Honorary Surgeon (30 page)

“
A
ll
the better!
”
Richard seated himself at Mary
’
s side.
“
Holding up banks and kidnapping harmless citizens makes one appreciate the comparative calm of one
’
s own country.
”
For the next two hours they laughed together at the hopeless efforts of an amateur detective, the riotous amusing antics of a journalist, and the impossible heroics of a band of gum-chewing gangsters. Mary had forgotten her former
ill humour, and leaned against her companion in unconscious relaxation. Richard took her hand in his, and Mary, aware of its comforting pressure, made no effort to remove it.

It was with regret that she realized the show had ended, and it was time to stand to the familiar strains of the National Anthem.

“
Sure you are warm enough?
”
Richard enquired solicitously as they emerged from the theatre and made their way round to the car park.
“
That coat is not nearly thick enough for a night like this,
”
he added critically.

“
It
’
s heaps warm enough; at least, it
’
s as warm as anything would be tonight,
”
she amended.
“
M
’
gh
...
isn
’
t it awful?
”

“
It certainly has turned colder; freezing, I should think. I do hope you don
’
t catch cold,
”
he added anxiously.

“
Of course I won
’
t ... I don
’
t catch cold as easily as all that.
”
Mary laughed.
“
Next time I come out with you I
’
ll wear my sables!
”

“
It
’
s all very well to laugh about it; you need a fur coat this weather; that silly cloth affair is no good at all,
”
Richard insisted as he helped her into the car.
“
Mother should get you one; if she confines you to the depth of the country she should be responsible for suitable clothes.
”

“
You dare say anything to her!
”
Mary exclaimed.
“
As if I
’
d allow her to buy me anything! Why, she pays me far too much as it is. It
’
s so long since I
’
ve possessed a fur coat I shouldn
’
t know how to wear one.
”

Richard pressed the self-starter, and accelerated the engine of the car.
“
It
’
s got chilly standing. He paused then added:
“
May I give you a fur coat for Christmas? Now, don
’
t protest until I
’
ve finished,
”
he interrupted, as Mary made to speak.
“
I shall most certainly give you something, and it may as well be something useful.
”

“
There are quite a number of useful things besides fur coats,
”
Mary murmured.
“
What about handkerchiefs
...
notepaper
...
the inevitable calendar
...
oh, and lots of other things!
”

“
All, no doubt, admirable, but I like to give presents which are less likely to be duplicated.
”
Richard slipped in the gear, and slowly advanced towards the roadway.
“
Now, wher
e
to? How about a hot drink before tackling the return journey?
”

Mary cuddled herself more closely beneath the rug.
“
I
’
d love one
...
Will there be any places open?
”

“
Of course there will! This is Oxford, a large town, population approximately 80,000. Personally, I
’
m longing for a drink.
”

“
This is a pleasant little place. Shall we stop here?
”
Richard braked the car before the lighted windows of a small cafe.

Mary nodded her head in silent agreement. She didn
’
t mind where they stopped. Suddenly she didn
’
t really want to stop at all. Her one wish now was to get home again, bid her companion good night, and seek the seclusion of her bedroom. It was; late now; excuses would be unnecessary; she could retire without exciting comment.

“
How about that corner table?
”
Richard led the way, and pulled forward the chair for Mary, seating himself opposite.
“
What will you have?
”
He scanned the menu.
“
I
’
m afraid there isn
’
t
much choice.
”

“
Coffee, please.
”
Mary took off her gloves and placed them on the table beside her, Black, I prefer.
”

“
I
’
ll have the same.
”
He beckoned a waitress and gave the order, then, resting his arms on the table, leaned towards his companion.
“
You
’
re very quiet again, Mary
...
What
’
s the matter?
”
There was a quality of sympathy in his voice that caused the tears to spring to her
eyes.
She
’
d been so beastly to him, and he
’
d done his best to help. How kind he was, how genuinely sympathetic! She longed to open her heart to him ... to explain. For a moment she was tempted to speak, then, shaking her head, remained silent. What was the use? After all, there was nothing to say. He
’
d seen her being embraced by a married man. It really couldn
’
t interest him whether she had desired that embrace or not; no doubt he would have liked an explanation, liked to hear that Veronica would soon be free to
go to him. If only it had been so! Mary lowered her eyes. If she loved Guy, then eve
r
ything would have come right. Mary withdrew her handkerchief from her bag and, pretending to wipe her lips, hastily removed the tell-tale tears from her lashes. Loved Guy! The idea was ironical. Richard was the only man she would ever love; whatever happened, he filled her heart to the exclusion of all else.

“
Mary, you
’
re crying.
”
Richard
’
s voice was tender.
“
Won
’
t you tell me? Can
’
t I help you?
”

Mary glanced round her and was thankful for the emptiness of the surrounding tables. The waitresses, mostly idle, were grouped round the counter chattering in undertones. How awful to cry in public! Now Richard had noticed, further subterfuge seemed useless, so, taking out her handkerchief again, she dried her eyes.

“
Sorry to have been so stupid. I
’
m all right now.
”
Mary forced a smile.
“
I owe you quite a lot of apologies, I
’
m afraid. I
’
ve behaved disgracefully all the evening.
”

“
Of course you haven
’
t. I
’
ve thoroughly enjoyed our outing,
”
Richard protested.

“
Yes, the outing was all right, but how about my behaviour before? You were so fed up with me, you had to bring me out in self-defence,
”
Mary teased.

“
I wasn
’
t in the least fed up with you.
”
Richard paused.
‘“
I was rather sorry for you.
”

Mary laughed, but it was not a happy laugh.
“
Sorry for me
...
why?
”

“
You seemed so miserable ... I know you tried to let off steam on me, and I wasn
’
t unselfish enough to let you.
”
Richard
’
s eyes sought hers.
“
If you are angry with me, why bottle it up? Let me have it. I deserve every bit of your wrath, but I hate silent antagonism,
”
he admitted.

“
It was partly your fault
...
you saw me with Guy
...
why pretend you didn
’
t? Why not admit it?
”
Mary burst out.
“
That was what annoyed me, your
‘
let
’
s pretend I don
’
t know anything
’
attitude.
”

“
I seem to have an unhappy knack of butting in at the wrong moment!
”
Richard
’
s eyes sought Mary
’
s.
“
That hospital business ... thank goodness I
’
ve lived that down.
”
He sighed.
“
Now this! It
’
s pretty rotten for me; you
’
ll begin to think I make a habit of listening at doors.
”

“
Don
’
t be absurd! You might just as well say that I am careless about closing doors. Anyway, it
’
s too late to worry about either of our unfortunate habits; the fact remains you did see me with Guy. I can
’
t bear your scorn. If you disapprove, for goodness
’
sake say so, don
’
t just remain silently contemptuous to spare my feelings,
”
Mary exclaimed with heat.

“
I
’
m neither scornful nor disapproving.
”
Richard laid his hand for a moment on Mary
’
s.
“
Even if it were my affair, which it isn
’
t, I couldn
’
t blame you for something which is entirely beyond our control, which emotions are, within reason.
”

“
They shouldn
’
t be where a married man is concerned,
”
Mary retorted.
“
You
don
’
t think so either. You may as well admit it, you won
’
t hurt my feelings.
”

“
His marriage is an unfortunate incident ... in this case wholly unimportant. Veronica might consider your attachment to her husband a heaven-sent blessing ... No one loses anything
...
how can it matter?
”

Mary laughed shortly.
“
At least you are truthful.
”
There was an undercurrent of meaning in Mary
’
s voice which appeared to escape her listener, for Richard seemed entirely unaware of the question in the heavily lashed eyes which searched his.

“
Your happiness conc
e
rns me more than anything, your future
...”
He paused, as if uncertain how to continue.
“
I wish I felt more sure
...
more convinced.
”

“
More sure of what?
”
Mary broke in.
“
I suppose you don
’
t like Guy. I know your mother doesn
’
t. He hasn
’
t made Veronica happy, .but that is hardly to be wondered at,
”
she insisted pointedly.

“
I suppose that
’
s true enough. I hadn
’
t thought about it in that way. Veronica hasn
’
t quite given him a square deal,
”
Richard admitted thoughtfully
.

“
I
’
m glad you have the decency to admit it.
”
Mary picked up her gloves, and drew them slowly over her hands.
“
You ought to be grateful to me for making things so nice and easy,
”
she added bitterly, then rose to her feet, and, as if dismissing the subject, she concluded:
“
We ought to be going. Will you get the bill?
”

As if quite unaware of his companion
’
s sudden animosity, Richard called the waitress and, having settled the bill, followed Mary to the door. He assisted her into the car, and turned in the direction of Frensham Manor. Mary settled herself back against the seat, and gave herself up to her thoughts. Although Richard had certainly appeared to disapprove of her apparent love for Guy, she was painfully aware that he had made no effort to dissuade her. That Guy had been as unfortunate in his marriage as Veronica, and was equally to be pitied, Richard had not denied. Well, Mary argued, it was just as well he hadn
’
t, or she would have found it difficult not to admit to him her knowledge of his own part in the affair. If he had been glad at the course things were taking, he had very cleverly concealed it. Naturally he
’
d had to do that. He couldn
’
t have let her see that falling in love with Guy was the happiest thing that could have happened for Veronica and himself. Mary passed her hand wearily across her forehead. But she wasn
’
t in love with Guy; she wouldn
’
t be the means of removing the obstacle in the path of Richard
’
s love. His hopes had been raised in vain; sooner or later he would learn the truth.

“
You
’
re worrying again, Mary.
”
Richard
’
s voice broke in on her thoughts.
“
There is nothing to worry about if you and Guy really love one another. I see no reason why some day
...” H
e stopped abruptly, and Mary was conscious of a curious break in his voice. She glanced up at her companion
’
s profile; his lips were tightly compressed, and his eyes stared at the road before him. Mary
’
s heart thumped against her s
i
de until she felt that surely he must hear it. With an effort which seemed almost physical, she followed her companion
’
s example, and stared unseeingly at the road; it needed all her control to prevent herself speaking, crying out her denial, asserting her indifference to Guy, to any man, except to the silent figure by her side.