Promise the Doctor (4 page)

‘No, thank you,’ Joy assured him, but she was smiling to herself as she entered the supermarket and picked up her little wire basket at the door. He was rather a pet, she thought as she went quickly to the counter where the cooked meats were kept. If fulfilling whatever trust Miss Barnes had placed with her entailed the use of a solicitor, then she knew it would have to be Mr. Belding and nobody else! There was something so reassuring and confident about him ... he gave a strange reality to the fantasy in which she seemed to have been living ever since she had heard of Miss Barnes and her will and her letter.

Her purchases made, she came out of the supermarket to find Mr. Belding engrossed in the day’s copy of the
Financial Times.
He folded his paper as she settled herself beside him, squinting appreciatively at the transparent bag of fresh mushrooms.

‘I hope you like them,’ Joy ventured. ‘Cousin Emma will never touch them. She’s always afraid of being poisoned, and whenever we eat them she’s always waiting anxiously for the first twenty-four hours to pass without incident, then she’s certain we’re all right.’

Mr. Belding chuckled appreciatively, smiling with the understanding smile she had already come to associate with him.

‘It’s quite understandable,’ he said tolerantly. ‘Accidents
do
happen, I suppose. But they are very rare these days, and I should say the possibility is ruled out completely when one buys these cultivated mushrooms. It was quite a likely happening, however, in the days when one depended entirely upon those growing wild in the fields and picked and packed by people who did not always know a mushroom from a toadstool. Yes,’ he finally got round to answering her question—‘I like them very much. I look upon them as one of my favourite foods, but I’m sorry to say Mrs. Belding doesn’t always agree with me.’

Chatting of this and that, of food and their likes and dislikes, they finally arrived at Cranberry Terrace. Feeling suddenly shy of announcing that she was some sort of heiress, no matter of how small an inheritance, Joy ushered her visitor into the house.

Lana had recovered from her rather soured humour of the morning, and, as always, when anyone strange arrived, set herself out to be as pleasant and attractive as only Lana knew how to be. As Joy and Emma hurried about preparing the meal, Lana talked to the solicitor, and by the time a key in the front door announced the return of Aileen, the twins at her heels, Mr. Belding was feeling almost like one of the family.

Everything was ready, the tea waiting in the teapot, when Pete, last always to return from his work of the day, came in, a look of surprise still on his good-natured young face as he pondered the large and impressive car outside their door. Introductions were quickly made, and Joy was grateful for the careful grounding in good manners which Aileen had given to each of her children. Everyone was obviously wondering why Joy had invited an unknown solicitor to share a meal with them, but everyone was too polite to ask questions. They were all waiting concealing their impatience as best they could, until she made her announcement.

No sooner had the creamed mushrooms and the cold chicken and fresh salad been served than Joy decided it was time to give them all a little idea of what had been happening.

‘Mr. Belding,’ she announced gravely, ‘has come to tell me that I’ve been left a house and garden, enough money to pay for its upkeep and some unknown special responsibilities ... at Vanmouth. And this afternoon I gave in my notice at the Wilborough General. I only hope there’ll be a place for me in one of the hospitals in or just outside Vanmouth!’

CHAPTER IV

There was a moment of complete silence as the family absorbed the unexpected and exciting news. Then it seemed that everyone’s tongue began to wag at once, but as was their long-standing custom, as soon as Aileen began to speak the others lapsed into silence, leaving it for her to ask the questions trembling on their lips.

‘Why?’ Aileen asked first. ‘And whom, Joy? One of your ex-patients, I take it?’

‘That’s right. You remember I told you about Miss Barnes who was with us some months ago? She’s left me her house in Vanmouth—Fernbank is its name—with a garden and an annuity of five hundred pounds, which will more than keep the place in repair, pay the rates and so on, and a few responsibilities which I’m not certain about at the moment but which will no doubt be explained in this letter’—she took it from her bag on the floor at her feet—‘which Mr. Belding brought to me at the hospital this afternoon.’

‘Then perhaps Mr. Belding will be kind enough to tell us a little about both the house, Vanmouth and Miss Barnes while you read your letter and learn your new responsibilities,’ Aileen suggested, ‘then we can begin to make plans.’

‘It is by no means a new house,’ Mr. Belding began, ‘but a very solidly built Victorian house with a conservatory and a garden which has always been well tended and cared for. The house has been modernized as much as old Mr. Barnes thought it should be. That is, the electricity, plumbing and gas mains are sound enough and fairly new. There are three bathrooms. I think there are six bedrooms and four large airy rooms downstairs with a sizable kitchen as well. The interior decorations are not so modern as your own.’ He glanced round appreciatively at the light paint and paper with which Aileen and Pete, with the help of the twins, had used throughout the house. ‘But there is nothing else wrong with the place in any way at all. From the garden there is a good view down to the sea, but Mr. Barnes had a high hedge built some years ago, and it is necessary to stand at the little gate in the hedge to get the view, unless,’ he smiled, ‘one is content to look through an upstairs window.’ He cleared his throat gently and smiled at the silent, beautiful Lana. ‘If I may say so, my dear,’ he offered, ‘the change of air, the new surroundings, might well work wonders where you are concerned. Vanmouth is a noted health resort, and with good reason.’

‘What about schools?’ That was Aileen, casting an anxious if loving glance at the twins. ‘They should be sitting their G.C.E. examinations early in June.’

‘There are some excellent schools in Vanmouth,’ Mr. Belding assured her gravely. ‘As to the examination, that, I suppose, depends on whether they have been working on the same syllabus as the school to which they will, we presume, be changing. If I might make a suggestion, I should have a word with their present headmaster and ask him to get in touch with the examining board in question. I know the Vanmouth Technical College caters for about eight boards altogether, so maybe they would be sent there for the actual examinations when the time comes.’ He turned to the twins, listening to his every word. ‘Have you, either of you, any thoughts in mind as to the kinds of careers you wish to follow?’

‘Well’—as usual, Sylvia left it to her brother to answer the question for them both—‘I think I’m being a little too ambitious ... for Mother’s sake, I mean. What I want is ... your line, Mr. Belding, but it means a long time before I’m anything like independent!’

‘It can be managed,’ Mr. Belding assured him gravely, ‘if you are willing to work and remain interested in Law. We must have a chat together some time in the near future, and see what can be done. In the meantime,’ his eyes twinkled, ‘work on those G.C.E. examinations! They are of first importance, you know. And what about you, young lady?’

‘She wants to teach,’ Rex told him, giving a glance of brotherly amusement at his sister’s small, intent face. ‘She wants to teach infants and juniors ... older ones might run her around too much!’

‘I should imagine the boot might well be on the other foot,’ Mr. Belding observed. ‘There is a great deal of patience required in the teaching of tiny children, I am sure, but both of you have worthwhile ambitions, and I’m certain, if you will do your share by working hard enough to pass the necessary examinations as they come along, we can quite look forward to each of you achieving your professional desires in the course of time.’ Unexpectedly he turned to Pete, not quite sure whether he was a relative or a friend. Whoever he was, Mr. Belding had already decided, he was well enough known to the little family as to be looked upon as one of its members.

‘And what about you, young man?’ he invited Pete’s confidence. ‘Where do you fit into all this change?’

‘I’m a ... a friend,’ Pete said slowly, as memories of just how good the friendship of the Benyon family had proved to be in his life. ‘I ... I’ve lived here for years. I expect I’ll have to look round now for somewhere else to live ... somewhere I can
afford
to live, until I get a little further up the ladder.’

‘And your job?’ Mr. Belding asked, sounding, Pete decided, so really interested and friendly that he had none of his usual hesitation in confiding in this stranger.

‘I’ve recently qualified as an accountant,’ he explained, ‘but although the firm I’m with have given me a position with them, I can’t look forward to much advancement for a year at least.’

‘I see.’ Mr. Belding eyed him for a moment, and sensed the bond which bound this young man to the family with whom he had lived for so much of his life. ‘Would you be willing to enter industry?’ he queried, ‘in your own line, of course?’

‘Yes,’ Pete said promptly. ‘I rather think I would like that.’

‘Well, I can’t, of course, promise anything, but I think I may be able to help before the summer is through. Try and get yourself fixed up for the present time, and then we’ll see what can be done.’

‘Thank you, Mr. Belding. Thank you very much.’ Pete smiled, looking round at the others. ‘I should hate to lose touch with the Benyons. They’ve been so very good to me.’

‘There’s no need to worry or to think we shan’t always have a place for you, Pete,’ Aileen said quickly. ‘Mrs. Parrott, just across the road, will be glad to look after you and she won’t charge very much. What is worrying me’—her grey-blue eyes glanced round from face to face—‘is how I’m going to help! If the house is so big, Cousin Emma won’t be able to manage alone, and if I don’t take some sort of job, even with the rent and the rates and so forth accounted for, it’s going to be difficult for the youngsters to do what they want to do in the way of their careers ... and I’d hate to disappoint them.’

‘There’s no need for anyone to be disappointed, Mother.’ Joy looked up from the letter she had just finished reading, her eyes shining. ‘Things couldn’t be better for any of us,’ she declared. ‘Miss Barnes writes here about Mr. and Mrs. Wrenshaw, the couple who live in at Fernbank. Mr. Wrenshaw looks after the garden and the outplaces, tends to the central heating and the open log fires Miss Barnes writes we’ll find necessary in the winter months. He helps his wife with some of the household duties, is a general handyman and so forth, and Mrs. Wrenshaw is, I quote from the letter, “a good cook and a capable housekeeper whose friend, a Miss Angel, always comes to help at spring-cleaning time and when there is anything extra to be done. If you can manage a little dusting or suchlike as an extra hand around the house Joy read on, still quoting from the letter, ‘ “you will be able to continue with your nursing, the career for which you have such a wonderful gift...” So,’ Joy concluded, looking round as she folded up her letter, ‘if Cousin Emma goes on as she is doing, and this Miss Angel comes when we need her, there’ll be nothing to stop you opening your own typing and what-not business as you’ve always wanted! You know you don’t really like domestic chores, and this seems the ideal solution!’

‘For everyone but
me
!’ Lana said suddenly and sadly. ‘This is going to be marvellous for everyone, but all it will mean to me will be to have this couch in another room, in another town, away from everything and everyone I know.’

‘And a lovely garden in which to spend the coming summer,’ Mr. Belding said before anyone else could speak. ‘The best of attention, as you are getting all the time, will still be there, but you’ll have the added benefit of the sea air, the change of surroundings, and a new doctor who may have some suggestions to offer. At least,’ he decided, ‘you will not be any worse off for your move!’

There was no denying the wisdom of his words, and Lana lapsed into silence, knowing she was secretly as thrilled as the rest of them but that she felt so alone, so left out of things. Maybe Mr. Belding was right, and as time passed she too might find some benefit from this unexpected change, but she would not allow herself to become enthusiastic. Ever since Tony had walked out of her life she had ceased to be enthusiastic about anything. She still followed his career through the newspapers, the career she had hoped to share. He had gone to London, and was already making a name for himself in the world of photography, but now he had other models, other girls in whom he was undoubtedly interested, and she suspected he had forgotten her very existence months ago.

‘Well’—Mr. Belding consulted his watch and rose, pushing back his chair—‘I am afraid I really must be on my way. Thank you very much for your hospitality. I will leave the set of keys which belonged to Miss Barnes. Mr. and Mrs. Wrenshaw have their own, of course. Shall you be along to see your property before you remove, Miss Benyon?’

‘I have half a day off next Thursday,’ Joy told him, ‘and that’s Pete’s half day too. Perhaps he’d drive me over?’ She glanced at Pete, who nodded. ‘So that’s all right. There’s just one point, Mr. Belding. Miss Barnes says in her letter that Fernbank is what she meant by “my dearest possession” and that she trusts me to see to it that the house and grounds are not used in any way which will take away any of the select and beautiful aspects of the town she loved. Just what do you suppose she means by that? I do understand she took my promise to mean that, being trusted with the house, I would never sell it or anything like that, but it’s this wording I can’t quite understand.’

‘A little while ago,’ Mr. Belding said gravely, ‘some of the wealthiest of the town’s businessmen decided to form a syndicate to provide us with a holiday village of bungalows, shops, entertainments and the like which most of the citizens would prefer to do without. I think Miss Barnes had reason to suspect they were more than a little interested in her house and the grounds, and the strip of ground which adjoins it and runs down to the road which leads to the sea. I know that before her sisters died they tried to purchase that particular piece of land, but the man who owns it was not interested in selling. He is a member of this group who want to form the syndicate.’

‘If Miss Barnes didn’t wish them to have the house and grounds then I shall make it my business to make certain her wishes are respected. You can be certain of that!’ Joy told him.

‘I’m so pleased.’ Mr. Belding nodded, well satisfied. ‘I felt from the moment we met that Miss Barnes had made a good choice in entrusting her responsibilities and her property to you! I shall look forward to seeing you if you have time to call in at my office on Thursday, and if not’—he handed her a card—‘perhaps you will contact me there before you are ready to move, and if there is any way in which I can assist you I shall be only too pleased to do so.’

He said goodbye, and the entire family accompanied Joy to the door to wave goodbye, the entire family with the exception of Lana. They returned to the house, chattering together ‘like a bunch of magpies’, as Cousin Emma put it, and if Lana and Pete were the most silent members of the little household, their silence was not commented upon, since the others were too full of discussion to notice very much.

There was so much to be done in the few days before the Thursday. Aileen felt very guilty about giving up the extra book-keeping she had undertaken only a month or so previously in an effort to make a little more money, but she had begun to look so tired that Joy was thankful for her mother’s sake that this early rising and extra work in addition to her post as secretary to a firm in Wilborough would soon be a thing of the past.

There was the matter of the twins and their further education. Aileen went alone—as she had done so much for her family entirely alone—to see the headmaster of the co-educational High School where they had both attended since passing their examination from the junior school. Mr. Appleby was kind and helpful, sending along a letter for the twins to take to their new school, explaining which examining board the twins were to take their forthcoming examinations, so that if their new school had not the same syllabus there would be no confusion when their new teachers helped them through their next and final term before the examination dates.

The rent of the house in Cranberry Terrace was paid to the end of the quarter, so there was no worry about that side of affairs. By the time she relaxed in the seat beside Pete on their way to Vanmouth, Joy felt life had already taken a more rapid and more interesting turn for all of them.

‘I hope Mr. Belding can find something for you in Vanmouth, Pete,’ she said, once Wilborough was left behind and they were speeding through the green countryside, dappled with the thin April sunshine. ‘It won’t seem like home without you, it seems you’ve always been there.’

‘I have, just about.’ Pete frowned at the road. ‘It won’t seem right going across the road to Mrs. Parrot’s every evening, but she was very sweet about it when I went to see her. She remembers my folks very well, which is more than I do. It seems to me that I’ve always been with you and the others. It’ll be like parting from a real family of my own, once you’re all gone ... especially you, Joy.’

‘You must come and see us just as soon as we’re settled in. And you’ll be able to have your holidays at Vanmouth as well,’ Joy said quickly. ‘Oh, look over there! Isn’t that a skylark? It seemed to come down from such a great height and straight to the ground.’