To Please the Doctor (30 page)

Jill could never remember much of that short journey back. She could only dimly recall Nana
’
s welcome, how both she and Brenda hovered round her, removing her wet clothes and adding more fuel to the already blazing fire. She remembered the almost unbelievable relief as feeling returned to her numbed body and the comfort of the steaming hot drink which was given her. She had been dimly conscious of the comfort of the room she had once thought ugly, of the little tree in the corner, now trimmed, which reminded her it was Christmas Eve,
and
then slowly but surely she had begun to feel more normal with only the ugly throbbing of her foot to remind her of all she had been through.

“
When you feel warmer we
’
ll have a look at that foot.
”

Jill believed it was the first time Duncan McRey had addressed her since his outburst on the jetty. She
glan
ced
up at him from the depth of the armchair in which she rested, half fearful of what she might read in his expression. That harsh line no longer twisted his lips, but his eyes appeared to her hard and unrelenting.
“
I
’
m quite warm now.
”
Jill
’
s voice was scarcely above a whisper and, almost unconsciously—she found herself throwing an appealing glance in Brenda
’
s direction.

“
I wonder
...
I
was wondering, sir, whether you
’
d mind if I phoned Matron
...
It
’
s past midnight and neither of us has a late pass,
”
Brenda addressed Duncan McRey from her position at the side of Jill
’
s chair.

“
I suppose I ought to speak to her myself.
”
He spoke to no one in particular, it was almost as if he were debating the subject with himself.
“
I
’
d better explain that Sister Fernley met with an accident. I think I
’
d better ask if she may remain here overnight. There isn
’
t much point in warding her at this hour; in any case, I doubt if there is a bed.
”
He paused and faced Brenda.
“
You certainly ought to be getting back now
...
Just wait a moment with Sister Fernley while I go and phone.
”

He had scarcely closed the door behind him when Brenda turned eagerly to Jill.
“
Poor Jill, I
’
m so very sorry
...
Were you terribly frightened?
...
and that foot, too, it must be agonizing.
”

“
It was, but it
’
s much more rested now, but don
’
t waste time talking about me
...
Tell me quickly what happened, how was it you found me, how did you happen to be with Dr. McRey? I
’
ve been longing to know everything, but he is so angry with me, I
’
m frightened to open my mouth.
”

“
After you
’
d left for your walk I rang Harriet as you asked me, then I went along to that party in Surgical. Someone came along looking for you to take a phone call. I went myself and said
you were out, and asked for a message. I was horrified when I found it was your brother
’
s Nannie. She said you hadn
’
t turned up. I realized you
’
d been out for hours. I knew you couldn
’
t be walking all that time. It was such a beastly wet night, too, I got the wind up.
”

As Brenda paused Jill urged her to continue.
“
Do go on
...
What brought Dr. McRey into it, he was dining up at Harriet
’
s, wasn
’
t he? I know he intended going back with her after his sherry party.
”

“
By half-past eleven, with no news of you, I got into a complete flap. I didn
’
t know what to do, there didn
’
t seem to be any place you could have gone except Dr. Laine
’
s. I wondered if you
’
d regretted your refusal to attend the party and had gone on there to congratulate her after all. Anyway, it was a chance, so I tried to ring Dr. Laine
’
s
...
Just to make things worse the phone was out of order, so I got a taxi and went out. Of course you weren
’
t there, and you can guess the rest. Dr. McRey rushed out, bundled me unceremoniously into his car, and made straight for the jetty. You weren
’
t there, so we hunted along the beach. We were almost giving up when he insisted by some lucky chance on returning once more to the jetty.
”

“
I see,
”
Jill sighed.
“
What an awful nuisance I
’
ve been. No wonder he was so furious with me.
”

“
That
’
s not the reason he was angry,
”
Brenda scoffed.
“
You must be blind if you think that!
”

“
It seems the most likely reason,
”
Jill retorted.
“
I must admit I did resent it, but I was infinitely grateful to be in safe hands. She paused and the colour mounted her pale cheeks.
“
Actually it did hurt at the time, but then I was feeling so weak, but for once I really think he was justifiably annoyed. I had behaved foolishly, and my stupid escapade not only caused him a lot of trouble, but
...
but well, it cut short his evening at Harriet
’
s, and he couldn
’
t have been too pleased about that.
”

“
I
’
ve been just longing for a chance to tell you. There is something else
...”
Brenda began eagerly, but before she could continue Jill had interrupted her.

“
Don
’
t worry about me any more.
”
She laid her hand for a moment on her companion
’
s as it rested on the arm of her chair.
“
I
’
m quite all right now.
”
She forced a smile.
“
In spite of everything the walk did me good. I may have damaged a foot in the process, but at least I
’
m now heart-whole! Even if I hadn
’
t got over my absurd infatuation before Duncan McRey came to the rescue, I imagine I would have done quickly enough after the way he spoke to me!
”

“
But don
’
t you see that it was just because he cares for you that he spoke like that?
”
Brenda leaned forward.
“
He was so worried ... so upset
...
you
’
ve no idea.
”
She stumbled over her words in her anxiety to convey her belief to her companion.
“
I
’
ve never seen him in such a state
...
you know how immovable he is, like a rock. Well, he wasn
’
t to-night. Believe me, he was all to pieces, and it was only relief at finding you that made him lose control.
”

Jill stared at Brenda with a look of disbelief.
“
You don
’
t realize what you are saying!
”
There was a note of asperity in her voice.
“
You can
’
t mean it
...
why
...
it
’
s preposterous!
”

“
It isn
’
t
...
you see ... I was just going to tell you
...”

Duncan McRey
’
s return cut short Brenda
’
s words.
“
I have spoken to Matron, it
’
s quite all right. She is permitting Sister Fernley to remain here and you must get back as soon as you can.
”
While Brenda stood up to collect her coat he turned to Jill.
“
I told Matron I hadn
’
t examined your foot.
I imagine it
’
s a bad sprain, but you
’
ll have to have an X-ray to-morrow. In any case, you won
’
t be able to get about for
a few days. You are due to leave St. Joseph
’
s next week, aren
’
t you?
”
As Jill nodded her head he went on.
“
That
’
s what I thought. Then it hardly seems worth your while going back, so I suggested to Matron that you don
’
t return to duty at all!
”

Brenda paused in the act of putting on her coat, and Jill utterly taken aback at the sheer audacity of the words, stared at him in speechless surprise. It was a full moment before she could find words to express her anger.
“
I don
’
t think I quite understand you.
”
She spoke with a studied
c
alm
but her flashing eyes betrayed her.
“
Supposing I wish to spend my last week in hospital
.
.. even if I am warded there is no reason why I shouldn
’
t!
”

“
None whatever
.
.. except that you
’
ll be far more comfortable here.
”
His speech was quiet and unhurried, and even as he continued his face remained expressionless.
“
I thought perhaps you
’
d see more of Terry this way—I believe your greatest wish was to spend Christmas with him?
”

“
I see
...
I
’
m sorry
...”
Jill had the grace to flush.
“
I
’
m afraid I didn
’
t stop to think..
.”

“
Do you ever?
”

Jill deliberately kept her eyes lowered at the question; she knew that it would be accompanied by a satirical smile.

“
I
’
d better be going.
”
Brenda, sensing an awkward moment, felt it opportune to interrupt.
“
I do hope you
’
ll soon be better. May I run over and see you to-morrow, I
’
d like to wish you a happy Christmas.
”

“
Come over when you
want ...
but if it
’
s of any interest to you, it
’
s Christmas now,
”
Duncan McRey reminded her.

“
So it is! Oh, Jill, I do wish
you everything
good... “
She stooped lower and brushed Jill
’
s cheek with her lips. Before lifting her head she whispered meaningly:
“
Everything good ... all you want most in the world!
”

“
Happy Christmas, sir.
”
Brenda smiled charmingly at Duncan McRey, then, although still addressing him, she half turned towards Jill and, speaking loudly and deliberately, forced her attention.
“
I
’
m so
rry
I had to drag you away from Dr. Laine
’
s. It sounded such a jolly party,
too. I can’t
tell you how pleased I am—and how pleased everyone will be when they hear of Dr. Laine
’
s engagement to Mr. Fahr.
”
She looked deliberately at Jill, to make sure that she had grasped the import of her words. Then, satisfied by Jill
’
s expression of incredulity and bewilderment that her news had struck home, she turned towards the door and in a moment had closed it quietly behind her.