Yes, why should he? There was really nothing he could say which she did not know already.

“
I can
’
t help worrying, my dear. You see, Mary, it was through me that you came to stay here
...
and somehow I feel that that has precipitated matters. I feel responsible, but when you first arrived I thought ... I had hoped
...”
He broke off abruptly, and with restless fingers applied a match to his pipe which he had allowed to go out.

“
What had you hoped, Richard? Haven
’
t things worked out according to plan?
”
There was a gentle inflection in Mary
’
s tone. Poor Richard! Was he beginning to feel guilty that he had brought her into too close a proximity with Guy, that it was partly owing to him that matters had reached a crisis?

“
Oh, Mary, there is so much that I had hoped; but I
’
m afraid it
’
s too late to tell you now.
”

Too late to tell her! What did he really mean by that? Perhaps he had wanted to confide in her about Veronica? Perhaps he had imagined that she might be able to help them? Well, unconsciously she had given them all the help they could possibly want. Surely, once he believed that she and Guy cared for each other, there was no further obstacle in his own path?