A Garland of Marigolds (13 page)

“
Oh?
”
I said weakly.
“
Really?
”

“
Not a good day for anyone,
”
the Indian went on with complete satisfaction.
“
Very sad!
”

“
Do you know where Dr. Wait is?
”
I asked him.

“
But of course. That is why I wait for you to come, to show you the way. I am the most completely reliable servant. You will see.
”
He directed me to drive around the house and park in the shade of a large tree.

“
I take you straight away to
Sahib
Wait,
”
he told me.

He led the way, his bare feet completely silent on the stone floor of the verandah, and took me through a door that was swathed with mosquito netting. It was dark inside and very cool and I stood still for an instant enjoying the contrast. The Indian beckoned me onward and opened a door into a darkened bedroom.

“
The
Sahib
is in here,
”
he said.

It was a minute or so before I could see much beyond the general shapes of the furniture. I went toward the bed as quietly as possible in case Gideon was sleeping.

“
Hello, Suki.
”

I jumped, terribly relieved that he should sound so very much himself.

“
Oh, Gideon!
”
I gulped.

He chuckled, and I was very conscious that I had used his Christian name and not his title.

“
Why did you come?
”
he asked.
“
I thought it would be Joseph.
”
I hesitated.

“
I answered the telephone. Julie said you wanted me to come.
”
I couldn
’
t have sounded very sure of myself because he hastened to reassure me.

“
A much prettier chauffeur, anyway.
”

I could see him more clearly now. He looked as hale and hearty as ever and not in the least in need of my sympathy.

“
Julie said you were hurt!
”
I exclaimed.

He made a face at me.
“
So I am! I rather think I
’
ve broken my leg. Damned pony rolled on it.
”

I tried to look sympathetic, but my curiosity overcame me.
“
What on earth were you doing playing polo?
”
I asked.

He grinned.
“
I do play, you know,
”
he said.
“
And anyway, the old man likes a game. I
’
d forgotten all the same,
”
he went on dryly,
“
that he couldn
’
t bear to lose. I shot the second goal for my side and then bang, wallop, and this!
”

“
What do you mean?
”

“
I mean that he tripped up my mount!
”
he said bitterly.

“
But that
’
s dreadful!
”
I exclaimed, shocked.
“
And where
’
s Camilla?
”

“
In a state,
”
her brother replied.
“
I told her to go off by herself and calm down until the doctor came.
”

I gave him a furious look.

“
How could you?
”
I demanded hotly.
“
You know she didn
’
t want to come in the first place! I
’
ll go and look for her!
”

A strong hand shot out from the bedclothes and grabbed me around the wrist.

“
Oh no, you won
’
t! I know exactly how she
’
s feeling, but she has to learn to get on with the rough as well as the smooth. Julie spent all day being nice to her, but Camilla couldn
’
t see it!
”

I tried to imagine Julie being nice to anyone.

“
I don
’
t think she will ever like her much,
”
I put in.

“
That
’
s beside the point!
”
Gideon snapped back.
“
She doesn
’
t like Julie
’
s parents either! Nor do I, for that matter, but Julie is the one who has to live with them day in and day out, and I admire the way she does it, without a word of complaint. She has courage, that girl!
”

I felt quite as sulky as Camilla.

“
And where is she?
”
I asked.

Gideon leaned back and closed his eyes. Accustomed now to the dim light, I could see the lines of pain etched around his eyes and the paleness of his cheeks.

“
She
’
s getting a doctor.
”

There seemed to be nothing to do but wait and so I sat down gingerly on the edge of a chair and looked around me. There was no mistaking the fact that the owners of the house had lived in India for a long time. The only table was mounted on an elephant
’
s foot and various trophies hung around the walls, trailing ribbons that were faded and dirty, relics of an era that had completely disappeared. A tiger
’
s skin lay on the floor, the head realistically growling in my direction.

“
I suppose someone shot it?
”
I said with distaste.

Gideon laughed weakly.

“
Mr. Burnett, no doubt! What an impossible girl you are!
”

We sat in silence after that, waiting for someone to come and restore our spirits. Gideon was more and more obviously in pain and I getting more and more worried about him. But when Julie and the doctor came it was almost an anticlimax. Julie came running into the room, the tears sparkling in the corners of her eyes and her hair prettily ruffled by the wind.

“
Gideon, he says you
’
ll have to go to the hospital for an X ray. What shall we do?
”

Gideon opened his eyes and looked at her.

“
Nonsense! Tell him to come and set it here and then I can go home.
”

“
You
’
re so terribly brave!
”
she sobbed.

I looked at the two of them with growing disgust.

“
I suppose you want to limp for the rest of your life!
”
I said with some asperity.
“
Of course you
’
ll go to the hospital. Where is the doctor?
”

A small Indian doctor approached.

“
The gentleman is in much pain,
”
he said softly.
“
Perhaps it would be better if the ladies left until I have made him more comfortable.
”

Gideon laughed shortly.
“
Perhaps you
’
d better!
”
he said.

Julie walked tearfully toward the door with me following, a pace or two behind.

“
Poor Gideon!
”
I said with a sympathetic smile.

The tears came harder and she frowned at me.

“
Yes,
”
she said.
“
But do you know that child actually said it was all our fault! As if it wasn
’
t bad enough for poor, darling papa. I shall never invite her here again!
”

Which was just as well, I felt, as I doubted whether Camilla would have come.

CHAPTER
SEVEN

C
amilla was decidedly sulky, but she cheered up a little when she saw me.

“
How
’
s Gideon?
”
she asked immediately.

“
He
’
s all right!
”
I told her.
“
What did you imagine? He
’
s more impatient than hurt!
”

“
Really?
”
She took a deep breath of relief.
“
It was awful!
”
she added, and shivered at the memory.

Julie
rounded on her savagely, her face pinched with temper.

“
You keep quiet, miss!
”
she spat.
“
We
’
ve had enough trouble from you!
”

I was startled out of the composure I had assumed for Camilla
’
s benefit.

“
What do you mean?
”
I asked.

“
You weren
’
t there!
”
Julie said nastily.

Camilla went scarlet with rage and I cut in quickly.

“
Of course I wasn
’
t there and I
’
m very glad. It was obviously a great shock to you all. May Camilla and I go out into the garden while we wait to hear what the doctor has to say? And then I
’
ll be taking her home—and Gideon, too, if he
’
s well enough.
”

Julie recovered herself with difficulty. Her face was still pinched and white around the mouth and her eyes blazed with temper as she looked at me, but her voice was as soft as honey as she answered.

“
Of course you want to have a look around,
”
she agreed.
“
I
’
ll go back to Gideon and see if he wants anything.
”

I nodded my head and she went tripping out of the room. Camilla contained herself with difficulty until she had gone and then she burst into tears.

“
It was awful!
”
she said again.
“
Suki, they tripped him because he scored a goal. I saw them!
”

“
But it was only a game,
”
I said easily.
“
Who was playing?
”

“
That
’
s what was so ridiculous!
”
she exclaimed tearfully.
“
There weren
’
t enough people to play a proper game of polo and so they were really just playing about. Mr. Burnett was on one side, with two of the servants to help him, and Gideon and the other two were playing against them. They set up a couple of makeshift goals, and it was terrific fun at first—all the time Mr. Burnett was winning. He shot a goal almost immediately and we all clapped and he was terribly pleased. But then Gideon whacked two into the other goal almost before he could turn around and he deliberately pushed his stick between Gideon
’
s pony
’
s legs. Of course the pony tripped!
”

“
It could have been accidental,
”
I suggested.

“
You wouldn
’
t think so if you
’
d seen his face!
”

I found myself believing her.

“
All the same, I think you
’
d better forget all about it,
”
I warned her.

Camilla gave me a curious look.
“
Because you believe me?
”
she asked.

I hesitated, more than a little embarrassed by the question.
“
Hush,
”
I said hastily.

It wasn
’
t any too soon to change the subject because at that moment Julie joined us again, all smiles and without a trace of her former rage.

“
How nice it is to see you both enjoying yourselves,
”
she purred.
“
And I have some good news for you too! The doctor says it
’
s a clean break and he
’
s setting it now, so Gideon won
’
t have to go to the hospital.
”

“
Good,
”
said Camilla bluntly,
“
then we can take him home with us!
”

Julie frowned quickly through her smiles.

“
Now, now, I know how much you want him with you, dear, but we must consider the patient a little, too, mustn
’
t we? He
’
ll be much better off here with us.
”

Camilla opened her mouth and I knew she was getting ready to argue the point.

“
Of course we shall do whatever is best for him,
”
I agreed warmly.

Camilla gave me a stony glare.

“
May we go and talk with him?
”
I asked politely.

It was easy to see that Julie wanted to refuse, but she nodded briskly and walked away quickly.

“
You
’
re not going to leave him?
”
Camilla whispered anxiously in my ear.

“
Not if I can help it,
”
I replied grimly.
“
But Gideon won
’
t do anything on my say-so. He
’
ll make his own decision.
”

Camilla sighed.
“
I expect you
’
re right.
”

Gideon was sitting up against a pile of cushions with his leg smothered in wet plaster and a rather foolish grin on his face.
“
Lovely mud pies!
”
he greeted us cheerfully.

Camilla went quickly over to the bed and took his hand in hers, squeezing it hard.

“
You
’
re sure you
’
re all right?
”
she asked in a strange, tight voice.

He laughed up at her.

“
You worry too much, young lady! Give this time to set and I
’
ll be sitting beside you in the jeep while Suki drives us both home.
”
Camilla swallowed tearfully.

“
Julie said you would rather stay here!
”
she said rebelliously.
“
Did she, though?
”
He laughed in the most lighthearted way.
“
That
’
s no reason to make such a mouthful of the whole thing.
”
He
gave me a quick look and seemed to be reassured by what he saw.

“
Don
’
t worry, chicken,
”
he said to his sister,
“
I
’
ll be coming home with you!
”

“
I hope you
’
re going to tell Julie,
”
I said feelingly.

His eyes shone with amusement.
“
You
’
re quite as bad as Camilla,
”
he teased me.
“
Seeing bogeymen where there are none! And making such a fuss about it!
”

I would have made some retort that would have put him firmly in his place, only
Julie
rejoined us at that moment, as sweet as ever and as full of smiles.

“
I
’
m so sorry to have left you on your own,
”
she began with that
“
little-girl
”
charm I was beginning to despise.
“
I just called in to see how daddy is getting on. It was such a shock to him. He
’
s lying down, poor darling. Mother was, too, but now she feels strong enough to see you two girls before you go home. She
’
s in the drawing room. Shall I show you where?
”

Camilla looked suddenly defeated.

“
It
’
s all right,
”
she muttered,
“
I can find it.
”
She stood up with a quick, coltish movement.
“
Come on, Suki, we
’
d better get it over with.
”

Mrs. Burnett was lying on the sofa, with a handwoven rug cast loosely over her knees. She was very like
Julie
with soft gray hair, and an innocent expression. But the years had written lines of discontent and disappointment beside the eyes and in the wrinkles of the mouth.

“
Come over here, my dears. Camilla, you can sit on the stool and Miss King in the chair.
”

We obediently settled ourselves, while she looked at us with bland amusement.

“
And what do you think of our remnant of the British Raj?
”
she asked slyly.

Camilla managed to show her distaste by being far too enthusiastic.

“
It
’
s lovely! Were you really here before independence?
”
Mrs. Burnett winced. Independence didn
’
t seem so very long ago to her and she didn
’
t like the fleeting years being pushed on her so ruthlessly. She sighed in a way that was very reminiscent of her daughter.

“
Oh yes, indeed. The wasted years, I often call them. I longed to go home to England, if only because of Julie. She should have friends among her own kind and meet the right young men, but my husband is in love with India and nothing would make him leave. I think he would have died in England—can you understand that? He has lived here for so long that he would be quite out of place in an English provincial town, and London would have completely stifled him. Besides which, living in the sun, you know, does queer things to a man—but we won
’
t think about that, will we?
”
She hesitated, obviously unsure as to how to continue.
“
It
’
s so difficult for me to ask you this,
”
she said at last.
“
But I should be so grateful if you would encourage Gideon to stay here for a few days. It
’
s not for my sake, but Julie so seldom sees anyone of her own age.
”
Camilla stared at her with unblinking eyes.

“
I don
’
t think either of us could persuade Gideon one way or the other,
”
I said as gently as I could.
“
Why don
’
t you talk to him?
”
Mrs. Burnett looked more upset than ever.

“
I don
’
t want him to think that we are trying to trap him into anything! Oh dear, how awkward everything is!
”

I smiled sympathetically, trying to ignore the expression of outrage on Camilla
’
s face.

“
We
’
re not so very far away and
Julie
comes over quite often,
”
I put in comfortingly.

“
It
’
s not the same. She has no opportunities here, the poor dear.
”

Camilla could keep silent no longer.

“
And so you deliberately trip up Gideon
’
s horse!
”
she exclaimed. Mrs. Burnett raised her delicately trimmed eyebrows.