Honorary Surgeon (9 page)

“
Hm!
”
Veronica bit her lip.
“
Afraid I shouldn
’
t call tact Guy
’
s strong point. To tell the truth, he imagines that because you
’
re a nurse you inevitably must be dull and plain
!”
She laughed a trifle shamefacedly.
“
He
’
ll get a jolly little surprise when he does see you, and regret he didn
’
t trouble to stay in. He has an accurate eye for a pretty face and a good figure,
”
she ended bitterly.

“
What man with his wits about him hasn
’
t?
”
Mary demanded with a little laugh which she hoped would conceal the embarrassment her friend
’
s remarks had caused her. But she didn
’
t like the notion that Guy Perivale had gone off merely because he suspected that the newcomer would be a drab. Well, she presumed that he would put in an appearance at lunch, and then she might be able to gauge what type of man he was.

“
In that case, Guy .has got his wits about him all right,
”
Veronica retorted.

“
Why, here we are. Look! That must be Mrs. Deans,
”
Mary burst out as they drove up to the house.
“
Hallo, Mrs. Deans,
”
she called out to the slender, white-haired figure who had appeared in the porch.

“
Mary, my dear, how are you after all these years? But please allow me to remain
‘
Aunt Bess,
’
even though I haven
’
t seen you since you were at college. And what a lot has happened to you since then, my poor child!
”
The face of t
h
e elderly woman clouded as she spoke.
“
Come along and give me a kiss; it
’
s a real pleasure to have you here again.
”

Mary got out of the car and greeted her hostess affectionately. She certainly was receiving a warm welcome, which provided a strong contrast to the frigid atmosphere she had left behind at hospital.
“
It was sweet of you to invite me here; this is just the kind of holiday that I longed for. The idea of a seaside boarding-house was unbearable, and funds won
’
t run to anything more luxurious these days!
”

“
I
’
ve already told you how glad I am that you could come; I
’
ve often thought of you and wondered how you were faring. Dear me, it
’
s difficult to believe that you are a nurse. I still think of you as a rather irresponsible young girl, and somewhat spoilt at that.
”
She laughed as she slipped her arm through Mary
’
s and led her towards the garden.
“
Veronica is apparently taking charge of your suitcase, and I expect she wants to see that Jeannie hasn
’
t crumpled up her clean frock before she brings her down, although I think she wants to wait until after lunch before you see her. You know what children are; she
’
ll probably be too excited to eat if she sees her new auntie now. She
’
s heard a lot about you, my dear,
”
Mrs. Deans added with a smile.

“
It seems curious to think Veronica with a child of her own; it doesn
’
t seem so long ago that we were school kids, and Veronica was always ridiculously young for her age. She certainly has grown up with a vengeance! I suppose
that
was only natural with the responsibilities of a husband and family. I
’
m just a wee bit
...”
She broke off, at a loss for words.

“ ‘
A wee bit
’
what?
”
Mrs. Deans questioned.

“
Oh, I don
’
t know ... disappointed perhaps
...
Veronica seems to have lost that sort of radiance she had. She always looked so fresh, and
...
virginal,
”
Mary faltered.

“
Well, you can
’
t expect a girl with a daughter of four to look exactly virginal,
”
Mrs. Deans remarked dryly.
“
All the same, I think I know what you mean. The poor thing definitely has lo
s
t her
joie de vivre,
or, if she has not actually lost it, it is certainly mislaid. I
’
m hoping that she
’
ll cheer up a bit with you here. It is rather lonely for her.
”

“
Lonely,
”
Mary echoed.
“
But there
’
s her husband; there
’
s Guy,
”
she ventured.

“
Yes, there
’
s Guy; but I must regretfully confess that I don
’
t find him especially companionable. Sorry, Mary, to inflict my grievances on you the moment you arrive, but I
’
m afraid that Guy and I don
’
t see eye to eye on everything. Veronica has no influence over him what
ever; he rides over her feelings roughshod. That in itself is enough to make me angry.
”
The gentle tones had grown harsher while Guy Perivale was under discussion.
“
And the way he spoils Jeanette
...
and in my opinion just to annoy Veronica, just to make things difficult for her. He either spoils the child or punishes her, and the one upsets Veronica as much as the other.
”

“
I
’
m terribly sorry. I rather felt that things weren
’
t quite as they ought to be.
”

“
For heaven
’
s sake don
’
t let Veronica think that I
’
ve breathed a word to you. She
’
s as proud as Lucifer, and if she thought I
’
d as much as hinted how the land lay, she
’
d be very cross with me. I don
’
t want her to look upon me as an interfering old woman. At present, she relies on me a good deal, and I cannot tell you how happy I was when they agreed to spend their leave at Windyridge.
”
Mrs. Deans broke off, then added abruptly:
“
Now let me show you your room.
”

They retraced their steps towards the house, and Mary followed her hostess up the wide staircase to her bedroom, where the maid was already unpacking her clothes
.
“
There, my dear. I hope you
’
ll be comfortable here.
I
think this window has the best view in the house, and I remembered it was always your favourite.
”
She smiled at Mary, then addressed the maid:
“
See that Miss Grant has everything she wants, Johnson. Perhaps you
’
d better leave the rest of the unpacking until later; I dare say Miss Grant would like her room to herself now.
”

The maid rose to her feet and shut the wardrobe door.
“
I
’
ll have everything quite ready soon after lunch,
”
she murmured politely, and slipped out of the room.

Mary laughed.
“
What a change from the hospital maids; your Johnson behaves like a ghost in comparison! Thank you for everything, Aunt Bess.
”
She leant forward and kissed the older woman on the cheek.
“
Tell me
...
will Guy be in to lunch?
”

“
Oh, yes,
I
expect so, unless he has
‘
fallen among thieves
’
at the local Royal George!
”
Mrs. Deans answered grimly.
“
Well, come down as soon as you
’
re ready,
”
she exhorted, and left Mary alone with her thoughts.

“
Shall we have coffee on the verandah?
”
Guy Perivale suggested after dinner that same evening.
“
It will be pleasantly cool there.
”

“
Yes, I think that
’
s a good idea,
”
Veronica agreed.
“
You
’
d like it, wouldn
’
t you, Mary? She addressed her friend.

“
I don
’
t think I
’
m hard to please; this all seems like heaven to me.
”
Mary stepped outside as she spoke and stood with her hands resting on the low balustrade. The night was silent and still, and a faint perfume from the roses below was wafted upwards. There was no moon, and the stars had not yet made their appearance. Mary stared out into the darkness as if entranced.

“
Are you not going to smoke, Miss Grant?
”
Mary started; she had not realized that her host was close to her elbow.

“
Well, I prefer, if you don
’
t mind
...”
She made as if to open her bag, but Guy Perivale frustrated her intention by laying his hand on her bare arm.
“
Not your own, please,
”
he remonstrated.
“
I can easily get you the brand you like; there were some on the dining-table.
”

“
Don
’
t bother; it really does not matter.
”
As Guy made no effort to remove his hand, she moved away and sat down.

“
I can assure you it
’
s no bother.
”
He turned and went indoors. During his absence the maid brought out the coffee and liqueurs and switched on the verandah lights.

“
Sorry to have kept you waiting,
”
Veronica called from the open door,
”
but I
’
ve been getting Aunt Bess settled with her tapestry embroidery. She says the light
’
s not good enough outside.
”
She joined her friend as she finished speaking.
“
Why, where
’
s Guy?
”
she asked in surprise.
“
I thought he was out here with you.
”

“
Oh, he
’
s
o
nly been gone a minute; he
’
s fetching my cigarettes,
”
Mary explained.

“
Fetching your cigarettes!
”
Veronica echoed.
“
He
is
being polite to you! You know, he fully expected you to be a fearful, drab; he couldn
’
t believe that any pretty girl would willingly take up nursing.
”
She laughed mirthlessly.
“
He was almost annoyed when I told him you were coming, but I assured him he
’
d quickly change his mind. Perhaps he finds you even nicer than I said you
’
d be!
”

“
He certainly, does!
”
Guy had entered the verandah through a different door and was standing in front of Mary offering her the cigarettes.
“
It would be worth while being ill to be nursed by you,
”
he added meaningly.
“
I imagine you must appear as a sort of
‘
Angel of Mons
’
to the patients ... at any rate, to the male ones.
”

“
I can assure you that nurses have no time to be anything but efficient automation,
”
Mary answered briefly. As she took a cigarette, Guy stooped to hold a light, and then handed her a cup of coffee.
“
What will you have with it, a brandy?
”

“
No, thanks,
”
she replied, taking her cup.

“
What would you like to do tomorrow?
”
Veronica broke in.
“
Shall we drive somewhere, or would you prefer a lazy day in the garden?
”

“
That sounds delightf
u
l; you don
’
t know what ecstasy it is for me just to do nothing.
”

“
You
’
d soon get bored with it, I
’
ve no doubt,
”
Guy interposed.
“
I shall be glad enough when my leave is up. England is all very well for a time, and it
’
s a relief to get away from the damned natives, but English life is altogether too starchy for my liking; too much
‘
boiled shirt
’
and that sort of thing.
”
He frowned impatiently.
“
Still, this is my first married leave; I suppose that makes a difference.
”

An awkward silence fell, only to be broken by the scraping sound of Veronica
’
s chair as she pushed it back and rose to switch on the wireless.
“
A good variety programme tonight; perhaps that will cheer you up, Guy.
”

Mary was thankful for the diversion. At least she wasn
’
t expected to make conversation now; an occasional remark here and there was all that was demanded of her. Guy Perivale, who had talked of his life out East in an enthralling fashion during lunch and throughout the afternoon, now seemed morose and ill-tempered. Possibly it was the effect of the large quantities of brandy he was consuming. He certainly wasn
’
t in the same entertaining mood of the daytime, or the earlier evening.

T
hey listened to the wireless for some time until at last Veronica yawned and then rose to her feet.
“
I
’
m desperately tired; I don
’
t know about you two, but I
’
m ready for bed.
”