To Please the Doctor (24 page)

“
I thought that might tickle his fancy.
”
Duncan McRey laughed, then moved across the room to throw open the communicating door.
“
There is an adequate single room there for his nurse, the bathroom will be entirely at their disposal. I had one built leading from my own room when
I moved in. It was the one luxury I allowed myself but one day—well, sometime or other, I mean to do up and refurnish the whole place. It is rather a formidable undertaking, and I haven
’
t had the courage to tackle it as yet.
”

Jill wasn
’
t allowed to leave the house before both Mrs. Miles and Mary had greeted her, the former displaying her own apartments with
o
bvious pride and happiness.
“I’
m so happy here, Sister
...
and Mary, she
’
s never been so well, playing around all day, never seems to
get
tired, and putting on so much weight, too
...
just took at her arms.
”
She displayed Mary
’
s dimpled arms with obvious joy.
“
She is so excited too at the idea of the little boy coming to stay, but I
’
ve told her she isn
’
t to go poking her nose in where she isn
’
t wanted, so she won
’
t be any nuisance, I promise you.
”

“
Of course she won
’
t.
”
Jill stooped to drop a kiss on Mary
’
s upturned face.
“
Terry will be glad if you
’
ll play with him sometimes. He is just about your age, you
’
ll have lots of fun together.
”

“
Please don
’
t encourage her, Sister. I understand there is a nurse coming along with the child, she might not approve of Mary,
”
Mrs. Miles suggested somewhat doubtfully.

Jill laughed.
“
Nana
...
not approve! What nonsense! Nana is an absolute darling, she loves all children just as much as they love her, and if you aren
’
t careful she
’
ll be monopolizing Mary altogether!
”

It was not until
t
hey were on their way back to the hospital that Duncan McRey asked her opinion of the arrangements.

“
Everything is perfect. I think this holiday will be the highlight of Terry
’
s young life. Nana is always complaining that the child never gets a real break. If he gets away at all it
’
s to some hotel where he has to be on his best behaviour all the time and daren
’
t raise his voice above a whisper.
”
She paused, then, turning directly to her companion, added,
“
I
still don
’
t understand ... it must be a trouble for you. Why did you do it?
”

The direct question appeared disconcerting, and there was an obvious lapse
before Duncan McRey framed his reply.
“
Because I knew the child wanted to be
near you more than anything else. It can be so easy to grant a child
’
s
wish, I
hadn
’
t the heart to do otherwise. Adult wishes can be terribly hard to realize. This,
I knew, happened to be your wish, too, so you see I was able to kill two birds with
one stone,
”
he ended with a laugh.

“
This bird is happier than she can say,
”
Jill joked to hide the stir of emotion his words had provoked.
“
If only all my wishes were granted so easily.
”

“
Better tell me what they are. I
’
ll see what I can do about it.
”
Matching his mood to hers, he spoke in teasing
tones.

He could ask her that when through him alone she could find the fulfilment of every wish? Forcing a laugh she held out her hand.
“
Thank you again and ... and no wishes
just at the moment
... b
y the way, it
’
s quite safe to shake.
I
’
m completely degummed now, there isn
’
t any danger of sticking.
”
His laugh followed her as with lowered head she hurried across the lawn in the direction of the dining hall.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Jill drew her
fur coat more closely round her as she alighted at Victoria Station and made her way along the draughty platform. It was always a pleasant change to be out of uniform, and the knowledge that one was well-dressed afforded a certain feminine satisfaction.

It was only a short taxi ride to the Hallard
’
s Mayfair flat, and soon Jill was pressing her finger to the bell. Suitcases strapped and labelled stood piled in one
corner
of the hall, and a folder rug lay in readiness on a walnut chest. As Jill entered the lounge, her mother rose to greet her, and it was obvious that she was in the nervous state which invariably afflicted her at the prospect of a journey.

“
Darling, I
’
m so glad you
’
ve come. I was afraid you might be late.
”
She kissed Jill affectionately.
“
We must be in good time you know, those planes leave so promptly, they won
’
t wait a moment.
”

“
Neither will boats or trains!
”
Jill gave a laughing rejoinder as she returned to her mother
’
s embrace.
“
You
’
ve got heaps of time; there isn
’
t the slightest reason to get into a flap.
”

“
I suppose not.
”
Lady Hallard sighed.
“
Trevor has gone over to the barber. I can
’
t think why he had to leav
e
it to the last moment.
”

“
But it
’
s
not
the last moment,
”
Jill insisted, as she drew her mother towards the couch beside the fire.
“
Come and sit down quietly. We can have a nice
chat together before Trevor returns.
You know he is absolutely reliable, so sit back and relax
... You
’
ve
at least another half-hour before you need
think
of leaving.
”

“
I expect you are right,
”
Lady Hallard conceded as she took a cigarette from Jill
’
s proffered case.
“
What
’
s the weather like ... not misty or anything?
”
she asked
with ill-concealed anxiety.

“
Not a sign of mist, fog or storm,
”
Jill laughed.
“
You should have a lovely trip, so stop worrying about that too
...
Now tell me about Terry: how is he? I was absolutely stunned when Dr. McRey said he
’
d be coming to Sunsand I was so thrilled. Do tell me how it all happened,
”
Jill
queried eagerly.

“
I don
’
t exactly know
...”
Lady Hallard frowned.
“
If you ask me I think the little monkey invited himself,
”
she explained with an indulgent laugh.

“
But tell me what happened,
”
Jill persisted.

“
Terry has quite fallen for the Doctor, and I must say he certainly understands children. It
’
s lucky he does, or I daren
’
t
think
what opinion he would have had of the child
—
the way Terry said outright that he wanted to be with
you and the Doctor for Christmas, declaring you
’
d be lonely without him! I don
’
t think he gave the poor man much option.
”
Lady Hallard smiled at the recollection.
“
Naturally I tried to laugh it off, but Dr. McRey only encouraged him, and in the end invited him to stay.
”

“
I think he
’
ll love it there,
”
Jill spoke enthusiastically.
“
The house is right on the cliff with a private pathway to the sea. What time will he be down to-morrow?
”

“
I
’
ve told Hawkins to get them there before dark, so they should be in good time for tea.
”
The conversation distracted Lady Hallard, and she had obviously calmed down.

“
I
’
ll be there to meet them.
”

“
I was so pleased to see Harriet again after all these years,
”
Lady Hallard went on,
“...
and by the way, she tells me you are leaving St. Joseph
’
s. I hope you are going to be sensible this time and give it up for good.
”

“
I
’
m afraid not.
”
Jill smiled to soften her words.
“
I couldn
’
t bear an idle existence; but then I
’
ve told you all that before.
”

“
It
’
s time you got married and settled down.
”
Lady Hallard spoke with decision.
“
Goodness knows you must have had your chances. I tell you, Jill, it
’
s ridiculous the way you carry on, and in your position, too. It isn
’
t as if you
had
to work. Why not come home and live a normal healthy life?
”

“
My life is both normal and healthy,
”
Jill protested laughingly,
“...
and I like it,
”
she added with emphasis.

“
Dr. McRey would make a fine husband, and according to Harriet Laine he really is a coming man.
”

“
But you didn
’
t like him!
”
Jill exclaimed. Then, to co
v
er
the confusion the quite unexpected remark had evoked, went on,
“
You called him uncouth, said he lacked manners and, apart from his medical ability, which I admit you never questioned, you hadn
’
t a good word to say for
him
.
”

“
Perhaps I hadn
’
t—at first,
”
Lady Hallard agreed reluctantly.
“
I hardly knew him, but last Sunday he impressed me very favourably.
”

“
After Harriet had sung his praises and told you what an excellent position he was in—both medically—and financially,
”
Jill teased. She knew her mother so well. Those little snobberies to which she was addicted but would never dream of acknowledging.

“
Not at all. I liked him better, that
’
s all. I suppose when Terry was so ill I couldn
’
t give my mind to anything else. Trevor tells me that he is related to the McReys we met at St. Andrews that year and, by the way, you know he beat Trevor at golf on Sunday, even after he
’
d given him lots
o
f strokes and things,
”
she ended vaguely.

“
That hardly makes him a matrimonial catch.
”
Jill spoke so quietly that her words were little above a whisper. The idea that she should encourage and not repel any advances Duncan McRey might make gave her an irresistible urge to laugh outright.

“
What did you say, darling?
”

Jill shook her head.
“
Nothing.
”
She paused, then went on:
“
I don
’
t think you need concern yourself with Duncan McRey
’
s problems. He may be a confirmed bachelor and,
even if he weren
’
t, why should he be interested in me?
”

“
Why not?
”
Lady Hallard insisted.
“
You are so wrapped up in that work of yours—that silly uniform ... so unbecoming, too—sometimes I can
’
t believe that you are a daughter of mine.
”
She spoke plaintively in tones only too familiar to Jill.
“
A good-looking man, in an excellent position, and you let Harriet—who can
’
t hold a candle to you for looks—snap him up right under your nose!
”

“
What on earth do you mean?
”
Jill exclaimed.
“
Harriet
...
Dr. McRey? Why, it
’
s ridiculous! They are good friends, that
’
s all!
”

“
Ah!—so you
are
interested?
”
she queried shrewdly.
“
That man is extremely attractive, and whatever
his
ideas may be on the subject, he isn
’
t going to be left single for long. That kind of man is always shy with girls, but Harriet
is at least taking the trouble to penetrate his reserve.
”
She paused, then fixing Jill with violet eyes so like Jill
’
s own, persisted,
“
You do like him, don
’
t you?
”

“
I ... I think he is very charming. I admire his ability, too.
”
Jill knew her words sounded flat and evasive while she deplored the tell-tale colour which had mounted her cheeks at the question.
“...
but Harriet? There can
’
t be anything in that, they are very good friends, that
’
s all,
”
she repeated tonelessly as though to reassure herself. With a mechanical action she flung her cigarette into the fire and watched the flame consume it until it disintegrated into minute particles of ash ... She liked Harriet and desired her happiness ... but this, this fantastic suggestion, it couldn
’
t, it couldn
’
t be true!

“
Did you know that Dr. McRey had taken a house in town, in Queen Anne Street, one of those houses I
’
ve always admired so much?
”
Lady Hallard was now well embarked on her subject.
“
He
’
ll need a wife to run a place like that, so I
’
m afraid he
’
ll have to discard any fond hopes he may have cherished about remaining single.
”

Jill rose to her feet. The atmosphere of the room had suddenly become suffocating, the central heating was more than she could bear, and even the fire seemed to be burning with added intensity.
“
I
’
d better say my farewells and be going.
”
Her words sounded strained in her own ears.
“
There must be plenty of little things you still have to do.
”

“
Can
’
t you wait for Trevor? He
’
ll be disappointed if you don
’
t
...
”
If she was conscious of Jill
’
s sudden anxiety to speed her departure, she showed no sign.
“
I
’
ve no idea how long we
’
ll be away. I shan
’
t hurry back, I
’
m tired of this climate and, frankly, if it weren
’
t for Terry I
’
d get Trevor to stay South until the spring. The child seems to have taken a dislike to the idea of being left at Brent Towers alone with Nana. Thank goodness he
’
ll be with you over Christmas, but you
’
ll have to send him back afterwards. You mustn
’
t let him overstay his welcome with Dr.
McRey.
”

“
Now he is getting older I suppose he won
’
t like being left.
”
Jill spoke mechanically, she was still too conscious of that overheated room. Trevor
’
s sudden appearance filled her with relief. Now she could get away out into the cool, fresh air, somewhere along where she could relax. She took her stepfather
’
s outstretched hand and returned his greeting.
“
I
’
m glad you
’
ve come in, I wanted to see you before I left, and I must be going now. I
’
ve loads of shopping to do
.”

“
You can
’
t go for a moment. Just a drink first to speed us on our journey.
”
He smiled as he crossed to the cocktail cabinet, poured three glasses, and handing one to his wife then to Jill, he held it aloft.
“
Well, here is to a good journey for us and a happy Christmas to you, Jill.
”
He smiled at her over the rim of his glass.

“
Thanks.
”
Jill was glad of the cooling drink. She didn
’
t even notice what it was, but at least it had the effect of steadying her.
“
I hope you and Mother have a good holiday ... Send me a line when you arrive.
”

“
We will,
”
Trevor agreed, then added with a laugh,
“
What do you think of young Terry inviting
him
se
lf
to Sunsand Bay?
”