"What did he mean?" Guy asked in an undertone as they walked side by side down the steps to the waiting mounts. "That's Nigger you're riding, the one you've ridden before, he is not a bit sensitive, quite easy to handle." There was a note of surprise not untinged with concern in his voice. "Father's memory is all right, isn't it? It's never shown the slightest sign of failing."
"Oh, perfectly all right," Felicity reassured him. She could hardly add that Colonel Brenton's words might not necessarily have been referring to the horse!
The exhilaration of the gallop across the undulating Downs was a reflection of Felicity's existing joy. She had never felt more carefree, it seemed as if the world lay at her feet and all its joys were hers to grasp and hold. If Colonel Brenton had been wrong, then this was the last throw of the dice and if it failed, at least she would have tried, would know without doubt that the love which filled her heart must remain denied.
"Shall we dismount and give the horses a rest?" Guy slowed up at her side to ask the question, but the warm wind blowing across the open spaces made his words scarcely audible.
Raising her voice Felicity called back. "Yes-let's get to the top-that shady bank where we rested once before." She touched the flank of her horse with her heels and cantered off, letting Guy's answer be blown away across the hilltops.
Memory flooded back as Felicity drew rein. That was the bank where they had lingered, the patch where the horses had grazed-the very ground where she had stood when Guy had stooped to kiss her! She was living that moment again when he drew up at her side and dismounting, walked across to assist her.
"This was where you meant, wasn't it? My favourite view-an unspoiled vista of nature."
"Yes," Felicity loosed one foot from the stirrup, then as Guy steadied her to help her dismount she suddenly relaxed her hold on the saddle and it was only by gripping her waist that he prevented her falling. She stumbled against him, his firm stance breaking the force of her fall and with a short, gasping breath she murmured her thanks. "Lucky you were there-how careless of me-thank you!" She still had her back to him and with his arms supporting her, she made no move to draw aside. Deliberately rejecting what had now become a natural impulse to keep him at arm's length, she let her head rest comfortably against his shoulder.
"Come and sit down, here against this mound." With his arm supporting her, he led her across the intervening space, then as she settled on the grass, he dropped on one knee beside her and anxiously scrutinized her half-averted face. "Are you sure you didn't hurt yourself?
"Oh, no, thanks, I'm quite all right." She made no demur when he forced her gently back against his arm, abandoning herself with a sigh to the comfort it offered. She already sensed in him some indefinable change. By shedding her habitual confidence, by showing one moment of weakness, she had broken down the barrier which she had built up between them. She realized now she had never allowed their relationship, based upon his erstwhile reliance upon her, to change, she had never allowed him to know that her self-sufficiency was only a necessary part of her equipment as a nurse, that underneath it she was as clinging and feminine as any other girl. How he must have longed to make her feel his recovered strength and to resume their friendship upon a more natural basis. She had wilfully denied him his need. Fearful of betraying her own hidden feelings she had held herself aloof, safe in an assumed aura of independence. Felicity closed her eyes, the feeling of buoyancy suddenly left her, she felt tears well up into her eyes and despite all her efforts, force themselves beneath her fringed lashes.
"Felicity-what is the matter?" His words were fraught with tenderness and concern.
"Nothing-really, it's nothing," she repeated as she pulled herself into a sitting position. Her eyes were misted with tears as she went on. "I must speak to you now-while I have the chance. You realize I cannot stay at Weir Court much longer?"
Whatever reaction she had expected from Guy she was not prepared for his look of utter consternation. "But I don't understand-you mean you want to leave my father?"
"You've rather twisted my words." Felicity essayed a smile. "I don't want to leave the Colonel-or Weir, but you must see that I have to, your father needs no nursing now. Let us face facts, he is as well as he'll ever be-I have to consider the future, I must get back to serious work, I dare not allow myself to drift any longer."
"I can't imagine Weir Court without you." It was as if he spoke to himself, then turning again to meet her eyes uplifted to his, continued, "I've got so used to seeing you here, you have become a part of my home, I look forward so much to coming down-" His words trailed away.
"Yet you've been here so little?"
"It was not because I didn't want to come, in fact it was difficult to keep away, but you appeared to resent my visits, studiously avoided my company and I began to wonder whether my presence was really welcome."
"I had to-don't you see, can't you understand?" Felicity s voice was husky with repressed emotion, but an underlying urgency forced her on. "I came here because you asked me, I knew it was foolish but I couldn't refuse-now, I can't stay any longer."
He seemed puzzled by her ambiguous words, only her intention to go was clearly revealed. Leaning over her, he took her forcefully into his arms. "I can't let you go-Felicity, you won't leave me-promise you won't leave Weir Court-ever!"
Her eyes were still wet with unshed tears, but now behind their mistiness there was a hint of laughter. "But Guy, you don't know what you are asking-what would the villagers say-just think of the scandal!" she teased.
"Don't be absurd!" He dismissed her words without ceremony. "We'll have to get married, of course."
"What an odd sort of proposal!" Her laughter, born of happiness, was no longer restrained, it was soft and gentle and her cheeks dimpled provocatively. "I suppose it is a proposal?" she asked, her eyes questioning him mischievously.
"You know it is!" He had drawn her more closely into his embrace and now she could feel the racing of his heart.
Lifting her arms she twined them round his neck, burying her face against the rough material of his jacket. She was aware of his lips on her hair, then, cupping her chin in his hands, he lifted her face to his and she felt his kisses on her half-closed eyes and on her lips, yielding beneath his touch. Clasped in his arms she knew a rapturous sense of joy, an ecstasy beyond belief.
When at last he released her, it was only to gaze with loving incredulity into her upturned face. "You mean that you've always cared-and I never knew or guessed! I believe I fell in love with you in that, moment of returning consciousness. You stood by my bed, your fingers touched my hair-I felt my head cradled on your arm, I knew the sweet comfort of your hold. During those days I was so confused, I couldn't understand my relationship with Alaine, I was ashamed of my feelings for you and dared scarcely admit them to myself. Then-you remember that day?-it was here on this very spot, you helped me recall all that had happened, you told me that you had returned Alaine her ring. I thought then it was all for the best, that you would hardly have done that if you'd felt for me the longing I felt for you." With a whimsical smile he went on. "Even after I was free, you gave me no reason to think things had changed."
"I was afraid-" Felicity broke off and a smile of unsurpassed joy lit her face. "That's all over now-it doesn't matter any more."
"No, my love, nothing matters now." His lips caressed her sun-warmed hair. "When can we be married-must it be a smart, formal affair, or-"
"The quietest wedding possible!" Felicity broke in reassuringly. "I have always wanted to be married in a village church. No bridesmaids or bouquets, only flowers on the altar-tall vases of white lilac..." Her words trailed away but there was a light of sheer joy in her expression.
"And afterwards? How about a honeymoon trip to California? Shall we go and see Tony and Alaine, you'd like that; wouldn't you?"
"You mean it? Oh, Guy it would be perfect! You've no idea how I should love that, what joy it would be to me to see it all for myself."