Unknown (8 page)

‘Where on earth have you been?’ Brad sounded concerned, despite the sharp note in his voice, but as the light behind him threw his face into shadow she was unable to read his expression. Even so she was acutely aware of his tall leanness as he stood silhouetted in the door frame, and wondered whether he too was remembering their earlier embrace. ‘And why are you carrying your shoes as though you were an intruder?’

‘I—I went for a walk and I didn’t want to interrupt you. I thought you might be working and if you heard a noise out here you would—’

He snapped on the hall light, noticing for the first time her soaking feet. ‘You silly child, what are you trying to do? Catch pneumonia? Come inside and get off those wet stockings while I heat some milk
.'

Obediently Laura entered his study, taking off her tights and curling her toes before the fire. Despite Brad’s anger he had been genuinely concerned about her wellbeing, and the thought brought a comforting warmth not entirely due to the glowing logs.

He returned in a remarkably short time with the drink and a towel. While Laura dried her feet he poured a measure of whisky into the milk.

Laura wrinkled her nose when she saw what he was doing. ‘Ugh ! I don’t like whisky
.'

‘Like it or not, you’re going to drink it,' he said gruffly, standing over her while she forced the burning liquid down her throat. His eyes were unusually kind and Laura’s heart beat a tattoo in her breast. She hastily lowered her lashes, puzzled by her own reaction to his solicitude.

When she had finished he took the glass, setting it aside on his desk before pulling her to her feet. ‘Come now, straight to bed before you catch cold. I don’t want anything to stop you going to London. I’ve arranged everything for tomorrow, before Helen changes her mind
.'

Laura felt rebuffed. So that was the reason for his concern, she thought, as together they climbed the stairs. She had been idiotic enough to believe that his benevolence was for her own sake. When in fact he merely wanted to make sure she was well enough to accompany Helen.

Outside her door he halted. He tipped her chin with his finger and for one moment Laura thought he was going to kiss her again. His eyes smouldered like twin coals and her heart beat so loudly she was sure he must hear it. She waited expectantly, but after giving her a long, searching look as if trying to see into the depths of her mind Brad gave a barely perceptible sigh and pushed his hands into his pockets. ‘Good-night, sleep well,' he said, and continued along the corridor to his own room.

Puzzled by his attitude, Laura prepared for bed, but tired as she was she could not sleep. ^She lay awake watching the patterns cast on the ceiling by the moon as it shone through the branches of the trees.

She ran over in her mind the events of the day— from the thrilling moment when Brad had kissed her to the tenderness he had shown a few minutes earlier. Even though she now knew his concern was not entirely for her own sake, even though she knew she would never be anything more to him than his secretary—hadn’t he made that clear by the way he’d apologised for kissing her, by the way he’d shortly said good-night just now when she herself had anticipated another kiss? Despite all this, she, came to the startling conclusion that she was in love, completely and irrevocably in love.

‘But I can’t be,’ she whispered aloud, sitting bolt upright. ‘How can I fall for such an insufferable person?’ Rather than feel comforted by her discovery Laura was tormented by the distressing position in which she now found herself and it was several hours later before she finally fell into a fitful sleep, waking with a start when her alarm told her that it was seven-thirty.

Laura mused for a moment at the warm glow that filled her, then flushed almost guiltily as remembrance of the previous evening returned. Whatever happened she must not let Brad guess at her feelings. She could imagine his. amusement. His complacency that she was following the same pattern. Had he kissed any of his other secretaries? she wondered. Had he given them any encouragement? Finding the thought distasteful, she pushed it firmly from her.

She showered and dressed, choosing with care a jade green woollen dress which enhanced the slim perfection of her figure, recalling that today she was leaving for London and realising with something approaching dismay that she did not want to go. Although there was little likelihood of Brad ever returning her love she wanted to be near him, to hear his deep voice, watch the changing emotions cross his rugged face. I don’t want to go with Helen, she told herself, mildly angry that this should happen now. I want to stay here with Brad. Then the knowledge of how much his sister’s health meant to him came flooding back. By accompanying Helen she would be pleasing Brad, and after all, it would not be for long, a month or two at the most, and surely he would visit them occasionally? Knowing how fond he was of the other girl Laura knew he would not leave them there without frequently checking on Helen’s progress.

Entering the dining-room, Laura was surprised to see Brad seated at the table, apparently waiting for her. Her shock must have been apparent, for he laughed. ‘I thought I’d give you the pleasure of my company this morning, as it will be the last time you eat here for a while. You don’t mind
?'

‘N-no, of course not. It will make quite a change.' Her heart hammered painfully as she slid into her chair. How handsome he looked this morning, his white, roll-necked shirt causing his tan to appear even darker.

His grey eyes watched her closely. ‘No after-effects? You seem a little shaky
.'

Thank goodness he’d put down her reaction to the events of the night before, thought Laura. She would have to be more careful in future, or he would soon guess the way she felt. ‘No, I’m fine. I didn’t sleep too well, that’s all.'

Brad passed her the milk, their fingers touching for one electric moment as she took it from him. How true was the saying that hate is akin to love, thought Laura. She had detested Brad intensely at the beginning, and now here she was head over heels in love. If only he felt the same way about her! But she knew how unlikely that was. She was his employee and as such must try and remember her position.

Waiting until she had poured the milk on to her cereal, Brad said, 'I've been walking in the woods this morning. I love autumn, the russets, greens and golds, the rustle of leaves beneath my feet. It’s a pity you’re leaving. You’ll miss the best part of the year.’

‘I know. Autumn’s always been my favourite. I remember when I was young collecting and pressing as many different coloured leaves as I could find.. I treasured them for years.’

Brad smiled. ‘Autumn treasure, eh? Your hair’s like autumn, you know that? Sometimes it’s gold—like now with the sun shining on it, and another time it’s pure copper—as that leaf blowing across the lawn. I think I treasure you as you did those leaves—I really don’t know what I’d have done without you this last week or two.’

Laura felt her colour rise. If only he knew what his words were' doing to her! Managing to return his smile, she said shakily, ‘Thank you for the compliment, but I’m sure anyone else could have done just as well.’

‘Don’t you believe it.’ He raised his eyes skyward, ‘How I’ve suffered at the hands of scheming females!’

Feeling more and more uncomfortable by Brad’s unaccustomed friendliness, Laura had difficulty in hiding her feelings and was glad when breakfast was over.

‘I suggest you go and help Helen pack,’ said Brad as they left the dining-room, ‘and Laura,’ his hand resting lightly on her shoulder, ‘I’m glad you’re going. She needs someone to stand by her during the next few weeks.’

‘Are you coming with us?’ asked Laura, her shoulder burning at his touch.

‘I’m sorry. I can’t manage it. My man, Jarvis, will take you down in the Jag. Everything’s been arranged
.'

Helen was in excellent spirits. Obviously she had now decided that the treatment was going to be a success and couldn’t wait to get going. ‘It’s the first time I’ve left the house for twelve months
,'
she said excitedly. ‘It will be good to be back in London. Even in the clinic I shall sense the atmosphere—the night life—everything I used to love
.'

'I'm glad you feel like this
,'
replied Laura, snapping the fasteners on Helen’s case. ‘I was worried that you’d change your mind
.'

Helen raised her finely pencilled brows. ‘You really are concerned about me, aren't you? It’s nice to know that at last someone cares. If you weren't going with me I shouldn't go. I couldn't face it on my own
.'
She suddenly smiled. ‘I like you, Laura. I'm sorry for speaking the way I did yesterday
.'

‘There's no need to apologise. I should probably feel the same in your circumstances. It’s enough to make anyone bitter.—I’ll tell Brad you’re ready now. We'll soon be on our way
.'

Jarvis took them straight to the clinic where Helen was shown to a room which was more like a hotel apartment than a hospital ward. It was thickly carpeted and luxuriously furnished. A supply of books and magazines were beside the bed on one side and a telephone on the other. Helen looked round her with undisguised pleasure. ‘Brad's certainly spared no expense. Let's hope this Doctor Jorgensen's as good as he says
.'

‘And what has Brad Stuart been saying about me?’ came a deep voice from behind them.

‘Eric
!'
Helen spun round the chair which had been used to wheel her into the room, her face contorted in horror. ‘Oh, no! ’ She buried her head in her hands. ‘Brad’s done this on purpose. He knew very well I didn’t want anyone I knew to see me like this.’

Doctor Jorgensen smiled, taking no notice at all of Helen’s fury. ‘And if I didn’t see you, I couldn’t cure you. It’s as simple as that. You can’t really make me believe that you want to spend the rest of your life—’ a slight pause and then with deliberate emphasis, ‘a cripple! ’

If he thought his words would goad Helen into staying he was wrong, for she jerked up her head and with eyes full of hatred said, ‘How dare you speak to me like that! Laura, fetch Jarvis. I’m going home. I refuse to let this man treat me. If I’d known it was him I should never have come in the first place.’

Laura looked hesitantly from Helen’s enraged face to the calm, smiling doctor. He was a short, stocky man in his mid-thirties and obviously not in the least put out by Helen’s reaction ‘Wait outside a few minutes, please,, I’d like to talk to Helen alone
.'

Doubtfully and trying to ignore the agonised look Helen threw her, Laura made her way to the waiting-room a few doors away.

Had Brad been aware that Helen knew Eric Jorgensen? Laura mused. He knew how insistent she was that none of her friends should see her.. The name Doctor Jorgensen had apparently meant nothing to Helen until she heard his voice, so perhaps Brad did not know either. It was sheer bad luck that it should turn out like this and Laura fervently hoped that the doctor would be able to persuade Helen to stay. After all the trouble and expense Brad had gone to it would be dreadful if Helen flatly refused to co-operate. Strangely, Doctor Jorgensen had not seemed in the least perturbed by Helen’s outburst. Perhaps he had expected something like this and had a plan of action already worked out?

Nervously Laura crossed to the window. She could see Jarvis waiting outside. He must be wondering why she was taking so long. She had told him she would only be a few minutes.

Her name was suddenly called and turning she saw the doctor standing in the doorway, the same lopsided smile still on his lips. ‘She’ll be all right now. I'm sorry it happened like that. Her brother warned me that she refused to see anyone connected with her past, so I didn’t tell him I’d met Helen. Otherwise I knew she wouldn’t come, and I'm confident that I shall be able to cure her.'

‘But why didn’t she know when Brad mentioned your name?'

'We’d only met socially and she knew me as Eric. She didn’t even know I was a doctor, Anyway, I think I’ve convinced her now that I can help, so if you’d like to go in—’

He stood back, allowing Laura to precede him. As they entered Helen smiled up from the depths of the armchair on which she now sat. Laura breathed a sigh of relief. It looked as though everything was going to work out after all.

THE telephone rang as Laura re-entered the flat. Brad’s voice sounded warm and friendly. ‘I wanted to make sure that Helen’s settled in all right, and you, of course. How do you like my flat?’

‘It—it’s fine—but I never imagined you to have a place like this.’ Laura looked round at the streamlined furniture, the brightly painted walls and boldly designed carpet.

A chuckle reached her. ‘You’re right—it isn’t me. But I rent it furnished and for the little time I spend there I’ve managed to shut my eyes to the decor. It serves its purpose—that’s all I can say for it.’ His voice became serious. ‘How’s Helen?’

‘Okay now, but I thought for a time that we’d have to bring her home.’

Laura heard his quick intake of breath. ‘Why? What happened?’

‘She knows Doctor Jorgensen
.'

‘Oh no! Of all things I never suspected that—her crowd were all theatricals. How did he come to meet him
?'

‘At some party or other. They weren’t close friends by any means, but sufficiently friendly for her to refuse to let him have anything to do with her.’

‘What happened next?’

She could sense Brad’s anxiety and hastened to reassure him. ‘Doctor Jorgensen’s charm worked wonders. He made her realise how silly she was and how unfair she was being to you—’

He snorted. ‘I bet that did some good.’

'No, you’re wrong. I don’t know exactly what the doctor said, but her hostilities are down and she seems perfectly happy. Jarvis brought my luggage here, then I went back and spent the whole evening with her. She’s different already, Brad, quite gay and talking about going back on the stage,’