Nurse Trudie is Engaged (17 page)

But when Malcolm returned he left the triumphant Veronica to hold the floor in the lounge with her story of the
“
fabulous little car at a truly bargain price
”
that Charley had found for her, and to elaborate the story of the arrangement for her lessons.

Dr. Hislop, who had popped in to snatch a cup of tea, looked up startled as the lounge door banged after his eldest son, and when a second or so later the sound of Malcolm
’
s bedroom door slamming followed it, he put down his cup and saucer carefully, made his excuses and went out. Trudie looked after him anxiously. There was no doubt in her mind that the old gentleman had sensed that his boy was disturbed in some way and was anxious to help if he could.

He tapped on Malcolm
’
s door and was immediately rewarded by the usual distant tones bidding him enter. Malcolm was standing by the window, staring out moodily, but he swung around as his father entered the room, giving the slow smile that automatically came when greeting any of his family.

“
Sorry I stormed out like that, Dad,
”
he apologized,
“
but I didn
’
t want to have to tell Veronica just what I thought of her in front of you. Though,
”
he added ruefully,
“
she must have a pretty good idea of my feelings on the matter. I
’
m afraid I made them pretty plain on the way home.
”

“
Just what,
”
asked Dr. Hislop, methodically packing his pipe and with a twinkle in his eye he deliberately adopted Malcolm
’
s more customary precise tones and legalized phraseology,
“
is she alleged to have done?
”

“
Only what is obviously so natural to her that it comes as easy as breathing to the rest of us.
”
Malcolm seemed resigned.
“
If I thought it was deliberate—
”
he began and stopped.

“
If you thought
what
was deliberate?
”
queried the doctor, placidly puffing out clouds of blue, fragrant smoke,
“
then what would you do?
”

“
If I thought her way of
... I don
’
t like the expression, but it
’
s the only one I can use ... making up to every man she meets until she gets what she wants from him was deliberate, I
’
d go to any lengths to expose her as a fraud and deceiver. But
”
—Malcolm sounded genuinely puzzled—
“
I don
’
t think it
is
deliberate. I don
’
t know whether or not it
’
s part of her training as an actress, to be able to put it on and off as an act, or whether it
’
s just something that comes naturally to her. I
’
ve never met anyone like her. She intrigues me
.
.. and infuriates me ... at one and the same time.
”
Dr. Hislop gave a little chuckle. This was something he felt he could understand, but the smile and chuckle were gone in an instant as he reflected on certain things about this unknown daughter-in-law of his that puzzled and infuriated him, tolerant though he was.

“
She is different,
”
he admitted slowly,
“
and I don
’
t know in quite what way, either. There
’
s one point about her that does puzzle me. Several times I
’
ve tried to talk to her, draw her out, about Garth. About what sort of life they led over there together, their friends, his work up to the time they went on that fateful vacation. And always she puts me off, or goes out of the room, or threatens to dissolve into tears ... anything but talk about it as to whose place they were at or
anything.
She closes up like a clam. Do you think,
”
he shot a glance at his son from under his bushy eyebrows,
“
you could find out anything more
... in a professional capacity, I mean? Anything that didn
’
t come out at the inquest. I presume there was one, to have a coroner
’
s verdict, but Veronica won
’
t discuss it.
”

“
There
’
s nothing more I can do than I have already done, Dad.
”
Malcolm
’
s reply surprised Dr. Hislop.
“
Like you,
”
Malcolm went on,
“
I
’
ve never been satisfied with the little we were told, and I
’
ve done my best to find out something—anything—more, but it
’
s hopeless. I think we shall have to resign ourselves to the fact that unless Veronica volunteers information we shall never know any more than we do at present. I
’
ve exhausted every possible source I can think of, professionally or otherwise.
”

“
In that case,
”
Dr. Hislop rose heavily from the low chair in which he had seated himself,
“
there
’
s no more to be said.
”

“
But there is something I want to discuss with you,
”
Malcolm put in, halting his father on the way to the door.
“
One of the partners has found himself an apartment in Fellfield. The junior chap I told you about, who has just become a partner. He
’
d like someone to share it with him for a time. I told him I might be interested.
”

“
You mean ... live there?
”
The sheer incredulity in his father
’
s voice caused Malcolm to give an involuntary wince, but he stuck out his chin doggedly and reiterated,
“
Just for a time
... it might be a good idea. There are lots of reasons for being in town for a while. I
m
iss most of the meetings, lots of things I ought to attend
...”

“
You have a car,
”
Dr. Hislop pointed out, but without much conviction. Suddenly he was certain there was more behind this than he was aware of. Of all his children this was the one who never acted in any way without good reason.

“
You must do as you think best, of course,
”
he said heavily, moving to the door and opening it,
“
but remember, son, this is your home ... whenever you want to use it as such, either now, as you are, single and unattached, or ... later ... for as long as I live.
”
He did not wait for a reply but went out abruptly, closing the door quietly behind him. Malcolm was alone, still staring through the window and reflecting on all the changes that had come about since Veronica had entered their ordered lives.

CHAPTER EIGHT

Trudie was anxiously awaiting her father
’
s return to the lounge. He had barely left the room before Dora Stacey had driven up, asking anxiously if they were all ready. Philip was the first to recover his scattered wits and realize that Dora was referring to the opening of the new extension, which they were all to attend that afternoon.

“
I
’
d forgotten that
’
s why I
’
m off duty!
”
he exclaimed. Although he laughed and made light of his absent-mindedness, Trudie noticed that his glance had sped in Veronica
’
s direction as though confirming that there sat the cause of his forgetfulness.

“
I
’
m ready, anyway,
”
he announced,
“
and you are, too, aren
’
t you, Trudie? Dr. Hislop said he
’
d dropped in for
‘
a quick cup of tea,
’
but I expect he meant he wanted one before we went on to the official opening.
”

“
I have to change my dress,
”
Trudie had said then, but she made no move until her father re-entered the lounge. One glance at his face told her there was something very wrong, and, oblivious of the others, she moved quickly to his side.

“
What
’
s the matter,
”
she asked quietly.
“
You don
’
t look well.
”

“
It
’
s nothing.
”
Dr. Hislop looked around the room and as his glance met Dora
’
s they all saw that he suddenly remembered he had a previous engagement.
“
Bless my soul
”
—he made an enormous effort to pull himself together—
“
I
’
d completely forgotten the opening was this afternoon, after I
’
ve raced through morning rounds and as many calls as I could to be sure and get there on time. It
’
s a very good thing you like to be well ahead of schedule, Dora, and that you arranged to call here first.
”

“
Is there anything I can do,
”
Trudie was insisting,
“
before I run up and change? You look as though you
’
ve had a shock.
”

“
In a way I have, darling.
”
Dr. Hislop had never kept secrets in his family and, because, an old and valued friend and a hitherto unknown daughter-in-law were present, saw no reason for making a secret of what troubled him now.
“
Malcolm has just informed me that he
’
s thinking of sharing an apartment in Fellfield with the new partner in his firm. I
’
d never dreamed of such a thing. I thought he was happy at home ... that we all were. He has no girlfriend, no particular reason for leaving
...”

“
He may have a girlfriend you don
’
t know about, father-in-law,
”
Veronica put in quietly, using the pet name she had adopted for Dr. Hislop and Trudie was certain her father, perhaps subconsciously, resented it.

“
No, no, no!
”
he said now, so vehemently that Trudie and Dora looked at him in sharp amazement, but he recovered himself quickly, passing off the whole incident.
“
I suppose he just wants a change,
”
he remarked briskly.
“
I remember I was much the same around that age. Well,
”
he glanced at his watch,
“
he can always come back here when he
’
s tired, as I
’
ve already told him. I think we have about half an hour before we need set off,
”
he announced.
“
Trudie, would you slip into the kitchen on your way up to change, please, and ask Mrs. Emma to make some fresh-coffee as quickly as she can?
”

“
Certainly.
”
Trudie left the lounge and hurried to deliver her message, but she did not linger in the kitchen, nor did she go at once to her own room. She went across the landing and tapped lightly on Malcolm
’
s door, her heart giving a strange lurch of relief when his calm voice told her to
“
come in.
”

He was standing by his bed where his open briefcase lay, a sheaf of paper in his hand. He looked up smiling as Trudie entered, putting the papers carefully away in the case.

“
I expect you
’
ve come to tell me to get a move on,
”
he said in such an ordinary tone that for a moment Trudie wondered if she had correctly understood what her father had said downstairs.
“
I
’
m off,
”
Malcolm added.
“
I shall do it comfortably.
”

“
You
’
re no
t
... going... now?
”
Trudie stared at him, not believing her ears. Malcolm stared back, then he laughed.

“
I
’
m on my way to Mrs. Sanderson
’
s,
”
he explained.
“
She
’
s changing her will again. This makes the third time in four weeks. What did you think I meant?
”
he asked curiously.

“
Dad said
...
He was very upset,
”
Trudie began, still feeling her way. The very idea sounded preposterous, put into words.

“
He told you I was thinking of sharing with Chambers in Fellfield for a time, didn
’
t he?
”
Malcolm said flatly.
“
I am, but there
’
s no need for anyone to get upset, Trudie, believe me, my dear. I have my own reasons for this, and they
’
re good ones. I may not be away very long, we
’
ll see, but there
’
s something I must think out, away from this familiar background, away from you all.
”

“
What sort of something, Malcolm?
”
Trudie asked directly.
“
Has it something to do with a girl?
”

“
In a way,
”
Malcolm admitted slowly,
“
and in another way ... no. I can
’
t explain, but believe me, Trudie, there
’
s no need for Dad or you or anyone else to be upset. I
’
m doing what I know to be best. Surely you can trust me?
”

S
he looked back at him, complete trust in her glance as there always was in her dealings with Malcolm. He returned her glance confidently and unaccountably Trudie felt her fears and uneasiness subside.

“
Of course I trust you,
”
she said softly.
“
We all do, Dad especially. He
’
s only upset because he doesn
’
t understand why you want to make this change. He
’
s quite prepared for us all to leave
... when we want to make homes for ourselves or, like Garth, to further our work, but it
’
s just that
...”

“
There didn
’
t appear to be any real reason,
”
Malcolm finished the sentence for her as she paused.
“
I know. I
’
ll explain one day.
”
He paused and looked narrowly at her with what Trudie teasingly called
“
his legal look.
”
Without removing his gaze from her own he asked,
“
Will you tell me something, Trudie, truthfully, as we used to insist when we were kids?
”

“
If I can,
”
she said soberly; somehow she knew this was of great importance to this serious-minded brother of hers.

“
You can.
”
Malcolm assured her, still very grave.
“
Tell me just how much does Philip mean to you? Do you love him
...
really love him, I mean?
”

Color flamed in Trudie
’
s face. Of all the questions she had imagined he might have asked, this was the last one she had expected. And what, she asked herself, could she say? To answer that this was
“
an arranged engagement
”
would, she knew, have resulted in a searching cross-examination by her brother, who was only concerned for her own welfare and happiness, she was convinced. To tell a lie seemed impossible, but to tell him the truth, unless she qualified her statement, would put Philip in a false position. She hesitated for a moment, then said slowly,
“
Yes,
Malcolm, I do love him. There will never be anyone else for me,
”
and knew she was speaking the absolute truth. Whatever happened now she would never love anyone else. When they had started this pretense she had known she loved him dearly, but as the days had gone by and she had been more and more in his company and he had made himself part of the household, she had found her love growing beyond all bounds. At times it was a torment not to let him see how deep
l
y she cared. At times too she ached for the feel of his arms about her, the touch of his lips on her own, even though she knew these gestures were in order to keep up the illusion in the eyes of the family. But still these were the moments she longed for.

“
And Philip?
”
Malcolm did not appear to be moved by her statement. He was simply clarifying a statement. Again Trudie hesitated, not because she did not know the answer, but because she did not wish to put Philip in an uncomfortable position and regret doing so at a later date.

“
You know how it is, except in rare cases,
”
she returned as lightly as she could.
“
There is always one who is loved and one who does the loving. Philip
’
s heart went to his surgical work years before he met me, but,
”
her chin lifted proudly,
“
I think I come a close second.
”
And that, she felt, might at least be true.

“
I see,
”
Malcolm said quietly.
“
I just wanted to know. I only want you to be happy, Trudie. Marriage isn
’
t a thing to be entered into lightly, no matter how certain sections of the community might regard their vows. I know we deal with divorce cases; some of them are obviously fabricated stories to facilitate a change of partners; some of them are real enough tragedies, but all of them have their own quota of hurt and tragedy that few people outside a lawyer
’
s office ever see. I just wanted to know
...
how matters were with you and Philip, even though you haven
’
t reached the marrying stage as yet, and to let you know that if ever you need help or advice
...
well
”
—he gave a small laugh and began to fasten his briefcase, indicating he was ready to leave—
“
Don
’
t forget
...
Big Brother will always watch out for you!
”

“
I
’
ll remember,
”
Trudie promised.
“
Oh, heavens, I forgot again! I came up here to get changed for the opening. I can hear Dora calling.
”

Dora was indeed doing more than calling up the stairs; she was on her way to Trudie
’
s room. She had known the Hislop children from childhood and loved the entire family, and her mind and heart were disturbed by what she had observed that afternoon. She smiled at Trudie as she advanced into the room, a steaming cup of coffee in her hands.

“
I thought I
’
d better bring you this,
”
she announced,
“
or you won
’
t have time to drink it. Anything I can do to help? Everyone else is ready.
”

“
Veronica isn
’
t going, is she?
”
The question was blurted out before Trudie was really aware she was going to ask it, but the prompt query did not escape Dora
’
s notice.

“
No,
”
she said cryptically.
“
She wasn
’
t invited. And it
’
s
‘
invitations only
’
on this occasion,
”
she ended. She waited while Trudie
’
s head emerged from the top of her new outfit and then said with seeming casualness that did not in the least deceive her listener,
“
By the way, how does Malcolm get along with Veronica? He
’
s so self-contained one hardly ventures to even guess what he
’
s thinking.
”