"Mrs. Mackerley seems to think this would suit you-a bit different from hospital food," Felicity added with an attempt at levity. "You shouldn't need any persuasion to eat this."
"You'd better be getting down to your own dinner. Mrs. Mackerley is a dear old soul but she does hate unpunctuality at meals."
Luckily Felicity was able to bite back the retort which sprang to her lips. She had longed to tell him that, from what she'd heard, Mrs. Mackerley was quite accustomed to that sort of thing when Alaine Jason was a guest in the house. Smothering the impulse, Felicity forced a smile. "Right, I'll be getting along, but are you quite sure you have everything you want?"
"Everything, thanks."
He really was in the most atrocious mood but, determined to ignore it, Felicity paused again as she reached the door. "You'd better have your shoulder redressed before you settle down tonight, I'll get you a sleeping draught too, I imagine you'll need it." She opened the door but before closing it behind her, added, "I'll come up again immediately after dinner."
Colonel Brenton rose to greet her as she walked down the stairs and across the lounge towards the fireside. "So you have managed to get your way and Guy is dining in his room?" His brown eyes, so like his son's, smiled down at her as he drew forward a chair.
"Whatever made you change into that hideous uniform?" Alaine interrupted before Felicity had time to reply to Colonel Brenton. "You look so much more attractive in mufti-perhaps you felt that you could get your own way with Guy more easily when garbed in all the trappings of your profession?" she ended laughingly.
Alaine's words were far too near the truth for Felicity to find them amusing and she was glad to be saved the need for any reply by the Colonel's timely offer of a glass of sherry.
"All right for you, my dear, or do you prefer one of those unpleasant concoctions known as cocktails?" he asked her, as seeing her comfortably settled in a chair, he reseated himself and picked up his own glass.
In the soft light of the small candle-shaped electric bulbs, the lounge had taken on an added air of homeliness. It still retained the stage effect which Felicity had felt when she had first entered but, as in her own bedroom, it was as if the very solidity of the heavy furnishings gave one a sense of security, the tapestry-covered chairs invited rest and even the family portraits offered her a smile of acceptance. "I prefer this, thank you." Felicity was glad of the inward warmth which the sherry gave her, she even accepted a second glass, feeling sure that, before the evening was out, she might be grateful for the extra stimulus.
Dinner, served in an enormous dining-room which Felicity felt would easily have seated a regiment, was, surprisingly enough, a cheerful meal. She had to admit that on such an occasion Alaine's chatter was a distinct advantage, and Colonel Brenton listened attentively to her vivid description of working in a film studio.
"I'm going up to say good night to Guy," Alaine announced as she put down her empty coffee cup on the polished dining-table. "I promise I'll not tire him," she added with a laugh which Felicity had to admit held no vestige of rancour, in fact Alaine's whole manner was so disarming that Felicity found it impossible to harbour any further resentment.
"More coffee, Nurse?" As Felicity smiled her refusal Colonel Brenton refilled his own cup, then went on. "There are quite a lot of things I want to ask you, but Alaine-well, the child is such a chatterbox that I haven't had a chance." He drew pensively at his cigar before continuing. "Tell me-will my son be all right-I mean his hand, you think he'll regain full use of his fingers?"
"Yes, I really think so." Felicity spoke without hesitation, glad to see the look of relief which her assertion evoked. "The surgeon was worried alt first, a perfect result was very important in Mr. Brenton's case. At first I know that Mr. MacFarlayne was deeply concerned; it seemed as if Mr. Brenton himself had lost heart, he made no effort to use his hand, he seemed so apathetic. Just lately he has made much more effort, the results have been most gratifying. It will be easier to tell when the plaster is removed but I know that Mr. MacFarlayne believes now that the chances of full recovery are excellent."
"That's a great load off my mind-Guy hasn't said much in his letters-I expect you know that the early ones he had to dictate and even lately he has only managed to scrawl a few somewhat illegible lines."
"It isn't easy to write with one's right arm encased in plaster," Felicity smiled.
"I'm glad to have him back here." The old man sighed. "I think, however, it would have been more restful for him without his fiancée; she is such a high-spirited child, I can't think what possessed him to bring her down until he'd had a few days' complete rest and quiet."
Felicity felt it might be scarcely fair to volunteer any explanation so, with a deliberate change of subject, she began to question her companion about the date and history of Weir Court. His response was immediate and Felicity found herself listening with enchantment to his vivid description of the old house as it had originally stood three hundred years earlier. He told her of the various families who had lived there, the wing that had been added and all the architectural changes through which it has passed until now it bore but little resemblance to the old yellowed and faded print which he took down from its place on the wall to show her.
Felicity had been so engrossed in the narrative that she had scarcely noticed the lateness of the hour. "If you'll excuse me I think it's time I persuaded Mr. Brenton to settle down."
Much as Felicity hated the prospect of intruding, her sense of responsibility won and thrusting aside her doubts, she knocked firmly on Guy Brenton's door, then, without awaiting a reply walked in. "I'm sorry to disturb you but it's getting late-Miss Jason, if you don't mind-" She broke off, it seemed scarcely necessary to put her wishes into words, Alaine should have sense enough to. know that she had stayed long enough already.
"O.K.-I daren't argue with you now you are in that starchy uniform." Alaine stifled a yawn as she rose from her seat on a low stool at Guy Brenton's feet. Stretching her slender limbs she stood erect, then turned away from Felicity to address her fiancé. "Good night, darling, see you in the morning. I hope you'll have shaken off all this invalid stuff by then and we can begin to have some real fun-how about a ride, think you'll feel up to it?"
"Please wait until tomorrow, don't make plans just yet," Felicity interposed with an almost imploring look at Alaine.
Completely ignoring her words, Guy spoke. "Right, Alaine, leave a message for Adams to have the horses ready, and saddled by eleven-better get along now or Nurse Dene may have something to say!"
Felicity was sure that he had accompanied his statement to Alaine with a sly glance in her direction. Like a child, she thought angrily, enjoying the chance to flaunt authority and taking every opportunity to press the point home. Her expression was unsmiling as she drew back the bed covers, then, when he was comfortably settled against the pillow, she neatly folded his dressing-gown and laid it across the end of the bed. "Now what about a sleeping draught?" She tipped two capsules carefully into the palm of her hand. "There doesn't seem to be any basin in this room, where do I get water?"
"This is one of the few rooms with an adjoining bathroom-over there, the door is concealed in the panelling." Felicity returned with a tumbler of water and set it within reach. "I'll leave the capsules here, you may not need them, I should try and sleep without them if you can." Her tone was icily formal, his attitude forbade any further attempts at cajolement. "What about a fresh dressing, it will only take a few minutes, and will make you more comfortable."
"Just as you like."
The occupation was mechanical and allowed Felicity to keep her face lowered; she was glad of that for fear her expression might betray the inward tumult of her thoughts.
"Thanks-that's fine." He lay back again as Felicity re-rolled a bandage and replaced the sterile gauze in its package. "As you heard, I propose to follow my normal pursuits tomorrow, I can't stand much more of this nursing. I think the rest must be left to Nature."