"No, of course not," the words were scarcely above a whisper. "I do care for Guy, I can see that it would be useless to deny it. I have always admired him, then during his illness and when he was completely dependent on me my feelings changed to something deeper than mere friendship. He was soon to be married, I had to resign myself to the idea-then-then suddenly he was free." Her voice was unsteady and she had to take a deep breath before she could control herself sufficiently to continue. "I couldn't bear to go on seeing him, so I had to make up my mind to get right away. When you were taken ill and he asked me to come down here, I wavered but hadn't the strength to refuse." She turned impulsively to her companion and now there was no hesitation in her words. "I've enjoyed looking after you, I haven't regretted it for one moment, I love being here, I love Weir Court."
"So, like your brother, you meant to run away from the greatest gift this life has to offer?" His tone was gentle and with a final pressure of his fingers he dropped his hand from hers. "Don't you realize how wrong that would have been?"
"I couldn't do otherwise, I've only delayed the inevitable end, even now I dread Guy's visits. I'm frightened of giving myself away, and if it weren't that I feel you still need me-"
"Will you take advice from an old man?" Aware of her distress he instilled a note of lightness into his voice. "I ought to know Guy, I'm his father. He feels the same as you do but you are too reserved in his company. Alaine had the good sense to make the running, I don't know how she did it but you should take a leaf out of her book. She gave him the very encouragement that he needed, and he fell for her wiles. How much more readily would he succumb to you!" He gave a chuckle of amusement. "Cheer up, Felicity! I proved to you my flair for matchmaking. After my admission of the part I played before, surely you can trust me now?"
"Of course I trust you! But are you suggesting I make advances to Guy? I'd better till you right away that I couldn't compete with Alaine, I don't possess her charm and I shouldn't even know how to begin!" She raised her eyes and a light of amusement began to dawn in them.
"You have everything Alaine has and more-you have Guy's love, she never had that, but she was clever enough to make him believe she had."
"I wonder-" Felicity began, then broke off abruptly while she struggled to absorb the true significance of his words.
"Use some subtlety, my dear. Guy is so ridiculously diffident, break down his defences, stop being so cool and offhand, use all the irresistible wiles which you have in plenty." He laughed softly. "If you can't do that then you aren't the girl I think you are!" He leaned toward her chair and touched her arm to compel her attention. "Now listen to me, this weekend you'll accept Guy's invitation to ride-and just in case it isn't forthcoming you'll go along to the stable now and tell Adams to bring the horses round after tea. Refusing him every time he asks ... and making my health the excuse too!" he added with mock indignation. "I won't be made a tool for such nefarious doings. You are deliberately turning your back on Guy, building a barrier between you. Be careful the barrier does not get too high."
"You are quite right!" Felicity agreed, her cheeks dimpling into their most bewitching smile. "I will ride with Guy today, and I'll do as you suggest and order the horses now." She stood up and was surprised at the light-hearted feeling of gaiety which pervaded her whole being. She stooped impulsively and dropped a light kiss on his forehead. "You are a darling, and I believe there is an awful lot of truth in what you say. I know I've been frigid on the few occasions Guy has been here, I've been afraid of giving myself away. I see now that perhaps I was wrong-but then I felt that he could not possibly return my love."
"At least you've the right to find that out-and you won't unless you try. No man could be expected to interest himself in a girl who showed the icy reserve you have done, particularly a man of Guy's calibre."
"All right, I'll be weak and womanly-this very afternoon," she laughed and her laughter held a low, musical cadence. "I'll be all cajoling smiles and dimples, you'll hardly know me-if that doesn't give him the encouragement which you say I've denied him, then it will certainly send him back to London by the next train, and it will be your fault if it does!"
"Go now and order the horses, then change into your prettiest frock. You hide behind that uniform as if it were a cloak of armour, and when Guy's here you don't even change at night."
So he had noticed that! With his laughter still ringing in her ears and feeling as if she walked on air, Felicity made her way to the stables and obediently gave her instructions to the groom. Although her patient needed far less attention now, Felicity could always find plenty to do, and as she gathered armfuls of flowers, she was already planning the menus for the week-end. Mrs. Mackerley was really glad of Felicity's help with many of the household tasks, and she was only too happy to be of assistance.
Returning to the house, the flowers in her arms, she paused beneath the lilac-tree, bowed down with its heavily laden branches. Raising herself on tiptoe she plucked some of the scented blossom and laid it carefully across her arm with the other flowers. It was of Guy she thought as she inhaled its sweet perfume and gently touched the tiny petals. He seemed inextricably linked in her thoughts with her memories of Peter, yet she knew now that her early love had been no more than the romantic stirring of a girl's heart and held no semblance to the deep surge of emotion which Guy had roused within her.
After lunch, when she had changed her uniform for a cool linen frock and was taking a last look in her mirror, she wondered, not without some trepidation, whether, when Guy's arrival was an accomplished fact, she would be able to stand by her resolution of the morning. By the time his car drew up and he had mounted the steps to the terrace, her courage began to fail her and she had an instinctive urge to retire again behind her defensive reserve. It was Colonel Brenton's encouraging smile which spurred her flagging spirits as she advanced with outstretched hand to greet Guy.
"It was a lovely surprise to hear you were coming," she told him warmly. "It's ten days at least since you've been down. I expect you see a difference in your father."
"A tremendous improvement," Guy agreed enthusiastically. "He looks marvellous and I believe he has put on weight."
"Now don't you start that," Colonel Brenton interrupted. "Come and have some tea and stop studying me as if I were a prize bull."
It was a cheerful meal and having once relaxed, Felicity found it less difficult to go on. The Colonel's sly glances of approval certainly helped and at times it was only with difficulty she could restrain her laughter.
Guy, after his first show of surprise, seemed to have been only too willing to fall in with her mood, although she was conscious of his lingering air of mistrust and his occasional glance in her direction as if he were seeking enlightenment for her sudden change of behaviour. When it was Felicity who suggested a ride with the added information that the horses were already ordered, he could no longer conceal his pleasure and surprise.
"So you aren't making Father an excuse today. Well I'm glad of that, because I wouldn't have believed you this time if you'd said that he couldn't be left." Guy smiled at her, showing himself only too ready to fall in with her mood. "Let's go up and change. When is Adams bringing the horses round?"
"In about ten minutes." Felicity watched Guy hurry up the stairs, then stooped for a minute beside Colonel Brenton's chair. "How am I doing?" Her blue eyes sparkled beneath their curled lashes and the bow of her lips was curved into a bewitching smile.
"Fine, my dear, fine!" His face was wreathed in smiles. "Better than running away, isn't it?" he asked teasingly.
"Much!" With a final pat to his cushions she followed Guy up the stairs and hurried along the corridor to change for the ride.
When they had reappeared on the terrace the horses were saddled and ready, their hooves pawing at the gravel with impatience. "Have a good ride," Colonel Brenton addressed them both, then turning to Felicity added, "mind that horse, be gentle with the curb, he's inclined to be sensitive."