‘Then I shall be between them,’ said Jean. ‘Take me up.’
‘Shall I wait with you, Miss?’
‘No. Keep a look-out for Mrs Ferse and tell her at once.’
The maid gazed at her admiringly and left her in the drawing-room. Setting the door ajar Jean stood listening. There was no sound. And she began to move silently up and down from door to window. If she saw Diana approaching she meant to run down to her; if Ferse came up she meant to go out to him. Her heart beat a little faster than usual, but she felt no real nervousness. She had been patrolling thus for a quarter of an hour when she heard a sound behind her, and, turning, saw Ferse just within the room.
‘Oh!’ she said: ‘I’m waiting for Mrs Ferse; are you Captain Ferse?’
The figure bowed. ‘And you?’
‘Jean Tasburgh. I’m afraid you wouldn’t know me.’
‘Who was that with you?’
‘Dinny Cherrell.’
‘Where has she gone?’
‘To see one of her uncles, I believe.’
Ferse uttered a queer sound – not quite a laugh.
‘Adrian?’
‘I think so.’
He stood turning those bright flickering eyes on the pretty room.
‘Prettier than ever,’ he said, ‘I’ve been away some time. Do you know my wife?’
‘I met her staying at Lady Mont’s.’
‘Lippinghall? Is Diana well?’
The words came out with a sort of hungry harshness.
‘Yes. Quite.’
‘And beautiful?’
‘Very.’
‘Thank you.’
Looking at him from under her long lashes Jean could see nothing in him from top to toe that gave the impression of derangement. He looked what he was – a soldier in mufti, very neat and self-contained, all – all but those eyes.
‘I haven’t seen my wife for four years,’ he said, ‘I shall want to see her alone.’
Jean moved towards the door.
‘I’ll go,’ she said.
‘No!’ The word came out with startling suddenness; ‘Stay there!’ And he blocked the doorway.
‘Why?’
‘I wish to be the first to tell her that I’m back.’
‘Naturally.’
‘Stay there, then!’
Jean moved back to the window. ‘Just as you like,’ she said. There was a silence.
‘Have you heard about me?’ he asked, suddenly.
‘Very little. I know you haven’t been well.’
He came from the door. ‘Do you see anything the matter with me?’
Jean looked up, her eyes held his till they went flickering away.
‘Nothing. You look very fit.’
‘I am. Sit down, won’t you?’
‘Thank you.’ Jean sat down.
‘That’s right,’ he said. ‘Keep your eyes on me.’
Jean looked at her feet. Again Ferse uttered that travesty of a laugh.
‘You’ve never been mentally sick, I take it. If you had you’d know that everybody keeps their eyes on you; and you keep your eyes on everybody. I must go down now. Au revoir!’
He turned quickly and went out, shutting the door. Jean continued to sit quite still, expecting him to open it again. She had a feeling of having been worsted, and a curious tingling all over, as if she had been too close to a fire. He did not open the door again, and she got up to do so herself. It was locked. She stood looking at it. Ring the bell? Hammer on it and attract the maid? She decided to do neither, but went to the window and stood watching the street. Dinny would be back soon and she could call to her. Very coolly she reviewed the scene she had been through. He had locked her in because he meant no one to interfere before he saw his wife – suspicious of everyone – very natural! A dim sense of what it meant to be looked on as deranged penetrated her young hard intelligence. Poor man! She wondered if she could get out of the window without being noticed, and, deciding that she couldn’t, continued to stand watching the end of the street for the appearance of relief. And, suddenly, without anything to cause it, a shiver ran through her, the aftermath of that encounter. His eyes! It must be terrible to be his wife. She threw the window wider, and leaned out….
Chapter Fifteen
THE sight of Jean at the window stayed Dinny and her uncle on the doorstep.
‘I’m locked in the drawing-room,’ said Jean, quietly; ‘you might let me out.’
Adrian took his niece to the car.
‘Stay here, Dinny. I’ll send her out to you. We mustn’t make a show of this.’
‘Take care, Uncle! I feel as if you were Daniel going into – ’
With a wan smile Adrian rang the bell. Ferse himself opened the door.
‘Ah! Cherrell? Come in.’