To Please the Doctor (32 page)

Jill
’
s heart beat tumultuously against her ribs. What had she said? What had she made him say? A sense of panic assailed her, she was playing with fire again, making her heart vulnerable to that pain she believed she had banished for ever. With a supreme effort she adopted an air of unconcern and, forcing a laugh which sounded harsh in her own ears, answered:
“
Of course ... I quite understand and I owe you an apology—beside my thanks. I must have put you to infinite trouble.
”

“
Jill—why did you rush out like that? Why didn
’
t you come here to Harriet
’
s party
...
what made you refuse?
”
His questions were spoken jerkily as if he were still suffering from the stress of the previous evening
’
s events.

No effort of Jill
’
s could stay the flush which mounted her cheeks; she might twist her answer, prevaricate, but that tell-tale colour was already betraying her. She lowered her eyes and murmured incoherently.
“
Brenda
...
Nurse
Malling
rang Harriet to explain ...
I ... I
had already gone out.
”

Although her eyes were still averted, Jill was aware of his rising, knew that he had seated himself on the arm of her chair, and that he was leaning towards her, his head only a few inches above her own.
“
Is that true?
”

She felt his hand beneath her chin, and she was powerless to resist as he drew her gently round, tilting her face up to his.
“
No
...
it
’
s not true. I did get Harriet
’
s invitation. I didn
’
t want to come ... that
’
s all.
”
She spoke with a note of defiance, but her eyes faltered beneath his gaze.

“
Jill,
was it...?
No, it couldn
’
t have been
...
”
There was a note of suppressed agitation in his voice as he went on.
“
Jill, you
’
ve got to tell me, did you resent Harriet
’
s engagement?
”

“
No ... Oh no, I
’
m so glad about her and Dick.
”
It was a tremendous relief to be able to answer with truth, and now her eyes could meet her companion
’
s unflinchingly.

“
About Harriet and Dick, yes.
”
He echoed her words and softly caressed her hair.
“
You thought Harriet was engaged to me, didn
’
t you?
”

Jill tried to pull herself away, but his hold was firm and there was no escape. Despair filled her heart, the despair of utter defeat and complete humiliation. The colour had receded from her cheeks now.
“
I ... I don
’
t know what I thought
...
what does it matter?
”
Her tone was distraught, and with a wrench she pulled herself free from his hold.

“
Jill darling
.
..
”

She felt his arm encircle her shoulder and draw her closer until her head rested against him. A shuddering sob shook her body, for the moment the comfort of his hold seemed all that mattered in the whole world.

“
Jill, don
’
t you see I had to know ... I hated to ask you, but your answer meant so much to me. I
’
ve loved you for so long, but I had not the courage to hope ... far less to speak of it. I imagined you disliked me, then last night ... I began to wonder, dared to hope again. Jill, dearest heart
...”

He tilted her face up to his and, with a sudden, almost brusque movement, his lips met hers in a long passionate kiss.

Jill had at first trembled beneath his touch. Then, as the sweet joy of contact flooded her whole being, she relaxed in his hold, her arms slipped up to his shoulders and her lips warmed to his as her pent-up emotions so long held in check found fulfilment in his close embrace.
“
Duncan ... Duncan!
”
She whispered his name lovingly, and her violet eyes sparkled with unshed tears of sheer joy.
“
How could you have ever guessed?
...
How did you know?
”

He gave a happy, almost boyish, laugh.
“
You remember Terry was the first to tell me, but I rather think that Nurse
Malling
contributed to my knowledge. She dropped a few hints which I was at first too dense to take. It isn
’
t easy to believe in miracles.
”
He dropped a light kiss on the white column of her neck where it emerged from the soft folds of her wool dress.

“
But Brenda
...
what could she have said?
”
Jill persisted in surprise.

“
Enough for me to realize that if I let you leave Sunsand—probably never to see you again—I
’
d be the biggest fool this side of the ocean.
”

For the next few minutes speech was forgotten and Jill, nestled closely in Duncan
’
s arms, knew that at last her dream had come true. It was s
h
e who gave a guilty start as the heavy bronze clock on the mantel struck the hour. Pulling herself free, she smoothed her rumpled hair.
“
You know you were due on the ward five minutes ago—you mustn
’
t be late. They
’
ve visiting ho
ur
s this afternoon, and everything will get terribly behind.
”

He gave an exaggerated sigh.
“
There speaks Sister Fernley!
”
he teased.
“
But I suppose you are right, I must get
along.
”

“
I feel awful about being away now, just when we are so busy. It
’
s terribly hard on Nurse
Malling
. By the way, as they haven
’
t a Sister yet, I suppose she will act as deputy?
”

“
Although you were due to leave next week, Matron still hadn
’
t anyone in view, so Nurse
Malling
would have had to take over anyway for a time.
”

Jill sat up, eagerly grasping his arm.
“
Duncan, listen. Couldn
’
t you persuade Matron to give her my job?
...
you
’
ve only to say you approve and it
’
s as good as done,
”
Jill coaxed.

“
I
’
m not so sure that I do approve
...”
he began, but Jill interrupted his words by placing her finger gently across his lips.

“
Of course you do!
”
she coaxed. Her cheeks dimpled provocatively, and her eyes were bright beneath their long, curled lashes.
“
Darling, it
’
s the very first favour I
’
ve ever asked you.
”

“
But Nurse
Malling
isn
’
t sufficiently experienced
...
I
’
m not sure that she is entirely reliable,
”
Duncan demurred.

“
Don
’
t be so fussy, give the girl a chance!
”
Jill rumpled his thick thatch of fair hair.
“
Go on, promise you
’
ll ask Matron,
”
she wheedled.
“
Besides, don
’
t forget th
a
t it was really through Brenda that you found the courage to propose to me.
”

“
I don
’
t remember proposing,
”
he reminded her with a grin.
“
I
’
m not even sure that I want to—nagging me already! But, by the way, we may as well discuss it,
”
he continued with an air of exaggerated unconcern.
“
Will you marry me? If so, when and where?
”
He brought her hand to his lips and kissed it tenderly.

“
Are you going to talk to Matron about Brenda?
”
Jill persisted with an extra tug to his hair which brought a grimace of pain to his face.

“
All right,
”
he conceded.
“
You win!
...
But what about my question, how soon can you make it?
”

Jill glowed with happiness when she thought of the joy in store for Brenda.
“
Unless you are prepared to face St. George
’
s and all the trimmings which go with it, it wil
l
have to be before Mother gets back!
”
Jill warned him with a laugh.

“
St. George
’
s,
”
he echoed in tones of mock horror.
“
Not on your life! Anyway, why wait at all? ... I might change my mind!
”
His adoring smile belied his words, and as Jill
gave herself up to the rapture of his embrace she knew that her cup of happiness was filled to overflowing.

The wind had risen and, from the distance, came the sound of high waves breaking against the jetty. The seagulls cawing loudly were flying inland, circling across the white cliffs, seeking the sunshine which had now broken through the mist.