She smiled up at him, satisfied. ‘Did you meet her when you called on Mr. Eversley’s wife?’ she asked.
‘Not exactly. Oh, Lord, that reminds me of something!’ he concluded, in dismay.
She stopped work, raising her brows in a silent question.
‘You said there was no sewing, Anne. I wonder, could you possibly repair something for me? I wouldn’t ask, only there is no time now to buy another.’
‘You talk in mysteries, cousin John. What is there no time to buy? But certainly I will mend anything for you that you like.’
‘A coat — an evening dress coat. I split it last time I wore it. It’s too small for me, really, but I haven’t another, and there’s no chance of borrowing one from anyone here, and no time to get to London to buy a new one.’
‘Papa has his coats made by a tailor in Amersham.’
‘Perhaps so; but if your man in Amersham can make me a coat by tomorrow evening, then he has all the London tailors knocked into a cocked hat’
‘Tomorrow evening?’ echoed Anne.
He nodded. ‘Yes. I’m engaged to dine with the Eversleys.’
‘Oh!’ She seemed surprised. ‘They have never asked Papa to dine,’ she finished, slowly.
‘No, well, I knew George Eversley at Oxford,’ he explained, a little embarrassed by her tone. ‘They’ve offered to find me a mount for the hunt, too, which is good of them, don’t you think? Not that I intend to take them up on it.’
Whatever Anne thought, she was wise enough to keep to herself. After dinner was over, she asked him to fetch the coat; and, sitting in the parlour beside her mother, she began a neat, almost invisible repair of the torn seams.
She was still working on it when at last he came into the parlour, having finished putting up the medicines and despatched the boy Tom with the more urgent of them. He relaxed in a wing chair with a sigh of comfort.
‘I’ll have the tea brought in,’ said Mrs. Hume, rising to pull the bell over the old-fashioned chimney piece. ‘I dare say you can do with it, John. You’ve had a hard day of it.’
‘Oh, no, not too bad,’ he replied, running his fingers through his crisp, dark hair. ‘They work me harder than this at St. George’s, Aunt Margery. But then most cases there are pretty desperate; while what have I had here, today? Two feverish chills, a broken arm, a gouty leg, a few putrid sore throats and one delivery. Oh, and I nearly forgot’ — he laughed — ‘a twisted ankle.’
‘Surely no one would bother to call you in for that?’ asked Mrs. Hume, indignantly.
‘But it might be a broken bone, Mama,’ Anne reminded her. ‘It’s always best to have an expert opinion.’
‘No one did call me in,’ put in Graham, ‘because I happened to be on the spot. I forgot to tell you I had a slight collision this morning. Oh, nothing serious’ — as they both exclaimed in dismay — ‘our vehicle came off with scarce a scratch. Miss Eversley wasn’t so fortunate — the wheel was almost wrenched off hers, and in addition she hurt her ankle. Nothing to speak of, though.’
‘I’ve heard she is rather wild, Miss Georgiana,’ remarked Mrs. Hume. ‘She quite often comes down to stay with her eldest brother, when the family is at the house here. I’ve seen her once or twice, riding or walking through the village — she’s a very handsome young lady.’
‘I’ve never seen her,’ said Anne.
‘No, well, you’ve been away at school so much until very lately, my love,’ replied her mother.
‘Not very lately, Mama,’ corrected Anne, gently. ‘I left the Seminary eighteen months ago, you know.’
‘Is it as long as that?’ asked Mrs. Hume, surprised.
‘My, how the time goes on! It is time we were thinking of finding a husband for you, since you are past nineteen.’
‘That should present no difficulties,’ laughed Graham. ‘Who wouldn’t be glad to take such an attractive miss, with all the housewifely virtues? I mustn’t praise her physique on any account, you know,’ he added, slyly. ‘I’ve already been told by madam that I concentrate too much on people’s physical attributes, and not enough on their higher selves.’
Anne turned her face away from him, not daring to comment on this speech. She saw her mother looking at her closely, and to her annoyance felt a blush rising. She bent industriously over her work, hoping to hide it. Of course, he could not speak like that if he really meant anything by it. Evidently he was unaware, too, of certain expectations which had been entertained by her parents for the past few years. In a way, she wished that she herself had been likewise in ignorance; perhaps then she might not have lost her heart to him so readily. It was easy to see that to him she was still little Anne, six years his junior, whom he had teased and allowed to follow at his heels when he had been a happy-go-lucky schoolboy who had come to stay with them during the holidays. As she worked on his coat with patient fingers, she wondered if it would ever be in her power to make him see her as a woman whom he could desire for a wife.
He complimented her warmly on the repair to his coat when he donned it on the following evening in readiness for his visit to Fulmer Towers. She thought wistfully that she had never seen him look so handsome. If the dark blue coat was a little tight over the shoulders, it only served to show off their breadth; and there was no fault to be found with the white waistcoat and black silk knee breeches, nor with the intricately tied cravat which completed the outfit. His crisp dark hair, which in general was allowed to become rumpled, had now been carefully groomed into the Roman style which was the current fashion.
She felt a sudden surge of pride in his appearance that was almost proprietorial. If only she might have had him as escort to some evening party or other, preferably not at Fulmer Towers.
Her face must have betrayed what she was feeling; for when the door had closed behind him Mrs. Hume put an arm about her daughter and said consolingly, ‘Never mind, my dear, it’s only a visit of civility, after all’
CHAPTER 6
Georgy Scores A Hit
As Dr. Hume did not possess a carriage, his nephew was obliged to arrive at Fulmer Towers in the gig. The social ignominy of this did not strike him, so he found it no hardship; he was careless of such matters. When he arrived, he was shown into a small parlour where the men were sitting on their own, partaking of a glass of sherry wine before dinner. He was never more comfortable than when he was in male company, and was soon completely at home with all of them except Curshawe, whom he speedily set down as a prig and a bore. He could not help wondering how George Eversley, who even now frequently showed signs of impatience with Curshawe, would manage to tolerate the man as a brother-in-law.
Presently they were joined by the ladies. John Graham was surprised to see Georgiana in a wheel chair, and cast a quick, professional glance at her feet. Both her ankles were modestly covered, however, by the flounce of a simple gown in white muslin embroidered with tiny sprigs of forget-me-nots. A blue ribbon of the exact shade of the flowers was threaded through her tawny hair, which was arranged in seemingly artless curls. The whole effect was charming and unstudied; like most such effects, it had taken a great deal of time to achieve.
Yet another surprise was in store for him. She beckoned him to her side. As both Pamyngton and Curshawe had already taken up their stations one at each side of her wheel chair, he found himself part of a group when he obeyed her signal. She held out her hand to him, at the same time giving him a smile of such dazzling charm that he was quite taken aback.
‘How do you do, Dr. Graham?’ So far, he had never been privileged to hear such a soft, melodious tone to her voice. ‘I collect you called on my sister-in-law this morning. I am sorry to have missed you.’
Obviously the other two men were as puzzled as he was by this volte-face. They stared at her in amazement and disbelief. The doctor was the first to recover. He gave a curt bow and one of his twisted smiles.
‘I found Mrs. Eversley in excellent health,’ he said. ‘But I am sorry to see you are not yet able to stand. How i
s the ankle?’
‘Oh, not as well as I could wish, sir. I would be grateful if you could take another look at it for me, later on.’
‘Certainly,’ he replied, with another short bow. ‘My services are at your disposal.’
‘It seems too bad to make you work on what ought to be an evening’s relaxation,’ she said, apologetically, looking up at him from under her long lashes in a way that neither Pamyngton nor Curshawe could wholly approve, but which seemed to have very little effect upon Dr. Graham himself. ‘But if you could spare just a few moments after dinner? No one will be using this room then, so perhaps you could join me here? My maid will attend me.’
‘For all our sakes, Dr. Graham, I hope you’ll not detain Miss Georgiana long,’ remarked Pamyngton, with a light laugh.
‘Not five minutes, I imagine,’ returned Graham, carelessly. ‘Very well, ma’am, it shall be as you say.’
He saw Georgy’s green eyes flash. The next moment she was smiling graciously again, and he wondered if he could have been mistaken in thinking that something he said had made her angry.
The announcement of dinner was the signal for a polite wrangle to start up between Pamyngton and Curshawe as to who should have the honour of wheeling Georgiana into the dining-room. Growing tired of the argument, Freddy started forward and seized the handle himself.
‘Oh, no!’ exclaimed Georgy, with an exaggerated shudder of fear. ‘Not you, of all people!’ She turned a coaxing look upon John Graham. ‘I think my medical adviser is the proper person for the duty.’
‘As you will, of course, ma’am,’ he agreed smoothly. He was frowning slightly as he pushed the chair along the passage and into the dining-room. Just what was she up to, this volatile young woman? Yesterday she had been ready to slit his throat, judging by her behaviour; and today she was all honey and mildness. It was possible, of course, that her behaviour yesterday had been the result of shock. Shock affected people in different ways; some went off into screaming fits, others were struck dumb, while a few would become aggressive and unreasonable, as Miss Eversley had done.
Even allowing for this, he could see no reason for her to show him such particular favour as she was treating him to at present. Women, of course, were notoriously subject to whims. He really knew very little about them, other than in a professional capacity. There had never seemed to be time in his life for becoming better acquainted with them as personalities.
He was taking no chances, however. He allowed two of the servants to assist Georgiana to her chair at the table, contenting himself with watching the proceedings with a keen, professional eye. At one point, he noticed that she actually put her foot to the ground and rested her weight on it without the least evidence of pain. His eyes narrowed: the suspicion crossed his mind that she was now quite able to use the injured foot if she chose. If so, what was her game?
He found himself sitting at table between Georgiana and Aunt Lavinia, with Pamyngton on Georgy’s other side. For some time Pamyngton claimed most of Georgy’s attention, and Graham was left to the polite small talk of Aunt Lavinia. But presently, Georgy turned towards him with one of the charming smiles that never failed to shatter her admirers.
‘How do you find Buckinghamshire compares to your native Scotland, Dr. Graham?’
He hesitated. ‘One can’t‘make a comparison, Miss Eversley. They are such very different types of country. Each, no doubt, has its admirers.’
‘I certainly can’t judge,’ she said, fixing her lovely green eyes upon him in a way that he found slightly disconcerting. ‘I have never been farther north than York.’
‘That is a pity.’ He smiled back at her with more ease than he felt. ‘Let me urge you to visit Edinburgh when you have the opportunity.’
‘I collect your home is in Edinburgh, then?’
He nodded. ‘Perhaps I am prejudiced on that account, but I think it as fine a town as London.’
‘Then I must certainly see it.’ How did she manage to get so much witchery into a smile? ‘But it will be of no use, you know, unless I am shown the town by one of its admirers. That is the only way to see anything to advantage.’
‘It seems hardly likely that the honour of showing it to you should fall to me,’ he replied, with a rueful smile that was not all politeness.
‘But at least the spirit is willing,’ she said, with an arch look, ‘and I must thank you for that.’
With this, she turned away to speak to Pamyngton on her other side; but as she did so, she flashed a look at her youngest brother, who was sitting opposite them at the table. He replied with a half-veiled wink which all at once fixed Graham’s attention.
He frowned. Was this a normal brother and sister exchange, or were these two sharing a secret which was in some way connected with the conversation which had just taken place between Miss Eversley and himself, and which Freddy could easily have overheard if he chose? The idea seemed absurd, for they had said nothing beyond the usual trivialities of polite conversation. Yet the keen observation that was part of his calling insisted that there was a deeper significance in the look which brother and sister had shared.
She did not address him again for the duration of the meal. Perversely, he found himself hoping that she would. In the meantime, he was left with the view of a white shoulder turned away from him, and an opportunity to study the effect of candlelight on her richly tinted hair. Undoubtedly, he reflected, Miss Eversley was a very handsome woman: possibly she was not unaware of it, too.
After the meal was over, the gentlemen did not sit very long over their wine. When they rose to join the ladies in the drawing-room, a footman summoned Dr. Graham to the small parlour where Georgiana was waiting in readiness to consult him about her injury.
After the door had closed upon the servant, Graham stood motionless by it for a moment. A feeling of unease began to creep over him. The room had been ablaze with light when they had occupied it before dinner. Now most of the candles had been snuffed, the only remaining light coming from the leaping fire and from a two-branched candlestand which stood on an occasional table close to where Georgiana was sitting. She was reclining in a wing-chair with her legs extended before her on a footstool; only the very tips of her blue kid sandals peeped modestly from under the flounce of her white gown. An abigail was by her side, a dark little Welsh girl with a demure face that did not match her saucy eyes. The pair of them, thought Graham with misgiving, looked ripe for mischief. His hand went instinctively to his cravat to straighten it, and he gave a light, professional cough.
‘Well, now,’ he said, in what he hoped was a brisk manner. ‘Let’s see what the trouble seems to be, shall we?’
The abigail hastily checked a titter, and was frowned on by her mistress. Graham went over to the chair, and stooped before the footstool. He put out his hands to seize a foot, then hesitated, looking up at the maid.
It was the first time he had ever felt ill at ease with a patient. He told himself that the unusual circumstances were to blame. It could not often fall to a young doctor’s lot to be obliged to examine the ankle of an attractive young lady with whom he had just been chatting on the easiest of terms at a dinner party. Also the atmosphere in the room was wrong; all that shadow, and Miss Eversley sitting in a pool of mellow light, which made her hair glint as though it were a priceless jewel. He would have felt that she had deliberately arranged all this to put him at a disadvantage, but for the fact that there could be neither sense nor reason in such an action. Nevertheless, he could not avoid the uncomfortable feeling that both mistress and maid were laughing at him.
‘If you’d be good enough to raise this hem a trifle,’ he commanded, a little more brusquely than the occasion seemed to justify.
The maid leant over to comply, obviously bubbling over with mirth. She had left her native valleys hoping to see a bit more life in London, and she had certainly not been disappointed since entering the Honourable Georgiana Eversley’s service. Setting a good-looking young doctor on to examine an
ankle that was as good as ever, look you, was only one of the many pranks that could be expected from her handsome, harum scarum mistress — and good luck to her, yes, indeed, for were not the men there to be bamboozled? She would have something worth the telling when next she made the long, uncomfortable journey back to her birthplace.
‘That will do, thank you,’ said Graham, sharply, as the girl twitched the flounce of her mistress’s gown well above the ankle. ‘Now, let me see, it’s this one, isn’t it?’
His vague suspicions prompted him to feign a mistake; it was the left ankle, and not the right, which he took in in his hands.
‘There’s no swelling,’ he said, moving his fingers gently over the affected area. He pressed hard suddenly, and looked up at Georgy with a bland expression of inquiry on his face. ‘Does that hurt?’ he asked.
She nodded and gave a small sigh, then put up a hand to her head.
‘Stevens,’ she said, in a failing voice, ‘I think I may need my vinaigrette. Will you fetch it, please?’
‘Indeed to goodness, madam, I hope you may not swoon!’ exclaimed Stevens with a great show of alarm, making a bolt for the door.
‘Have no fear — while Dr. Graham is with me, I can come to no harm,’ Georgy assured her, weakly. ‘Only I should feel more comfortable with my smelling bottle.’
‘Yes, to be sure, Miss — I will fetch it instantly!’
The door closed behind her. Graham released the foot, and rose to his feet.
‘I imagine you’d prefer me to postpone the rest of the examination until your maid returns,’ he said, brusquely. ‘By the way, if you really feel faint, put your head forward — so!’
He caught hold of her by the shoulders, and jerked her forward so suddenly that the pins which held her back hair in place were loosened, and it came tumbling about her neck in a tawny mass of ringlets.
She shook herself free of his grip, and turned her flashing green eyes upon him.
The Toast of the Town Page 5