"Then I think it's unwise to continue probing, it may cause him unnecessary distress. Why not accept things as they are and not worry about him? Apart from that very brief blackout there won't be any other effects," Felicity assured her.
"But don't you see I haven't finished explaining," Alaine persisted, with rising excitement. "I don't want him to remember, I want him to forget every wretched moment of that awful night!"
"Then it's all happened for the best, hasn't it?" Felicity asked brightly, while she wondered with inward annoyance why on earth this girl persistently wasted her time. With the deliberate intention of terminating the interview, Felicity made to rise but Alaine quickly urged her back.
"You can't go yet, I haven't nearly finished!" She pressed her hands together until the knuckles whitened. "It was a ghastly evening, everything went wrong, I should never have persuaded Guy to go, he never hits it off with my friends! We were both at daggers drawn from the start, then I got mad with Guy, drank far too many cocktails and completely lost my head. It all came to a climax in the car, I told him I wouldn't go through with our engagement and I flung his ring back at him!"
"I think I begin to understand." Felicity spoke quietly in direct contrast to her companion's hysterical note. "It seems that the issue is your affair, presumably you prefer the incident to be forgotten and nature has obligingly done it for you."
"I didn't mean a word of what I said that night, I've told you I was overwrought, I don't want to break my engagement, I never meant to do it, I promise you I didn't!"
"Then that seems to clinch the matter," Felicity spoke firmly. "The whole affair is conveniently forgotten."
"That is just the trouble, it isn't!" There was a sudden break in Alaine's voice. "It will upset Guy terribly. Can't you see what a shock it would be if he were to know that I had thrown him over, just when he most needs me? He is terribly proud and unforgiving, I know that he'd never take me back. When he sees that ring it will all come back to him, he may even remember the hateful things I said." Then with a choking sob, she buried her face in her hands.
Felicity stared in astonishment, and a feeling of unreality assailed her. Could this emotion be genuine, did Alaine really feel so deeply? "It is possible, but I have told you I consider it extremely unlikely." She spoke gently and reassuringly.
"I don't believe he will remember ... unless he finds the ring, my engagement ring, I told you I gave it back to him in the car that night." Alaine lowered her hands and lifted her misty eyes appealingly to her companion. "Don't let him find it, promise me you won't let him, promise me!" she implored.
What was this girl asking? That she be a party to deceiving Guy Brenton, assist in hiding from him evidence that the love he had offered had been thrown back at him? Felicity gripped the arms of the chair as if by its firm contact she would still the angry beat in her veins. Could one such as Alaine ever have appreciated the true value of love from such a man? She was shrewd enough to realize her mistake now and to know that the finding of her ring would probably bring back an all too clear recollection of the unfortunate events leading up to its return.
"You'll help me, won't you?" Alaine went on anxiously, as she became aware of Felicity's impassive expression. "That first night I visited him, he scarcely knew I was there, I hunted everywhere but his clothes weren't in his room- I've tried to look since but I haven't had a chance, he is always awake now and I daren't let him see me."
"His clothes were not brought up until later," Felicity announced calmly, although inwardly fuming at Alaine's shameless admission.
"It will be in his overcoat pocket, I saw him put it there," Alaine went on eagerly. "When you pack his things, you'll get it for me, won't you? It will be so easy for you, and as for me-well, I'll never, never be able to thank you enough -say you'll do it for me, you will, won't you? Won't you?" she insisted anxiously as Felicity remained silently staring at her.
"I can't possibly, you must realize that I couldn't. Do you really expect me to search my patient's pockets?" Felicity demanded with ill-concealed anger.
"You still don't understand," Alaine protested. "Standards of ordinary behaviour don't come into this at all, it's for Guy's own sake, surely you realize that, it's to help him that I'm asking you. He seemed so much brighter this afternoon, much more cheerful, why, he even showed me how he was trying to move his fingers-if he finds that ring and recalls that evening, realizes that everything is over between us-don't you think that is going to set him right back again?"
"I don't know..." Felicity's words trailed into silence. If only she could gauge how much truth there was in Alaine's assertion. Was it all real or was it just an act put on to order? Felicity didn't know the answer. A glow of pleasure had enveloped her at Alaine's assertion that Guy Brenton had obviously benefited by her advice of that morning; then her outburst had done some good, it had all been worth while. Would he really mind finding the ring, did he honestly love this girl or was the whole thing an infatuation of which he would be far better free? How could she know the answer? How could she know how much Alaine meant to him? There was some unknown quality which drew a man and girl together, something which no third person could define. Unconsciously a deep sigh escaped her lips. At all costs he mustn't be distressed now, nothing must be allowed to interfere with his progress, his return to health was the one and only thing which mattered. "You honestly believe he will mind? You really know he loves you?" Felicity spoke her thoughts aloud, then, recognizing the importance of Alaine's answer she fixed her eyes on her companion's, compelling her gaze.
"I've been pretty frank with you, haven't I? I mean about Guy and me. I told you he scarcely noticed me at first, I've admitted that I set out deliberately to win him. I fell into my own snare." She laughed a trifle bitterly. "I believe I love Guy as much as I'm capable of loving anyone. I love my work too, but I've agreed to give it up when we marry, so I must care, mustn't I?" As Felicity nodded her head but remained silent, Alaine went on. "I don't want to lose him now, he is different, different from any man I've ever known. If he were anyone else, I suppose I'd have had a hectic affaire and got him out of my system; there is no chance of that with Guy so I'm going to marry him. I know he cares for me, he has never been interested in girls, that's why I mean so much to him. I don't think he entirely approves of everything I do and say, but he is extraordinarily tolerant and patient, and he knows that once we are married and I've broken with my work-which in time will mean my friends too-I'll be my natural self again. This film racket has made me tough ... you have to be, to get places."
The ring of truth was undeniable and at that moment she had shown the more genuine side of her nature which Guy Brenton must have found and loved. Felicity rose slowly from her chair and this time Alaine made no move to stop her. "I'll help you, I'll find and return your ring." She spoke in even, unemotional tones which completely belied the doubts which flooded her whole being.
CHAPTER EIGHT
The following day brought rain. The overcast skies, the monotonous downpour and the incessant drip of water into the gutters reflected Felicity's own mood as she hurried through the ward to reach the sanctuary of the small pantry just beyond the wide swing doors. As she closed the door behind her and leaned against the lintel for support her breath came in quick, uneven gasps, then, taking a grip on herself she slowly unclasped her fingers and looked down at the ring which had lain concealed in her palm.
It had proved too easy. It had been Guy Brenton himself who had asked her to send his suit and overcoat for cleaning, prior to his departure from hospital. "They probably show some signs of wear and tear after the crash," he had remarked and had added with complete indifference, "just make sure the pockets are clear before they go." It had been as simple as that and now the glittering bauble lay in her hand, an unpleasant reminder of the part she had played.