To Please the Doctor (26 page)

“
Well, it
’
s certainly out of union hours, but I
’
ll see what can be done!
”
His long fingers were already probing the miniature motor attached to
th
e engine.
“
You run along to my study—the room right opposite—and bring the little brown box from the table by the window
...
It
’
s heavy, it
’
s got tools in it, so carry it carefully.
”

“
I will.
”
With an air of importance Terry hurried from the room, but it was not until he was well out of earshot that Duncan McRey spoke again.
“
Made wonderful progress hasn
’
t he? A week or two here and he
’
ll be as fit as
a fiddle.
”

“
I was so delighted when I saw him,
”
Jill admitted.
“
He may have lost a little weight, but otherwise I wouldn
’
t know he
’
d been ill.
”

“
He
’
ll soon get that back with Mrs. Miles
’
cooking. I
’
m even getting a little fearful of my own dimensions.
”
He laid his hands speculatively on the waistline, then added more seriously:
“
It
’
s a pity to take too much notice of his disinclinations for food, the child isn
’
t ill now. He doesn
’
t need tempting, his appetite will return far more quickly if he is left alone.
”

“
I know,
”
Jill agreed.
“
But Nana is always inclined to
worry...”
She broke off then added:
“
This room looks so nice and homely, I can
’
t think what you
’
ve done to it.
”

“
Nothing at all! Don
’
t you realize that it
’
s the
occupants
who make the room?
”
Duncan McRey laughed meaningly and Jill was glad that Terry
’
s re-ent
r
y, with the tool box clutched carefully in both arms, saved any need of reply. She wouldn
’
t have known what to say and was glad to remain silent. As she watched the two of them—those two who meant more to her, each in his different way,
than
anyone in the word—a lump rose in her throat, and the picture they made with their fair heads close together, bent over the broken toy, quickened her heartbeats.

“
I think you
’
re very, very clever.
”
Terry spoke with a touch of awe in his tone as he watched Duncan McRey
’
s hands manipulate the minute parts of the motor.

“
You mind that screw, young man. If you lose it we are sunk.
”

Terry replaced the screw, with which he had been fidgeting, on the arm of the chair, linking his hands behind his back continued to watch with rapt attention.
“
Will you know how to put all those things back again?
”
There was a note of anxiety in his tone as he saw his beloved engine come apart piece by piece.

“
I sincerely hope so. Anyway, you
’
d better give me a hand; pass me those big screws first...
”

For the next few minutes there was hardly a word spoken while Terry waited for his engine to resume some semblance of its former state. Even Jill, the repair completed, found herself waiting with bated breath as Duncan McRey inserted the key, and she was sure that her excitement was almost as much as her small brother
’
s when the motor responded immediately with a most satisfying whirr.

“
Oooh
...
lovely!
...
Thank you!
”
Terry clutched the toy to his heart and exclaimed ecstatically:
“
Un
cl
e Duncan,
I think you are the cleverest person in the world, and I love
you an awful lot. I
’
m awful glad Jill
’
s got you here,
‘
cos I was always afraid she might be lonely. It
’
s so far away. Jill loves you, too. She told me so,
”
he ended with an air of
deep satisfaction.

Duncan McRey
’
s attention appeared to be fully concentrated upon the child standing at his knee.
“
Then I am a very lucky man.
”
He now turned deliberately in Jill
’
s direction,
an enigmatic smile playing round the corners of his lips.
“
You know she had never told me that.
”

Jill had seldom felt more uncomfortably self-conscious in her life. She was sure that her very confusion must betray her; she made every effort to regain some measure of composure as she addressed Terry.
“
Darling, you shouldn
’
t say such things. You know you are just making it all up.
”

“
No I aren
’
t,
”
Terry insisted stubbornly.
“
You must
‘
member, you told me yourself, honest you did.
”

Jill cast an agonized glance at Duncan McRey, but he seemed entirely unperturbed; in fact, to her horror, rather amused.
“
The ideas that children get
...
it
’
s really silly.
”
She knew her words sounded forced and stupid, but she was at a complete loss what to say without becoming more deeply involved.
“
I
’
m sure it must be nearly your bedtime.
”
That at least seemed a happy solution, but Terry was not to be so easily silenced.

“
Nana hasn
’
t called me yet.
”
He rewound his engine and listened to the motor with obvious satisfaction, then continued:
“
Don
’
t you really
‘
member when I was ill you told me you loved Uncle Duncan, and you
’
d be ever so lonely here wivout him?
”

Of course she had!
...
just to cajole the child. Jill realized now that further argument would be futile, and as she struggled to find a diverting subject, Nana
’
s welcome form appeared in t
h
e doorway. Jill had never been more pleased to see Nana in her life
.

“
Bath
’
s ready, Terry,
”
Nana announced.
“
So hurry up and say
‘
Good night
’
.
”

Terry shook hands solemnly with Duncan McRey, then gave Jill a tight hug.
“
Night night, Jill. You
’
ll come and see me to-morrow, won
’
t you?
”

“
Not in the morning, you
’
ll be busy exploring with Nana, but in the afternoon I
’
ll come over again. I
’
ll stay with you from two to four, that
’
s two whole hours.
”
As the door
closed behind Nana and the child, Jill rose.
“
I
’
d better be going along myself now. Thanks for a wonderful tea—and everything.
”

“
You can
’
t go yet
...
What about a drink? Children can be somewhat exhausting. I
’
m sure you need a pick-me-up before you leave.
”

Jill was sure she could detect a hint of underlying laughter in his words, but since he was already producing bottles and glasses from a side cupboard, she felt it would be ungracious to refuse. Seated again before him, a glass of sherry in her hand, she knew that she hadn
’
t really wanted to leave. In her heart she could not bear to deny herself one moment of Duncan McRey
’
s company. His attitude towards her had changed. Of that she felt so sure ... the way he spoke ... the way he looked at her ... Jill lowered her head over her glass fearful of the tell-tale flush in her cheeks. If only she dare believe that one day he might love her as she loved him. Terry
’
s childish treble resounded in her ears. What embarrassing things the child had said, she couldn
’
t help wondering what interpretation her companion could have put upon them. Summoning her courage she lifted her face to him.
“
I
’
m afraid Terry comes out with some unexpected remarks. I can
’
t think where he hears them; he is far too much with grown-ups.
”
She forced a laugh.

“
Yes, that is a pity ... I imagine you mean that I mustn
’
t accept his statements without reserve?
”
His eyebrows were raised, and there was a quizzical expression in his blue eyes as he asked the question. His lips, too, were curved into a half smile, that gentle, kindly smile which Jill had grown to love.

She hesitated, unsure of herself. Despite everything his expression remained inscrutable, and she still harboured a fear that he might be laughing at her.
“
One says things without thinking to pacify a sick child.
”
Again her laughter sounded forced and unnatural. His eyes still held hers, and although she could not understand their enigmatic expression, she was conscious of a sense of elation.

“
Then I mustn
’
t pay too much attention to Terry
’
s assertion...
?
”

The sudden ring of the doorbell interrupted his words. Its strident sound was unexpected, and to Jill it was as if a spell were suddenly broken. As from a great distance she heard voices in the hall, the opening of the door, then became aware of Harriet standing framed in the aperture.

Duncan McRey rose instantly to his feet.
“
Hallo, Harriet, come along in, you are just in time for a drink.
”

“
Don
’
t say I
’
m too late to see Terry?
”
She turned enquiringly towards Jill.
“
Has he gone to bed already?
...
And I hurried over as soon as I could.
”

“
I
’
m afraid so.
”
Jill was surprised at the steadiness of her voice.
“
I think Nana packed him off a bit earlier than usual, he has had a tiring day.
”

“
Oh, well, I must try and see him to-morrow.
”
Harriet seated herself on the wide arm of Duncan McRey
’
s chair. When he returned with her drink she made no effort to move, declining the chair which he had pulled up for her.
“
No, don
’
t bother, I
’
m only staying a moment
...
don
’
t disturb yourself for me. Come
back
to the armchair.
”

He reseated himself while Harriet remained perched on the arm, her hand resting on
th
e high back of the chair for support.
“
What is the hurry?
”

“
I
’
ve got to get back to have a final word with Dick Fahr about one of his cases. I mustn
’
t be long, he has his train to catch.
”

“
I
’
ve never spent any time with Fahr when he hasn
’
t been rushing off to catch the train.
”
Duncan McRey laughed.
“
I hope I shan
’
t live in a perpetual, train-catching state when I move to town.
”

“
The service is so bad,
”
Harriet grumbled.
“
Except at business hours
...
Even then it
’
s a bit erratic.
”
She sipped her sherry.
“
Nice stuff ... Where did you get it, Duncan. It
’
s the best I
’
ve tasted in a long time.
”

“
A grateful patient!
”
He stretched out for the bottle and refilled her glass.
“
What about you, Jill?
”

The use of her Christian name seemed so natural, yet its very familiarity confused her.
“
No, thanks
...
”
She set down her empty glass.
“
I really should be going.
”

“
Wait a moment, I want a word with
you. We
’
ll stroll back together.
”
Harriet suggested, then turned again to Duncan McRey. She was so
close
to him that her arm brushed his shoulder, and as she leaned forward to address him she rested her hand on his coat-sleeve.

Jill found herself watching them covertly. How easily Harriet approached him, with such a natural air of intimacy. Her mother
’
s words came back to Jill in all their full implication, and it was as if her heart ceased for a moment to beat. It couldn
’
t be true, it couldn
’
t! But as Jill looked across again to the armchair a feeling akin to panic engulfed her. Supposing her mother had been right? Did some deeper understanding exist, between these two, something more than mere friendship? Had she mistaken his recent more friendly attitude towards her for something stronger, born of her own intense desire that it might be so? But that night on the beach
...
Was it an illusion or had his lips brushed her forehead? Jill shivered. Perhaps it had been no more than a caress from the sea, the soft wind lifting a tendril of her hair...