Nurse Trudie is Engaged (8 page)

“
There
’
s no necessity to be formal, as you term it, with Dad,
”
Malcolm stated.
“
He
’
d be uneasy. Just tell him the truth and see how pleased he
’
ll be. There
’
s nothing he wants so much as for us all to be happy.
”

“
I know,
”
Trudie said quietly and, as if it were the most natural thing in the world, she placed her hand lightly over Philip
’
s. To his amazement he did not have his usual urge to remove his own fingers from a woman
’
s touch. He smiled back at her.

“
And we are happy, aren
’
t we, Trudie?
”
he asked.
“
I am, at any rate, and I think you are. All we need now is the family blessing.
”

“
I don
’
t think you need worry.
”
Malcolm beamed at them both.
“
That
’
s Geoff coming back, I think. Dad won
’
t be long if he
’
s only taking Miller home.
”

“
And making a couple of calls on his way back,
”
Trudie put in. Malcolm nodded.

“
One will be on Mrs. Atkinson, the one expecting her baby, and the other will be on Miss Robinson. She fell again yesterday. As usual there
’
s nothing definite, no broken bones or what-have-you, but she
’
ll have Dad out once or twice in the night unless he calls before she retires to bed and assures her everything
’
s fine.
”
He grinned at them both as he made his way to the kitchen just as Geoffrey entered.
“
I
’
ll rustle up a couple of bottles of champagne,
”
he said crisply.
“
We still have some left over from Christmas; we
’
re not drinking types here. Don
’
t know why we get so much in for the festive season. It takes us until the next one to get rid of it. Mrs. Emma
’
ll polish up some glasses. We must do this thing properly.
”

“
What thing?
”
Geoff demanded, but Malcolm gave an airy wave of his hand in Trudie and Philip
’
s direction, said they would explain, and went on his way to tell Mrs. Emma the news.

“
I
... I
’
m waiting to ask your father if he will consent to our—to an engagement
... between Trudie and myself,
”
Philip said a little stiff
l
y; but the stiffness dissolved in the face of Geoff
’
s very obvious delight.

“
I
’
m glad,
”
he said so heartily that Trudie stared at him until she realized that, in common with so many people at the hospital, he might have been thinking of a possible engagement between Philip and Ursula. If that were so, no wonder he was delighted to find at least one obstacle out of his way.
“
Congratulations,
”
he went on.
“
Dad
’
ll give you his blessing, we all know that. He only wants as many people as possible to be as happy as ever they can. Always has been his philosophy, and a very good one too, in my opinion. Here he comes now,
”
he added as the reflection of the doctor
’
s car appeared.
“
He
’
ll be as pleased
as Punch.
”

By the time Dr. Hislop had put the car away, taken his things into the office and done whatever he still felt he had to do there, Mrs. Emma had bustled in with shining glasses and a plate of festive cookies.

“
Maybe you don
’
t have these with champagne,
”
she beamed all around,
“
or maybe you do, but they
’
re here just the same. I know the doctor never says no to them at any time.
”
She turned to Philip and Trudie, her round face pinker than ever.
“
I would like to congratulate you both,
”
she said simply,
“
and to wish you well. I
’
m glad
... for Miss Trudie, but she
’
s a good girl, sir.
”

“
I
’
m not sure she is ... I
know
she is,
”
Philip interrupted as he noted tears rising in the housekeeper
’
s eyes.
“
And she
’
s a good nurse, too,
”
he added.
“
In fact she
’
s what we used to call
“
a good all-rounder,
”
so far as I can see. Thank you, Mrs. Emma.
”

“
What
’
s all this?
”
Dr. Hislop stood framed in the doorway, his cheerful glance taking in the array of bottles and glasses.
“
Can
’
t turn my back before you
’
re holding a bottle party or something,
”
he teased.
“
We
’
ll have the neighbors talking!
”

“
Nothing wild and woolly, Dad.
”
Malcolm began to pour as Mrs. Emma slipped back unobtrusively to the kitchen, obviously remembering Trudie
’
s mother and wishing she could have been present. Geoff, with a tactful, confirming nod from his brother, guided her out and promised to take her a glass to
“
drink a toast,
”
determined that sad, reminiscent talk of their beautiful, talented mother should not disturb their father this night.

“
Philip—I shall have to call you Philip now—and Trudie have something they want to ask you, Dad,
”
Malcolm said quietly.
“
We all think we know what you
’
re going to say, so I
’
m just making preparations for when you
’
ve said it.
”

“
Said what?
”
Dr. Hislop
’
s glance sought Philip
’
s, but he accepted the glass his eldest son held out to him as he spoke. Philip rose to his feet, but, stooping, he still kept hold of Trudie
’
s hand. He was feeling exactly as he had known he would feel in the face of this family, a cheat and a liar; only the cool, reassuring grip of Trudie
’
s fingers around his own enabled him to continue.

“
I
’
d like your consent to an engagement between Trudie and me,
”
he said formally.
“
It
’
s much too soon to speak of anything else, and we both have a great deal to do
...”

“
We
’
ll both be at the extension
,
Dad,
”
Trudie
broke in, fearing Philip was going to get himself involved in long explanations as to why there was to be positively no mention of a wedding date.
“
I didn
’
t have time to tell you before, but Matron told me, just before I came off duty. I
’
m home from St. Catherine
’
s for good. When I go back to work it
’
s at the new extension
... with Philip.
”
He did not realize it was a pleasure, a natural pleasure and not an act, when she smiled up into his face.

“
I see. I
’
m glad, if that
’
s what you want,
”
Dr. Hislop said sincerely.
“
I imagine it will be quite a thrill to start in a new building; new and ultra-modern equipment, new staff and all the rest of it. But you
’
ll both miss St. Catherine
’
s more than you believe possible right now. That
’
s always the way. And now about this other business!
”
His eyes twinkled at them both.
“
Engaged, is it?
”
he said slowly.
“
I really can
’
t think of any reason why not. I
’
d like to congratulate you both and to wish you everything you wish for yourselves; long life, good health and happiness.
”
He beamed around them all.
“
And I
’
m not going to hand out any good advice either,
”
he said soberly.
“
Too many people do that whether invited to do so or not. If you ever feel my advice on any problem might be of help it
’
s there, for what it
’
s worth, at any time, but until it
’
s asked for I
’
m keeping it to myself.
”

“
It
’
s good to know we have someone to turn to should we need advice, sir,
”
Philip said.
“
And I thank you for your good wishes.
”

Dr. Hislop lifted his glass.
“
Long life, health and happiness to Philip and Trudie,
”
he said in a louder voice. Malcolm and his brother echoed the toast while Philip and Trudie remained in a blushing, guilty, accepting silence. Just as she was afraid Philip
’
s resolve would fail him and in some way he would be driven by his own sense of deceit into telling the full story, Trudie was thankful to hear the telephone ringing through the house.

“
Not again!
”
Geoff murmured.
“
Hope you don
’
t have to go out, Dad. Just when we
’
re celebrating
...”

Mrs. Emma came hurrying in from the hall, suddenly seeming inarticulate. She stared at Dr. Hislop, then at Trudie, then from one brother to the other and back to the doctor.

“
Come quickly, one of you,
”
she burst out at last.
“
This is a very expensive call. It
’
s Mrs. Garth ... calling from New York. She wants to talk to either Dr. Hislop or to Miss Trudie, and she said to hurry, please
...”

CHAPTER FOUR

T
rudie
’
s anxious glance flew to her father
’
s face, and for one dreadful moment she thought the shock had given him a stroke. With an effort she forced her stiff limbs from the sofa and would have fallen but for Philip
’
s supporting arm.
“
I
’
ll take the call,
”
she announced.
“
Help me, Philip, please. Malcolm, get Dad a brandy ... quickly!
”

In spite of Philip
’
s help and support it took her far longer than usual to reach the telephone alcove. As she imagined the feelings of her unknown sister-in-law at the other end, away in another country with miles of sea and space between them, and thought of the enormous cost of the call, Trudie
’
s courage almost failed her. She was not in the least surprised to see that her hands were shaking as she lifted the instrument, and she was grateful for Philip
’
s supporting arm, for her leg ached dreadfully. She was suddenly overcome by the same kind of faintness she had experienced when she first became conscious in the casualty ward.

“
Trudie Hislop speaking,
”
she managed at length.
“
Sorry to have taken so lo
n
g.
”

“
Veronica Fleet here, Veronica Hislop,
”
came the strange voice over the phone. Trudie had never taken a trans-Atlantic call before and she was surprised how easily and clearly the words reached her.
“
You were kind enough to say I could come and stay with you for a time,
”
Veronica went on as though they had already met and the invitation had been issued but a day or so previously instead of almost a year ago.
“
I couldn
’
t then, but I can now. I
’
m escorting two children over tomorrow, and their mother is paying my fare in return. If it won
’
t be convenient you have only to say
so...”

For the first time she sounded uncertain, not sure of herself at all, and all of Trudie
’
s warm heart rushed out to meet her.

“
Of course it
’
s convenient, Veronica,
”
she said hurriedly.
“
It was just
... it
’
s so long since we heard from you. We
’
ve all wondered where you were and what you were doing. When will you be here?
”

“
We touch down at London Airport around five o
’
clock tomorrow,
”
came the answer.
“
It doesn
’
t matter if no one can be there to meet me. I only wanted to be certain I wasn
’
t intruding.
”

Trudie had forgotten that Veronica was an accomplished if undistinguished actress, and the lost and forlorn note in her voice sounded as genuine as its owner had intended. S
h
e hastened to give reassurance.

“
How could you be intruding?
”
she demanded warmly.
“
Aren
’
t you part of the family now? Of course someone will be there to meet you. I
’
ll call through and check the time tomorrow. Just tell me how you are
... even at this goodness-knows-what per second.
”

“
I
’
m fine, but tired.
”
Veronica did not think it necessary to inform her sister-in-law that the cost of the call did not worry her since it would be charged to Mrs. Van de Lief. Neither did she think it necessary to add that she was
“
resting,
”
as her profession termed being out of work, and had been for many months; or that a certain someone had made it his business, ever since Garth
’
s death, that she should find it more and more difficult to find work anywhere.
“
I
’
m coming to England now that I have this opportunity, and I hope to have a little rest first, if I won
’
t be in the way, before I start looking for work over there.
”

“
We
’
ll talk about that when you arrive,
”
Trudie said firmly.
“
The main thing is you
are
coming. We
’
ve all longed to meet you, especially Dad.
‘
Bye for the present, Veronica. Oh,
”
she added as an afterthought,
“
I
’
ve never seen a picture of you. How shall I know you?
”

“
I
’
ll be wearing a black suit,
”
Veronica said quickly,
“
with touches of white. I
’
m dark, with shoulder-length hair. And
”
—Mrs. Van de Lief was nowhere within earshot and she could speak freely—
“
I shall have these two little demons with me, so I think that will be more than enough! Anyhow, I shall know you. Garth said you were very much alike.
”

“
So people tell—told—us.
”
Try as she would, Trudie could not keep the shake from her voice at this casual introduction of her beloved twin
’
s name. She had to cut this conversation short, and not only because of the cost of the call.
“
See you tomorrow. Glad you
’
re coming.
‘
Bye!
”

She turned to Philip as she replaced the receiver, as though to do so were the most natural thing in the world. He smiled down into her upturned, bewildered face.

“
Let
’
s go back to the others,
”
he suggested.
“
You can talk better there, and your father will be anxious to know every word that has been said.
”

“
You must help me remember,
”
Trudie told him,
“
if you could hear any of it, that is.
”

“
I
’
m afraid I heard most of it,
”
Philip stated apologetically.
“
I
’
ve never eavesdropped on anyone
’
s conversation before.
”

“
You couldn
’
t do anything else,
”
Trudie laughed.
“
I shall have to do better than this by tomorrow if I
’
m going to London Airport to meet her. I should have telephoned Broughton
’
s for their taxi before I left the phone,
”
she realized.
“
The boys will be using their cars and they
’
ll be out all day. Dad needs his, and anyway none of them would trust me to London and back with their precious vehicles all on my own.
”

“
You need not be
‘
all on your own
’
unless you wish,
”
Philip told her as they negotiated the lounge doorway and rejoined the group eagerly awaiting news.
“
I have a free day due to me. I don
’
t do much except mess around, playing with the things I
’
ve always intended to do
‘
one day
’
on these occasions. If you like, I
’
ll drive you to the airport. We can have lunch in London and buy you a ring at the same time.
”

Trudie stared at him soundlessly. The thought of a ring—an engagement ring to complete the pretense they were sharing—had scarcely entered her head. She had realized that of course there would be a ring, exciting the envy of other girls. But when she had given the matter fleeting thought, she had assumed that Philip would bring one to her, probably one of his mother
’
s, and let it go at that. Now she felt the betraying color flying to her cheeks again as she looked at him, seeking words.

“
I
... it doesn
’
t matter,
”
she was beginning, but he laughed and instead of answering her spoke directly to her father, looking over Trudie
’
s head.

“
Did you ever hear such nonsense, sir?
”
he demanded.
“
Your daughter says her engagement ring
‘
doesn
’
t matter.
’
I don
’
t know whether she
’
s thinking of my pocket
...”

“
She
’
s overwrought.
”
Dr. Hislop gave Trudie an affectionate glance that somehow included Philip in its warmth, but at once reverted to the topic uppermost in his mind.
“
You look for a ring as soon as she
’
s fit,
”
he suggested.
“
And now, what did ... Veronica want?
”

Trudie felt a sharp pang of sympathy for her father. The words
“
Garth
’
s wife
”
had trembled on his tongue, but all year he had avoided using his son
’
s name, as if the memory of the laughing, friendly boy he had loved and would see no more hurt too much.

“
She
’
s coming to stay with us, Dad,
”
she said simply.
“
We couldn
’
t say much, you understand. But it seems she
’
s not working at present and has a chance to fly over. I think she wants to look for work in this country, when she
’
s had a rest.
”

“
Poor child,
”
Dr. Hislop said compassionately.
“
She shall have all the rest she needs and desires. She need not go back to work unless she wishes. I hope you told her that.
”

“
I said we
’
d talk about it when she came,
”
Trudie told him.
“
As I said, there wasn
’
t much time. She arrives tomorrow at London Airport, and I said I
’
d be there to meet her. I know none of you can get away easily
...”

“
I have a free day,
”
Philip p
u
t in as she paused for breath,
“
and I
’
ve offered to drive Trudie and to buy the ring when we
’
ve had lunch. Then I
’
ll take her on to the airport and bring them both back here, if that
’
s all right with you, sir?
”
He turned once more to Dr. Hislop.

“
I think that
’
s a splendid idea,
”
he said heartily.
“
Geoff, some more champagne, please. We
’
ve a double event to celebrate tonight. First Trudie and Philip
’
s engagement, and now my daughter-in-law is coming to stay with us. Did she mention Garth?
”
he added abruptly, as though the words were uttered under some compulsion.

“
Only to say she would recognize me because he had said we were very much alike.
”
The words were an effort, for she knew the picture they would evoke in her father
’
s mind; a picture of herself and Garth, side by side for some family snapshot or event as they had been so often.

“
Did she say how long she was staying with us?
”
Malcolm put in, and the tension of the moment passed.

“
No.
”
Trudie wrinkled her forehead.

“
There
’
ll be plenty of time for that sort of talk later,
”
Dr. Hislop said.
“
Oh, thank you,
”
he added as Geoff handed him a brimming glass.

The next half hour or so was spent in toasting the unknown daughter-in-law and in discussion as to what she would most care to do and to see on her arrival. At last Philip looked at his watch and announced it was time he headed for home.

“
I
’
ll see you out,
”
Trudie offered, but he smiled down at her, shaking his head.

“
You stay here and rest your leg,
”
he told her.
“
I
’
ve been talking to your father and he and I have decided what he shall use tonight to give you a light massage and also you
’
re to take the tablets he has prescribed. These combined efforts should give you a good night
’
s rest, and I don
’
t think you will be half so stiff as you imagine you will be by morning. Good night, Trudie dear,
”
he startled her by saying, and then surprised her even more by suddenly stooping, giving her a gentle good night kiss in front of them all. She had to remind herself this was all part of the pretense, that this was what the family would expect of a newly engaged couple; all the same she knew the color had raced to her cheeks and her hands, as they lay in Philip
’
s, were trembling. Philip seemed to understand, for he gave her an understanding smile and her shaking hands felt the extra pressure of his fingers.