yRing for the Nurse(29)

       
           



       

"Probably Miss Jason's unexpected presence upset him?" Colonel Brenton  suggested quietly. "You see, no man likes to appear at a disadvantage  before a woman. It was different of course in hospital, but now he is  up, I've no doubt he would have preferred her to delay her visit until  he had completely returned to normal. Just think things over and see if  you can change your mind." He lowered his voice at the sound of  approaching footsteps on the flagged terrace and rose to his feet as Guy  appeared at the top of the steps. "Here he is ... he mustn't think  we've been discussing him!" Colonel Brenton raised his voice again and  called to his son. "Come and sit down. Apparently you gave Nurse the  slip this morning, she was thinking in terms of breakfast trays when you  were already dressed and out!"

With a natural impulse, Felicity also stood and waited while Guy  approached them. After a formal exchange of greeting and some desultory  conversation, Colonel Brenton turned towards the door leading into the  house. "You two stay out there for a bit, the sun's got a lot of warmth  in it this morning, do you good, my boy! I've got some seed catalogues I  must go through and I want to get the order off today."

As his tall figure disappeared into the house, Felicity deliberately  seated herself by Guy Brenton's side and brought up the subject which  was uppermost in her mind.

"I understand that Mr. MacFarlayne is coming down to remove your plaster  tomorrow-the information came from your father. I feel it might have  been better if it had come from you."

"Didn't I tell you?" The question was casual and if Felicity had  expected to embarrass him with her direct statement, she was  disappointed, he was entirely unperturbed. "Anyway, the information is  quite correct."

"It would have been more courteous to tell me yourself," Felicity  insisted, grateful for the air of detachment she had managed to instil  into her voice, for despite his uncompromising attitude, she still  longed for the easy-going friendship and understanding which had grown  up between them while she had nursed him in hospital. Despite her  annoyance at the casual way in which he had treated her, she wanted to  sink her own feelings, to swallow her pride and disregarding all that  had occurred, to; remain by his side.

Wholly unaware of his companion's emotions, Guy Brenton glanced casually  at his watch. "Alaine not down yet?' We said we'd ride at eleven,  didn't we?"

"Half past," Felicity replied curtly, then determined not to be so  readily turned from her grievance, she went on, "Since you only thought  you told me of Mr. MacFarlayne's decision"-she laid emphasis on the  verb-"perhaps you'd be good enough to tell me your plans now. You  haven't forgotten that I am returning to St Edwin's today?"

"Oh, of course, you did say something about that last night, didn't  you?" His lips curved into a smile, one of those rare smiles which had  gradually become a part of that new-found understanding and intimacy of  the last weeks. It was certainly the first time he had relaxed in her  presence since their arrival and refusing to allow herself to be too  easily cajoled, Felicity deliberately ignored his more genial manner.

"You know perfectly well that I did!" she retorted with an angry flutter  of her eyelashes which served to emphasize the deep blue colour of her  eyes. "I am asking you what you propose to do about it-Mr. MacFarlayne  will need assistance tomorrow-and you may need some too-anyway for the  first day or two." She made no effort to conceal the satisfaction the  reminder afforded her, then unable to resist a final thrust, added, "I  doubt if Miss Jason will be very helpful when it comes to sterile  dressings."

"I doubt if she'll be very helpful at any form of nursing," he agreed  imperturbably, in fact a smile still played around his firm lips as he  went on, "I hope you hadn't got too set on the idea of leaving today.  After all, you've admitted yourself it won't be possible. I regret  keeping you here against your will, but I'm afraid you'll have to  postpone your departure-" He broke off at Felicity's stifled  exclamation, then continued with an almost exaggerated air of apology,  "I can't tell you how sorry I am, but I won't detain you a moment longer  than necessary."                       
       
           



       

"I see." Felicity bit her lips to stem the torrent of angry words which  threatened to escape. "I suppose that is an order-very well, I'll stay,  since I have no option." She gripped her fingers tightly together to  still their trembling and, forcing herself to turn to face him, tilted  her chin arrogantly as she added, "If I am still in charge, then I  insist that you allow me to refix that sling. If you intend riding this  morning you'll need far more support for your arm than that, you'd  better come up to your room and have it done properly."

Although she rose and moved towards the doors leading into the lounge,  she knew he was following her and as she turned to mount the stairs, she  had a fleeting glimpse of his amused expression. Hastening her steps,  she threw open the door to his room; if he thought her a child to be  coaxed and placated he'd find he was mistaken. He'd force her by his  position of authority to remain, then she too, in her capacity of nurse,  would have her way.

Felicity could certainly find no fault with Guy Brenton's attitude as he  allowed her to refix his arm and button the riding jacket tightly  across his chest as an additional support. "It's firmly held now but I  still don't think too much cantering is advisable," she remarked as she  gave a final adjustment to the sling.

Any response he may have made was interrupted by Alaine's sudden entry.  "Oh ... hallo, Guy! Morning, Nurse! I'm sorry, Guy darling, I'm not  ready." She stretched her arms languidly above her head, revealing the  moulded lines of her figure beneath the clinging silk material of her  dressing-gown. "I woke so late, I feel incredibly lazy, I suppose it's  reaction, I've been working madly hard. Let's put off our ride until  tomorrow!" She dropped her arms to her side and emitted a deep sigh. "I  do hope you don't mind ... I see you're all ready ... still, we can go  tomorrow instead, can't we?"

"Having struggled into breeches and jacket-and having submitted to have  my arm trussed like a chicken-I think I'll go on my own. No, it doesn't  matter one bit," he interrupted as Alaine began to reiterate her  regrets.

"You can't go alone!" Felicity rapped out the words. "It's absurd, I  refuse to allow it. If Miss Jason can't accompany you, then I shall!"

A ripple of incredulous laughter greeted Felicity's assertion. "What you  go with him ... you surely don't mean that you can ride?" Alaine  queried in unfeigned astonishment. "It seems so odd for a nurse ... I  can't see how you have the opportunity for that sort of thing."



"I haven't," Felicity admitted quietly, but the thought of her  riding-habit lying at the bottom of her suit-case gave her considerable  satisfaction. How she and Diana had laughed and argued about packing it  at all; it had been pushed to the back of her cupboard for so long that  she had almost forgotten its existence until Diana had unearthed it.  When she had first left Somerset she had been reluctant to discard it,  almost unworn, a product of a Savile Row tailor; perhaps after all, that  long ago weakness was now to be justified, she wondered as she waited  for what seemed an interminable time for Guy Brenton to speak.

"Accompany me by all means if you'd care to." His tone was indifferent  but even in his expression Felicity was sure that he too showed a look  of surprise. "It's rough going, are you sure you are up to it?" he  added, and this time there was no mistaking the note of mistrust in his  voice.

"If you can manage with one arm then I'm pretty sure I can with two."  There was an air of suppressed animation in Felicity's whole poise as  she turned towards the door. The circumstances of the promised ride, the  tenseness of the atmosphere, none of those things seemed to count, only  the joy of anticipation, the prospect that she could indulge once again  in a sport she had always loved. At the door she paused to add, "I'll  be down in ten minutes, I'll have to change. Diana ... that is Nurse  Weste ... made me bring riding-kit-I didn't want to, but I'm very glad  now."