"What lovely things!" Diana exclaimed with admiration as she fingered a heavy floral silk, then passed on to the closer scrutiny of a slickly cut suit in fine barathea. "You are lucky, you must have had heaps of money what on earth made you take up nursing?"
"I thought you knew. I suppose we were what people call wealthy, but I couldn't stay on at home after Father died. Neither Tony nor I cared for our stepfather. I only remained on after Tony went abroad because I was expecting to marry, but when Peter died, I had to earn a living. All my father's estate was willed to my mother during her lifetime and Tony and I had just a small allowance. Now Tony keeps sending me money, although I'm constantly telling him I don't need it."
"Heard from him lately?" Diana enquired conversationally while still engrossed in examining each garment in turn.
"He never misses writing once a week." Felicity smiled and there was warmth in her voice as she continued, "His last letter was absolutely thrilling, he says he is keeping all his real news as a surprise but there is no doubt the farm is a success." She paused and there was a far-away expression in her blue eyes as she went on, "I can easily read his secret between the lines, I believe that he's doing marvellously and I feel sure that, before long, he'll be asking me to join him."
The unexpected statement took Diana's attention momentarily away from the cupboard. "You mean you will go out to him? Oh, how wonderful, a fruit farm in California, it would be my idea of heaven!"
Felicity was silent while she pulled an empty suit-case from beneath her bed and slowly threw back the lid. "I want to see Tony again more than anything in the world, I'm thrilled that he has done so well." She paused, obviously trying to put her thoughts into words. "It's rather difficult to explain-of course I should never tell him-but sometimes I wonder if I could ever be really happy away from England. If only his farm were here, here in the heart of the English countryside." There was an obvious note of longing in her voice.
Diana laughed at her companion's intensity. "Don't be silly, you don't know how lucky you are, you'll love it once you get there. I was brought up in the States; true I was only a kid when I left, but I remember enough to know I'd give anything to get back." Diana, tiring of the subject, turned her attention back to the matter of clothes. "Now tell me, what do you think you ought to take?"
"Certainly not much," Felicity laughed. "A couple of frocks, and 'one and one off' of everything else! I'll only be there a day or two and although Mr. Brenton stipulated that I should travel in mufti, he'll probably expect me to don uniform once I'm in the house."
"Yes, I suppose so." Diana was obviously giving the matter close thought. "Still, you can't be sure about that, nor, for that matter, how many days you'll actually be there, there will be loads of room in that suit-case, so you may as well be prepared for all emergencies." She ran her eyes speculatively along the row of hanger. "I suggest you travel in that black suit-it's neat but not gaudy, as they say"-she laughed, then went on-"and I suggest a dinner frock for the evenings, then perhaps one evening dress-after all, you never know," she added hastily as she saw that Felicity was about to protest.
After considerable good-natured argument Diana got her way about most things; it seemed much easier to give in and she obviously so enjoyed her role as packer and adviser that Felicity hadn't the heart to remonstrate. There were further cries of admiration from Diana as she went through Felicity's trunk, closely packed with those dainty articles of her trousseau which had obviously been quite unsuitable for hospital wear. "I just couldn't take that," Felicity protested feebly as Diana commenced to fold a soft blue velvet house-gown and its slippers to match.
"Why not? The trouble with you is that you've forgotten what it's like to live in high society-how you've had the strength of mind to keep these things hidden away all this time I just can't think."
"It was ages and ages before I could even bear to look at them," Felicity admitted. "Then, I just made myself be sensible and unpacked the trunks in which I'd stowed them away. But there hasn't been much opportunity to wear any of them, even on holiday they weren't any use, don't forget we've spent our last two holidays hiking in Wales-crepe de chine undies and a velvet house-coat would have been horribly out of place in a rucksack!"
"You're hopeless!" Diana laughed. "I'd have found an opportunity to wear things like this somehow or other. You are lucky, you can't imagine how I envy you." There was no real malice in her words, only good-natured banter.
"I wish you'd have some-here, take this-and these." Felicity thrust a satin slip and some hand-embroidered chiffon garments into her hands. "Do take them, they'll only rot if I keep them packed away much longer."
"You really mean it?" Diana's creamy skin flushed with pleasure. "You angel! I only hope you didn't expect a polite refusal because you aren't going to get it!" She smoothed out the garments and folding each one separately placed them carefully on one side. "Now what about the rest of your things, what undies are you going to take?"
"I should leave the rest, you must be tired and I'll have plenty of time in the morning."
Without rising from her kneeling position before the suit? case, Diana turned to address her companion. "What did Matron have to say when you saw her this evening?"
"Full of good advice, of course," Felicity smiled. "Told me all the 'do's and don'ts' of private nursing, most of which I think I knew. She obviously highly disapproved of any nurse other than her special outdoor staff doing the job, but I suppose she could hardly refuse Mr. Brenton. She graciously granted me tomorrow morning 'off and said I was to be ready in the entrance hall at two-oh, of course, she disapproves of mufti but relies on my good sense to behave myself as becomes a member of her staff." Felicity's cheeks dimpled provocatively, as she mimicked Matron's tight-lipped voice. "I didn't enjoy one single moment of the interview except the bit when she said we wouldn't leave until after lunch and I could have a free morning." She paused, then went on, "You see, I'll have heaps of time to finish the last bits myself, you've been such a help, but I really think you ought to get off now-do you realize it's nearly eleven?"
Diana stretched her arms above her head in a prodigious yawn as she rose to her feet. "I think I will turn in-I suppose I ought to say au revoir, I doubt if I shall see you tomorrow, we've got a formidable theatre list and I'm due for first lunch. I expect you'll have a 'lie-in', I won't get a chance to come over and I'll be back in theatre by the time you leave."
After an affectionate farewell and all sorts of advice serious and otherwise, Diana departed, leaving Felicity to her own devices. Mechanically she tidied up the littered room, lifted her half-packed suit-case to a chair and set out her clothes ready for the morning.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
"Mr. Brenton's car is ready, Miss, and I've put the suitcases in the back." The hospital porter addressed Felicity as she stood ready in the entrance hall.
"Then please ring through to Sister, John Mason Ward and tell her," Felicity instructed him. "She'll let Mr. Brenton know." While the porter turned to his desk to carry out her request, Felicity walked towards the wide-opened doors. She felt ridiculously nervous, she couldn't imagine why, but for the first time in her life she would have given anything to be wearing her familiar uniform, there was after all something comfortably inconspicuous about her worn navy coat and the plain felt hat which when pulled well forward could practically screen her face. The black suit, which a few moments ago had seemed so neat and suitable, now felt far too well fitting, the heels of her black shoes appeared to have grown inches higher and she was certain the discreet touch of lipstick must be obvious to all. With nervous tread she walked to the top of the broad stone steps. That must be the hired car, she hoped it had a careful driver, she wouldn't dare caution him in front of Guy Brenton, that might be suggestive of the fussing he deplored, but since his concussion he was still liable to headaches and fast driving mightn't be too good for him.