Honorary Surgeon (29 page)

“
It
’
s not so easy, you know.
”
Guy frowned.
“
It means more than giving up Veronica. Heaven knows I don
’
t want to hold her against her will. It
’
s Jeanette! By allowing Veronica to divorce me, I shall lose her.
”

“
But, Guy, you
’
ll be able to see her; she
’
ll always know you
’
re her father; later, when she
’
s older, she might come to you,
”
Mary suggested consolingly.

“
There is only one thing that will persuade me to do it.
”
Guy paused and, turning to Mary, gripped her two hands in his.
“
If you
’
ll help me.
”

“
I don
’
t understand, what do
you mean?
”
Mary asked while a troubled expression crossed her face.

“
Come away with me; that
’
s what I mean.
”

“
Guy, you
’
re crazy! If you are going to talk that kind of rubbish. I shall not stay to listen!
”

Mary rose to her feet, pulling her hands from his hold. Before she had realized his intention, he grasped her more tightly and drew her down on his lap, and held her in an embrace from which it was impossible to extricate herself.
“
Guy, let me go, let me go! It
’
s no use behaving like this. You
’
ll only make me furious!
”

Reluctantly Guy relaxed his grasp until Mary was able to slip on to the settee by his side again.
“
There, you see how easily you can manage me, Mary. I
’
m as wax in your hands. Why do you turn down my suggestion—so quickly—without even a thought?
”
His tone was low and dejected.

“
Because your suggestion was preposterous. I don
’
t love you—you don
’
t even love
me
,
”
Mary retorted.

“
I am fond of you, fonder than I could ever make you believe,
”
Guy protested hotly.
“
Oh, I know I
’
m not much good to any girl. I
’
ve treated Veronica badly, but I
’
d be different with you, honestly I would. I was good to Veronica until I knew she no longer cared, if she ever did care: but I
’
ve already told you our marriage was a wretched mistake, and I want a chance to start again. And you
...
you can
’
t spend the rest of your life dancing attendance on an old lady. It
’
s all very well for a time, but it can
’
t last indefinitely; you weren
’
t cut out for that sort of life. You
’
re too vital
...
and too lovely,
”
he finished fervently.

“
Guy, what you ask is impossible.
”

“
You want to help Veronica
...
you
’
ve pretended you were so anxious to see her free,
”
Guy broke in.

“
I am ... I am,
”
Mary insisted a trifle hysterically.
“
She
’
s unhappy and
...
and the man she loves must be unhappy too. That
’
s two people you can help. Guy, you must do it!
”

“
I will, if you
’
ll help me,
”
Guy insisted obstinately.
“
There is no other way
‘
Remember, Mary, you
’
ve only to say the word and we
’
ll elope tomorrow, send Veronica the hotel bill.
”
He spread his hands expressively.
“
See, it
’
s all so easy.
”

“
Guy, my dear, it
’
s no good talking
o
r even thinking on those lines. I
’
m afraid I don
’
t care for you in that way, and I couldn
’
t do it, although I
’
ll always be your friend, and if I can help in any other sort of way, I will. But
...
go away with you
...
no, Guy, that
’
s out of the
question.
”

“
But, Mary darling, Veronica will divorce me. We
’
ll marry in six months. Don
’
t you see, this isn
’
t just a passing affair; it
’
s the real thing. Isn
’
t there any hope?
”

“
None, I
’
m afraid, Guy.
”
Mary lowered her voice until it was scarcely above a whisper.

“
Mary sweetheart, listen to me! If ever you change your mind, decide to help Veronica, or find you like me more than you think, will you let me know, will you come to me? I shall never go back on my word. Wherever I am or whatever the circumstances, I promise to look after you. Say that perhaps, one day, you
’
ll do it. Please, darling, say that at least,
”
he pleaded earnestly.

Mary scrutinized his features as he spoke. She felt she had never liked Guy more than at that moment. He looked tired and older, and there were creases of anxiety around his eyes. There was no doubt that his offer and his feelings were genuine. She laid her hand on his sleeve and spoke softly:
“
Yes, Guy, I
’
ll remember what you say ... I will
...
really.
”

Without warning, Mary felt herself in his arms, and his burning kisses raining passionately on her face. She tried to struggle against him, but it was
a
useless effort; but, as suddenly as he had seized her, Guy let her go, and as she rose somewhat unsteadily to her feet and put her hand to tidy her disordered hair, she realized with a start of horrified surprise that the door had just opened, and Richard himself stood framed in its aperture.

CHAPTER
SEVENTEEN

Richard pulled deeply
at his pipe, then, throwing back his head, exhaled smoke-rings with precision into the air. Although his gaze appeared to be directed towards the
ceiling
, from beneath his lowered lids he carefully scrutinized his companion. Mary was uncomfortably aware of that scrutiny. She had an uneasy feeling that his eyes had scarcely left her the whole evening. During tea, grateful for the presence of Veronica and Guy, she had managed to put up some show of indifference; then, after their guests
’
departure, Lady Alymer, tired with the unaccustomed effort of entertaining, had retired upstairs, and had insisted on remaining in her room for dinner. To Mary, dinner had been a nightmare, for, despite Richard
’
s obvious efforts to relieve the tension by a flow of light conversation, she could not rid herself of the memory of the unfortunate episode of the afternoon. However natural her companion might appear, however much he tried to infer that nothing untoward had
happened, Mary was convinced that he must have seen every detail of that embrace.

“
You
’
re very quiet tonight, Mary; possibly you agree with mother that guests are somewhat exhausting?
”

Mary returned her companion
’
s gaze unflinchingly. Was
there a suggestion of sarcasm in that question, a hint of amused cynicism?

“
Not at all. I enjoyed the day immensely; such a dull evening is an anticlimax. I
’
m afraid I
’
m rather bored.
”
She spoke with a much indifference as she could muster.

“
Bored! I
’
m sorry.
”
Now Mary was sure of the note of suppressed laughter in Richard
’
s tone.
“
I suppose it must be dreary for you with no companionship other that my own. If mother hadn
’
t already retired, we might have got in Dr. Granville for some bridge.
”

“
It doesn
’
t matter at all; I can always go to bed.
”
Mary feigned a yawn.
“
I think that
’
s the best idea.
”

“
Don
’
t do that; it
’
s only eight o
’
clock. Think how awful it will be to lie awake for hours
...
much worse than staying down here by a nice fire.
”
Richard
’
s steely eyes twinkled.
“
Besides, lying awake always encourages one to think
...
usually of things one would sooner forget,
”
he added pointedly.

“
That only applies to people with a guilty conscience; at least, that
’
s what I
’
ve always been told,
”
Mary retorted.
“
I
’
m not frightened of my thoughts.
”

“
Lucky girl ... I am!
”
Richard laughed. Then, suddenly, his voice became more serious.
“
I do believe you
’
re spoiling for a quarrel! You
’
ve been distinctly peevish all the evening! But I don
’
t intend to encourage you, so how about running into Oxford and going to a cinema? I always find pictures have a most soothing effect; a real good drama, and one
’
s own troubles are forgotten in a flash.
”

“
Do you mean it? I
’
d love to,
”
Mary responded eagerly. A feeling of relief surged through her. The pictures! Blessed suggestion! No more need for desultory chatter. For some time at least she could hide her embarrassment, escape those disquieting blue eyes which searched hers so relentlessly; escape them in the enveloping darkness of the cinema.

“
Run and get a coat, a thick one; it
’
s freezing cold. I
’
ll go and see about the car.
”

“
All right, I won
’
t be a moment,
”
she exclaimed, as she hurried from the room to do his bidding.

Richard stopped to knock out his pipe. He was glad that he had made the suggestion; her pleasure had been so patent. Silly girl to worry because he had inadvertently tumbled on her secret, while resenting the fact that he had not confronted her with an accusation. Wasn
’
t it better to behave as if nothing had happened? Surely her moodiness was unjustified. Richard sighed. He would have given much to have remained ignorant, to have avoided that scene, which burned itself into his mind. Was Mary in love with Perivale? Richard had asked himself the question a hundred times. Guy was a notorious flirty and, according to Veronica, he understood that marriage
H
adn
’
t changed him. Had he been just philandering with Mary... annoying her ... perhaps kissing her against her will? Richard
’
s fists clenched menacingly at the thought ... If he believed that
...
With an impatient movement, Richard thrust his pipe in his pocket and turned toward
the
door.

Half an hour later the car drew to a standstill before the brilliantly lighted doorway of a picture palace. Mary alighted, and waited in the sheltered lounge while her escort parked the car.

“
I hope I haven
’
t been long. The car park is absolutely packed; apparently we aren
’
t the only people with the same idea.
”
Richard laughed and took out some silver to pay for the tickets.

“
You were very quick,
”
Mary replied.
“
I
’
ve been looking at the advertisements of the picture. Full of blood and thunder, I
’
m afraid. I hope you don
’
t mind.
”
She had entirely lost her despondency. Since her arrival at Frensham Manor, she hadn
’
t been to any place of amusement, it seemed quite an adventure to be seeing a film.

Richard slipped his arm beneath hers as he led her to the entrance at the further end of the lobby.
“
I don
’
t mind how grim, it is; I don
’
t think one ever ceases to be stirred by impossible acts of bravely performed by stalwart heroes in befurred trousers and wide-brimmed sombreros!
”

“
It
’
s not that sort of thing!
”
Mary teased, and lowered her voice as the attendant flashed her light down the gangway.
“
Have I raised your hopes too much? It
’
s not cowboys; only gangsters.
”