Honorary Surgeon (26 page)

“
Oh, but that
’
s different ... I see you here,
”
Mary replied quickly; too quickly, she realized, when Richard leaned towards her and asked tensely:

“
You would miss me a little, then, if you didn
’
t see me here? Would I be counted with Joan and Noel, among the people you would not mind seeing?
”

Mary felt the colour creep into her face. Why on earth did he ask her questions like that? Was it all part of that fascination which made it appear that he was vitally interested in every girl with whom he came in contact?; She felt almost indignant. What right had he to expect that she should miss him? Ought not his thoughts to be entirely centred around Veronica? And yet, could she blame him whole-heartedly? Veronica was so remote, beyond his reach, a dream from out of the past, only to be seen again on rare occasions, and then always within the family circle. Or did Richard and Veronica sometimes meet clandestinely in town? That, of course, was possible, but she could not picture Richard stooping to subterfuge, to underhand dealings. Whatever her idea of him had once been, she had never had reason to believe that he was anything but straightforward and honourable. Besides, Veronica would surely have confided in her. But, then, she hadn
’
t seen Veronica lately. She looked up suddenly, to meet Richard
’
s eyes staring into hers.

“
What a long time you
’
ve taken to consider my query!
”
he exclaimed, the
corner
s of his mouth twisting into a smile.
“
Is it really such a difficult poser? You
mu
s
t tell me the truth, too,
”
he added playfully.

Mary intertwined her fingers with a nervous gesture.
“
I certainly should have missed not seeing you
...
”
She glanced up at him provocatively.
“
But I shan
’
t tell you whether I should have minded not seeing you, or whether I should have been glad about it!
”

“
You
’
re certainly not flattering!
”
He sighed with mock seriousness.
“
Now how did this fruitless conversation arise?
”
He paused thoughtfully.
“
Yes, I remember, we were talking about Mayton and his bride ... Yes, they both seem to be thriving on matrimony and appear to be an ideally happy couple. I was invited to inspect the new home last week, and it made me positively envious to witness their connubial bliss.
”

“
Oh, I
’
m terribly pleased they
’
re so happy.
”
Mary
’
s face became wreathed in smiles.
“
You see, having had something to do with the marriage, it would be awful if it turned out a failure. I must admit that I did my utmost to throw them together, but now I do feel that the end justified the means.
”

“
You certainly need not feel worried on their behalf; I do think they
’
re splendidly suited. As a matter of fact, Joan is full of your praises as a matchmaker. But you don
’
t appear to be looking round on your own account, or is that too personal a remark to be permitted?
”

Mary lowered her eyes lest they betrayed her, told him all too clearly what he must never know, but her air of confusion caused Richard to continue quickly:
“
Forgive me, Mary. Perhaps I should not have said that; there may already be some lucky man who has claimed your affections.
”

“
Oh, no, really not, I assure you,
”
she denied hurriedly.
“
There isn
’
t anyone ... at least
...”
She broke off in dismay. How could she truthfully admit that there was no one who interested her in that particular way.

When Richard spoke again, his voice was low, almost as if he had forgotten Mary
’
s presence.
“
I should be awfully sorry if you had to leave here, and my mother would be, too. Dr. Granville
w
as quite right when he said that she had been a different being since your arrival. If I had searched the length and breadth of England, I don
’
t think I could have discovered anyone so well suited for the post. I mean that, you know,
”
he finished serious
ly.

“
It
’
s marvellous of you to say so, and I do hope it
’
s
true.
”

“
Every word of it,
”
he declared emphatically.
“
It may sound very selfish, but I can
’
t help feeling relieved that you have no immediate prospect of marriage. That
’
s the
only disadvantage of having someone young and attractive about; you never know when some suitor is likely to snap them up.
”
He smiled at her significantly.

“
Really, Richard, there isn
’
t the slightest likelihood of that in my case.
”

Richard raised his eyebrows interrogatively.
“
So sure of yourself, are you? I call that tempting Providence. Your Sir Galahad will probably come on you like a bolt from the blue, sweep you off your feet, and, incidentally, out of our lives.
”

“
You are a tease, Richard! I can
’
t believe that I was ever scared stiff of your approaching footsteps. I think the nurses were almost right: I
’
m afraid my indifference to you was merely a cloak to hide my nerves,
”
Mary admitted gaily.

“
Does that mean that you are no longer indifferent?
”
he countered swiftly.

“
There you go again! You twist everything I say, until I
’
m beginning to grow quite muddled myself as to what I do mean.
”
‘

“
Well, in this case
I
mean that I don
’
t want you to be totally indifferent to me; I
’
d like to think that you like me, as well as my mother
...
and that you fit me into the picture, too. You are always so elusive when I come down that I
’
m beginning to fear that you find my presence a nuisance.
”

“
Oh, Richard, you know that it isn
’
t so. I try to leave you alone with your mother because I imagine she enjoys having you to herself; the company of a third person isn
’
t always congenial.
”

“
Get that idea out of your head! Mother and I really have no secrets, so please don
’
t be so foolish in future.
”
He paused, then added:
“
By the way, don
’
t you ever see anything of Veronica?
”

Mary looked up quickly at the unexpected introduction of her friend
’
s name. Almost unconsciously she searched her companion
’
s face, but his expression told her nothing.
“
Veronica? No, I
’
ve scarcely seen her at all. Windyridge is beyond walking distance, you know,
”
she explained.

“
Yes, of course, I realize that.
”
Sir Richard spoke thoughtfully.
“
Still, even if you can
’
t get over to Windyridge perhaps Veronica could come
h
ere to you. Surely
you
’
d enjoy that? It struck me that you and she were such excellent friends.
”

“
So we are, but after all, I don
’
t feel I have altogether the right to invite my friends to this house. I know that it seems like home to me, but perhaps
”
—Mary hesitated—
“
perhaps your mother would not like it.
”

“
Have you suggested it?
”
he persisted.

“
No, not exactly, but your mother has often given me the impression that she neither likes nor approves of the Perivales.
”
Mary chose her words carefully, for she felt ill at ease. Why had Richard brought up the subject of Veronica? Was he trying to discover whether she suspected anything, or was he really sufficiently interested in her welfare to care whether she was lonely or not?

“
No, I
’
m afraid my mother can
’
t get over her dislike of Guy. She used to be so fond of Veronica, and she nurtures a grudge against Guy for having, in her opinion, ruined the girl
’
s life
...
It
’
s only natural she should feel that way; she has always been so fond of Veronica
—”
Richard
broke off abruptly, and Mary could not overcome a deep sense of disappointment ... for one moment she had hoped he was about to tell her himself of his broken engagement and shattered hopes.

“
Naturally I understand how your mother feels.
”
Mary
’
s tone was low, for she could scarcely trust herself to speak more loudly, when every fibre of her being was crying out for love of this man who was so cold-bloodedly discussing the marriage of the girl he himself cared for. Each word he uttered was a stab at her heart. Why must he go on and on? And if Veronica came to Frensham Manor, would she be able to bear seeing them together, knowing, as she did, the truth?

“
I don
’
t suppose mother would mind entertaining him once in a while. What about next week-end? Why don
’
t you suggest it to mother? I
’
m almost certain that I should be able to get down, and it would liven things up for you.
”

So he intended that the invitation to Veronica should appear to come
from her
...
she was to broach it to his mother? Mary felt that the throbbing of her heart must be audible in the quiet room, and, partly to hide her confusion, knelt down and poked the fire. Before she had realized what was happening, Richard was on his knees beside her and had taken the poker from her grasp.
“
Let me do that, please!
”
he protested.
“
Believe me, I enjoy the exchanged roles of being able to wait on you.
”
He spoke earnestly.

Without protest Mary resumed her seat. She could not bear to be so near him, at his side. She could scarcely refrain from throwing her arms round his neck and proclaiming her love. Yet, in spite of the turmoil of her emotions, he remained in ignorance, unaware of the tumult he was creating in the apparently self-contained girl so close to him.

He stirred the fire to a blaze, and, rising to his feet, reached down and took Mary
’
s hands in his and drew her up beside him.
“
Why, how cold your hands are!
”
he exclaimed.
“
I don
’
t seem to be looking after you a bit well, allowing you to remain in a room with the fire dying out.
”
He looked at his watch.
“
I hadn
’
t realized that it was so late.
”
With a sudden movement, he raised Mary
’
s hand to his lips and kissed it lightly.
“
Good night, my dear, and don
’
t forget about Veronica.
”

Mary felt the colour flood into her cheeks at the touch of his lips on her hand. Veronica, Veronica
...
why
did he keep harping on that name? Did he imagine for one moment that she was deceived by his suggestion? He certainly had tried to make it clear that his wish to have Veronica at Frensham Manor was entirely on her account, and that he was totally disinterested. If only that were the true state of affairs
...
Suddenly she became aware that Richard had not released her hand. Almost as though she had been stung, she snatched it away, and, without waiting to return his good night, hurried from his side and up the wide staircase to the sanctuary of her room.