To Please the Doctor (12 page)

Jill laughed gaily.
“
I don
’
t think that Dr. McRey can be likened to a fly! But I must admit that he doesn
’
t add
to the enjoyment of my work ... nor does Brenda
Malling
,
for that matter.
”

“
Oh, Brenda, she doesn
’
t really count.
”
He dismissed her airily.
“
She
’
s a moody girl, anyway, and given to fits of pique
.
I
’
m in her bad books at present for
daring to renew my friendship with you, but it doesn
’
t amount to anything that really matters. She
’
ll forget all about it soon and we shall both be forgiven. That
’
s one trouble disposed of!
”

“
Well, you won
’
t be able to dispose of Dr. McRey as
easily as that!
”

“
I don
’
t see why not. He
’
s far too unsociable to be popular with any of the staff, but we
’
re all used to that by now and leave him to his own devices. He
’
s darned good at his job, which is the main thing, and the only person who ever manages to get him away from the precious book he
’
s compiling is Harriet Laine, and I take off my hat to her f
o
r that.
”

“
Yes, I must admit that Harriet seems to have a go
o
d effect on him, but that doesn
’
t help the rest of us.
”

“
That
’
s the worst of you girls, you make a personal issue of it. What does it matter if he is curt and supercritical? Keeps some of you up to the mark.
”

“
Makes us more pleased to see that nice Dr. Traven,
”
J
ill mocked.
“
That
’
s what you really mean.
”

“
I don
’
t personally hold with all that he-man stuff. I find I get equally good results by being a bit affable.
”

“
You wouldn
’
t know how to be, anything else!
”

Philip gave a mock bow.
“
Thank you, Jill, I accept that as a compliment, but if you take my advice, you
’
ll stand up to the dour Duncan. I feel he has more respect for those who show some spirit.
”

“
‘
To take arms against a sea of troubles, and by opposing end them
’
,
”
Jill quoted meditatively.
‘
That
’
s your idea, isn
’
t it?
”

“
Yes, and you
’
ll find I
’
m right. None of you nurses know how to handle him.
”

“
Maybe. Anyway, I
’
m not going to argue with you.
”
The striking of an old-fashioned clock on the mantelpiece caused Jill
to look up in surprise.
“
Good heavens, it
’
s twelve already; we
’
ve been here ages. If we don
’
t get a move on we shall be late for lunch, and that would be stepping off with the wrong foot.
”

They settled their bill and hurried out into the cold air, which blew in angry gusts into their faces. With a sigh of relief Jill settled back in the car. They were on familiar ground now, and she knew every bend and sharp corner, and as each mile passed her pleasure at her approaching homecoming increased.

Philip glanced down at her smilingly.
“
You look nice down there by my side, and lots happier
than
you did when we started out.
”

“
I feel happier,
too,
”
she agreed.
“
It must be the result of talking
‘
shop
’
, although I said I didn
’
t want to; anyway, it
’
s a taboo subject from now on, promise me, Phil.
”

“
All right by me. I
’
ve had my little say, and now you
’
d better put me right as to direction. We have to
turn
left at the next cross-roads, don
’
t we?
”

The gardener opened the wrought-iron gates as the car turned into the wider rhododendron-flanked drive leading to the entrance to Brent Towers. Philip changed gear as the path rose steeply towards the vast red-bricked turreted house, which stood as a landmark visible for many miles. As the car drew to a standstill the heavy oak door was opened, and as Jill stepped across the threshold into the vast panelled hall, a swift thrill of homecoming encompassed her. With a smiling nod of greeting to the butler she turned to Philip.
“
I expect Mother and Trevor are in the library, don
’
t worry about our bags, they
’
ll be brought in, and the chauffeur will run the car round to the garage— come along in.
”
Jill hurried across the highly-polished parquet floor and p
u
shed open the library door, with P
hili
p following behind her.

After her mother and step-father had greeted her affectionately, and welcomed Philip with unfeigned pleasure, Jill exclaimed eagerly,
“
Where
’
s Ter
ry
? Why isn
’
t that bad lad here to welcome me? I
’
ve almost been counting the minutes to my arrival, and I suppose he can
’
t be persuaded to wash his face and comb his hair to come downstairs.
Shall
I go up
,
Mother, or will Nana be bringing him down?
”

“
Sit down darling, Terry
’
s not very well. I
’
ve only just come from the night nursery, and he
’
s asleep for the moment. I shouldn
’
t disturb him yet.
”
Madeleine Hallard pulled an armchair nearer to the fire.
“
There, Jill dear, make yourself comfy, you must be frozen after your drive.
The weather is hateful, and this house never seems warm enough. Trevor and I had hoped to go to Cannes for Christmas, as usual. We are both longing to get out of this climate; it
’
s been a particularly dreary winter.
”

“
Yes, I know how much you dis
lik
e spending even a part of the winter in England, Mother.
”
Jill spoke a trifle impatiently.
“
But Terry? I am disappointed that he
’
s in bed. What
’
s wrong with him?
”

“
The doctor doesn
’
t seem to know
...
”
Lady Hallard
’
s voice trailed off vaguely.
“
The child was perfectly fit a day or two ago; insisted on going into Guildford to see a Walt Disney film, and the next morning he woke up with a high temperature. It
’
s been up and down now for the last two days, and we can
’
t seem to interest him in anything or distract him at all. He
’
s terribly irritable, too. Poor little pet, he
’
s been sick as well. The doctor thinks it
’
s probably gastric
‘
flu.
”
Lady Hallard sighed deeply and addressed her husband.
“
Would you like to pour the sherry, dear, it
’
s all ready on the table by the window.
”
She turned to Philip.
“
We have a rather delicious brand here, which I do recommend on a cold day in preference to the Amontillado. I
’
m so pleased that you were able to come with Jill, it
’
s quite like old times.
”

“
It
’
s grand being here.
”
Philip spoke with genuine pleasure as his eyes wandered round the well-remembered room, luxurious yet dignified, with its oak-panelled walls and deep crimson draperies.
“
I
’
m sorry to hear the boy
’
s in bed. I was looking forward to seeing him.
”

“
In my opinion it
’
s nothing more than a chill,
”
Sir Trevor broke in.
“
He got soaked to the skin while he was out riding at the beginning of the week, and I thought he seemed a bit languid the day he went to the pictures. It was only because he was so grumpy that we let him go. You know, Jill, how your mother gives in to him all along the line.
”
He smiled affectionately in her direction, and it was obvious that he was inordinately proud of his elegant and youthful-looking wife. Perhaps in his husbandly pride he ignored the carefully made-up complexion and the unnaturally bright fair hair, although the years sat lightly on Madeleine Hallard, and her upright figure was as slender and supple as a girl
’
s.

Jill looked across at her stepfather.
“
And I suppose you never give in to him yourself. You are just as bad as one another. She crossed to the door.
“
I
’
ll go up and have a word with Nana while you are fixing the drinks.
”

Jill ran lightly up the stairs and made her way to the nursery quarters. She had such happy memories of her early childhood; a nursery full of every toy to delight her—dolls
’
houses, teddy-bears, toy-shops, mechanical toys and games of every kind. Later, these had been put away, and then there had been books, hundreds of books, and even when she was grown up she had always returned to her own day nursery whenever she had wanted to indulge in a
‘
good read
’
. And as, a background to her beloved nursery there had always been Nana—Nana who had come to Brent Towers as an under-nurse and had stayed to become the cherished friend of the family, and at the birth of Terry to find herself once more in the nursery. Jill had been delighted when the day and night nurseries, long neglected, had been repainted for Terry. Most of her toys had been given to the local children
’
s hospital and a new and more boyish set supplied for the new baby. Jill knew that she herself had been a spoilt only child, but hers was nothing to the spoiling which was showered on Terry, who admittedly had the most taking ways and a smile which would melt the sternest heart.

“
Oh, I
’
m so glad, so delighted to see you.
”
Nana had emerged from the nursery and was holding Jill fondly in her strong arms. She put her finger to her lips to enjoin silence.
“
Come into my room for a minute. I
’
ve left the communicating door ajar so that we can hear if Terry wakes.
”

Jill returned her Nurse
’
s greeting, then seated herself on the cushioned window-seat.
“
Nana, you look fine, younger than ever!
”
She appraised the older woman, then added,
“
I do believe that you
’
ve put
o
n weight. Those curves seem a bit more pronounced than usual.
”

“
I
’
m sure I haven
’
t. It
’
s just this overall—the laundry will starch them up so.
”
Nana quickly smoothed down the white linen, but the starch wasn
’
t all to blame, and no amount of smoothing could ever conceal the ample lines of her figure. The older woman
’
s pleasant features broke into a smile.
“
There, you always were pulling my leg. Jealousy, that
’
s what it is. You could do with a bit more flesh on your bones yourself!
”
Her tone became more serious as she added:
“
Do you like that new job of yours? Her ladyship was telling me you are a Sister now—my word, that
’
s an important job, isn
’
t it? Still, the way you
’
ve worked I
’
m not surprised. If anyone deserved to get on, you did.
”