Ring for the Nurse (28 page)

“
It
’
s not as easy as all that.
”
Tony gave a short laugh which held only bitterness and pain.
“
You see, Alaine
knows too
—”
Aware of his sister
’
s startled exclamation
he went on, eagerly seeking her understanding.
“
I couldn
’
t help her knowing—it was just one of those things—I believe, it happened the very first moment we met, at the airport. Of course then neither of us had the slightest idea, we just went on unsuspecting, completely blind to the truth—then it happened, last night, suddenly—it was like a bolt from the blue, we were both taken completely unaware—we were meant for one another, Felicity, I believe it was ordained the very day we were born!
”

There was such an expression of utter despair in Tony
’
s voice and attitude that Felicity felt her eyes pricked with tears. What could she do? What could she say? She felt completely lost and incapable of uttering one word of consolation.

Perhaps with some hope of rousing his sister from the silent depression into which she had sunk, Tony went on in explanation.
“
It seems now as if Fate must have been laughing at us both, jeering at our crass stupidity. Once we returned to London I didn
’
t expect to see much of her,
I don
’
t think it even worried me. I knew we liked one another, but I realized she was engaged to Guy, we were just good friends, got on swimmingly together, that was all—I don
’
t suppose either of us would ever have tumbled to the truth if it hadn
’
t been for the Colonel; you know he is in town, staying with Guy, he kept asking Alaine to the flat, so naturally we kept on meeting, and more than that—
”
He paused to add effect to his words.
“
The old man meant well, he couldn
’
t have had the slightest notion of the avalanche he was letting loose, but he almost pushed us together, suggested she should take me to Fettle
’
s and show me over an English studio, then when she finished up there—which perhaps you know she did about a week ago—he got her to take me around. When I went down to Oxford for the day it was his suggestion that she should drive me in Guy
’
s car. It was all so crazy and yet we didn
’
t see any danger, and Alaine was at such a loose end when she stopped work, she was only too glad of any diversion. Well, you know the outcome, I needn
’
t say any more,
”
he ended despairingly.

“
What do you and Alaine intend doing?
”
Felicity
’
s tone
was flat and expressionless, she seemed dead to all emotion, only a mist of tears veiled her eyes blotting out the still expanse of water and dimming the green of the surrounding grass and trees.

“
What can we do?
”
The question was a cry for help, an unspoken longing for her support and understanding.

Mechanica
ll
y Felicity returned the pressure of Tony
’
s hand on hers but as yet she could not trust herself to speak. Almost frenziedly she searched her heart for some way out, it seemed a problem beyond solution; while every nerve in her body cried out to him to renounce this love, to leave Alaine, her conscience told her this was wrong. How could she wish Alaine to marry with a lie in her heart and on her lips? When she managed to speak her voice was little above a whisper.
“
What had you planned to do? You and Alaine must have some idea.
”

“
I must go away, of course, at once, I must never see her again. I
’
ve been walking about half the night and all this morning—I must have tramped miles trying to get things straightened out. At first I wanted to go direct to Guy, I felt I couldn
’
t bear another moment of deception, but Alaine begged me to wait—anyway, until
I
’
d seen you. We were even mad enough to discuss the possibility of a runaway marriage, then facing Guy with the accomplished fact, but we both realized we couldn
’
t do that, we feel despicable enough as it is. There is no solution but for me to go.
”

“
I suppose that is the only thing to do?
”
Although Felicity put the question there was no conviction in her words, only a note of deep dejection.

“
We have no other choice. I
’
d give all I possess to be able to undo what
’
s happened. It can
’
t
be undone, that
’
s the devil of it, this is no mere infatuation, we love one another. I
’
ve had a few affairs like most men, but this is something different
,
something wonderful beyond realization.
”

“
I see.
”
Just two words but they were a cry of despair, and rallying all the strength she could command, Felicity went on speaking.
“
I believe that in deciding to separate, y
ou
—and Alaine too—are acting with the best of motives, but is it right? Is it fair? Wouldn
’
t it be better to remain and face up to things
?
What happiness can the future hold for Alaine if she married Guy with the secret of her love for you locked in her heart? It would always be an unseen barrier between them and far more cruel to Guy than to speak the truth now before it is too late. The date for their marriage is so near
...
”
Her voice trembled ominously as she struggled on.
“
She can
’
t go through with this thing, she mustn
’
t.
”

Felicity
’
s vehemence seemed temporarily to shatter her brother
’
s assurance, for a moment he was silent, then denying her words with a forlorn shake of the head, he went on to explain.
“
We felt like that at first, but later, when we
’
d had a chance to think things over properly we realized it was hopeless. Guy has been my friend, it would be like a stab in the back. I have no option but to go quickly out of their lives, and Alaine agrees that there is no other way out.
”

For a fleeting second Felicity found her heart warming to Alaine
’
s action, it showed that she lacked neither gratitude nor sympathy and showed a courage which Felicity admired.
“
But how could such a marriage last? How could it bring anything but dire unhappiness?
”
She was not directly addressing her brother, it was as if she spoke her thoughts aloud.

“
I don
’
t know—I can only pray it will be all right—for both of them.
”
His voice was utterly weary and downcast, then with an effort he rose to his feet and held out his hand to Felicity.
“
We
’
d better be going. I
’
ve left my suit-case at Alaine
’
s flat, I told her I
’
d collect it there after I
’
d seen you—I have to say good-bye to her
...”
His words trailed away as he walked slowly by Felicity
’
s side towards the park g
a
tes.

The sun had now dipped behind the surrounding buildings and an involuntary shiver ran through Felicity
’
s body, but it was nothing to the icy chill which seemed to enclose her whole being.
“
You know that I am expected at Guy
’
s flat for dinner tonight?
”

“
Yes, we were all expected—you and Alaine must go, of course, the old man is looking forward to meeting you again, but apart from that Alaine will need your support. She is so fond of you, you seem to be the only real friend she has—never let her down, Felicity—for my sake.
”

Felicity pressed her brother
’
s hand in silent acceptance of his demand, then paused beside him at the curb as he hailed a passing taxi an
d
gave the address of Alaine
’
s flat. It was not until they were driving down Baker Street that he spoke again.

“
Guy won
’
t expect me,
I’
ve left a note saying that Mother wanted to see me, you
’
d better back up the story. I
’
ll write you later and give you our exact date of sailing. I suppose you could arrange to meet me at Southampton, or will you be joining me in Somerset when you leave Hospital next week?
”

It was a relief to speak of prosaic matters.
“
Yes, I
’
ve nothing to do in town, we can both spend our last few days together at home.
”
The respite was brief, it seemed impossible to avoid the issue.
“
By going straight down to Somerset I
’
ll be able to miss the wedding. You see, I finish at Hospital the end of this week, so I
’
ll be joining you at home very shortly.
”

As she stood by her brother
’
s side outside the block of flats where Alaine lived, she found herself watching him covertly as he settled with the taxi, driver. In spite of her deep concern for Guy she could not find it in her heart to blame her brother—or for that matter Alaine. Alaine had many faults, but a closer knowledge of the girl had opened Felicity
’
s eyes to her many virtues: warm-hearted to a degree, of which her present attitude was a sure proof. Whether her insistence on standing by her engagement to Guy was misguided or not, did not detract from the underlying good of her intention. Felicity had not doubted for one second Tony
’
s avowal of his complete ignorance of the outcome of their apparently harmless friendship. She had never known him so distraught and she felt sure that he too, by running away, was acting, as he believed in the only honourable way. If only she could feel that they were right. That was the problem that tugged at her heart; honourable, correct, ethical ... it might be all those things but—and that was her anxiety—was it conceivably fair that Guy should be left in the dark?

It was Alaine herself who opened the door which led directly into the sitting-room of her two-roomed flat, an Alaine whom Felicity scarcely recognized. Her face showed the recent ravages of tears, but a new, almost ethereal beauty showed in the face she lifted to Tony as, ignoring—perhaps almost unaware of—Felicity
’
s presence, she flung herself into his arms. Her fingers gripped convulsively at the lapels of his coat, she hid her face against his shoulder, her slender body shaking with silent sobs. Even at that moment Felicity knew that this was no act, despite its sense of the dramatic it was perhaps the most natural gesture Felicity had ever seen her make.

“
Tony—Tony—oh darling—you were so long I was getting afraid—afraid that perhaps you weren
’
t coming back at all.
”
Her words were a cry from the heart and now she had lifted her head and Felicity had intercepted the glance which passed between Alaine and her brother, she was left without a vestige of doubt of the deep love and understanding which had grown between them. Never had she seen two faces so transformed by their emotion. She knew that they had forgotten her presence and although she still stood at her brother
’
s elbow it was as if she did not exist.

A compelling urge to leave those two alone drew her farther into the room and it was only then that she became aware of Guy Brenton
’
s presence. Smothering the exclamation which rose to her lips she stared unbelievingly at him as he stood by the mantelpiece, looking unnaturally tall in the confined space of the small room. It couldn
’
t be true, it couldn
’
t be possible! Almost unconsciously she half turned towards her brother and Alaine who still stood framed in the doorway. The tension was unendurable, and unable to bear it any longer Felicity turned to Guy, her expression one of speechless appeal which betrayed her longing for some word, some explanation. As she stared at him it seemed that his still form might have been carved of granite, not a muscle moved and his features, tense and strai
n
ed, remained immobile, his expression completely inscrutable.

It was Alaine herself who shattered that moment of devast
at
ing silence. She had released her hold on Tony, but still clinging to his arm had drawn farther into the room.
“
I
’
ve told Guy—he knows everything!
”
Her words came in a jerky gasp, but as she continued she gained control.
“
I was waiting here for you to come,
”
she explained, turning again to Tony.
“
I realized that it would b
e
the very last time I
’
d ever see you
...
something happened to me then,
I knew I couldn
’
t go through with it. I rang Guy and asked him to come here—then I told him—everything,
”
she concluded and with an almost challenging air she looked from one to the other of her listeners, defying any criticism.