“Let’s go into the other room ... finished your coffee?” Mrs. Somers addressed Raynal. “It’s more comfortable there.”
As the four of them walked towards the sitting-room, Raynal overheard snatches of conversation between Kay and her sister. “... hope you didn’t mind Robin and me rushing off to town like that ... we didn’t decide until after you’d left, it was a pity, we could have all gone together...” It seemed to Raynal that Penelope was somewhat apologetic in her attitude and he couldn’t help feeling that Kay was showing admirable restraint; this younger sister of hers appeared to be monopolizing Robin Aldon and that odd attitude of almost forced jollity, which she was adopting, was rather like that of a guilty child.
“Robin ... they didn’t wait dinner, wasn’t that lucky.” To Raynal there was still a note of forced levity in Penelope’s voice as she addressed Robin, who had just entered the room. “I’ve been explaining how badly the car behaved and how I got famished on the way ... Mr. Raynal is here too, he brought Kay back, I’m sure she had a more comfortable ride down than she would have had in your car.”
“Hello, Kay.” Robin drew Kay to him and kissed her fondly. “Had a good day in town? Penny and I only decided to go up after you’d left, I wish we could have located you in town, we might have stayed up and done a show.”
“Penny knew I was going to Mr. Raynal’s, she could have left a message there.” Kay drew herself from Robin’s embrace and smoothed back a strand of hair from her forehead. “But it doesn’t matter, I should have been too tired, it was much more restful coming back here.” Her tone was non-committal and it would have been impossible to gauge her true feelings.
“Of course, how silly of me ... I might have phoned Mr. Raynal’s house ... I didn’t even think of it... oh, well, it’s too late now.” Penelope sank into an armchair and, pulling a cigarette from a crumpled packet, lit it with deliberate care before continuing. “Anyway Robin and I managed to put in a good job of work, we’ve fixed up about a consignment of timber and ordered the roofing ... managed to locate some fine quality wire netting too...”
The conversation which ensued passed idly over Peter Raynal’s head as, ensconced comfortably in an armchair, pipe in mouth, he glanced round the small group. Without conscious volition, he found himself studying Kay seated in a low chair opposite to him; there was an easy grace in her attitude and the fading light of the long summer evening cast shadows across the perfect oval of her face, enhancing the delicate moulding of her features. She really was, at times, almost beautiful. Raynal puffed contemplatively at his pipe, he seemed to have misjudged her character too... but then, he reminded himself, at hospital she had seemed so different, so emotionless, so withdrawn. In a misguided moment he recalled having even felt regret for this, then unknown, fiancé and pitied him the cold, unbending girl he had chosen as wife. The last week or so, first with Christine and then away from hospital, Kay had shown him an entirely different side to her character and then, this eve ling, listening to her playing, he had recognized a hitherto entirely unexpected depth of feeling of which he had never dreamed her capable. From Kay, his glance turned to Robin. He scarcely knew him, but there was a natural simplicity and honesty about the man which appealed to Raynal. Robin Aldon was the type in whom one could have infinite confidence.
“I’m sure Mr. Raynal isn’t a bit interested in chicken houses.” Mrs. Somers looked up from her sewing to interrupt the conversation, and hearing his name, Raynal jerked himself back into consciousness of the present.
“Don’t worry about me, I’m enjoying my pipe and digesting an excellent meal and anyway I’m always ready to learn about things—even chicken houses.” He smiled, then added more seriously. “Please do go on, you and Kay see so little of one another, you must have plenty to discuss.”
“It’s all right, I expect Kay is only too glad to have an excuse to drop the discussion; chicken houses don’t interest her either.” Penelope gave a short laugh as she lit another cigarette, then added: “I’m afraid that it’s all my fault, I just run on and on and encourage Robin to talk ‘Shop’ too.”
“Anyway, I’m famished!” Robin stood up and stretched his arms above his head. “Those sandwiches weren’t enough for me ... how about you, Penny? Want a snack?”
“There is some cherry tart in the larder ... and beer ... go and help yourselves.”
As Raynal watched Penelope and Robin leave for the kitchen, he was aware of a sense of relief. It must be Penelope’s presence, he decided, she seemed tense, and with her departure, it was as if a sense of calm had returned to the small room. It was a ridiculous notion, Raynal had to admit, since when he’d first met Penelope, she had struck him as being like an irresponsible child, in her muddy breeches and soiled shirt and she had appeared full of the joy of life. Surely she was different tonight, or had his first impression been wrong? He always prided himself on a considerable ability to sum up character; he had been mistaken about Kay, perhaps he was wrong about her sister too. It seemed this evening, that instead of the spontaneous gaiety he would have expected, her laughter was forced, there was an artificiality about her manner, and his professional eye had been unconsciously directed to the nervous gestures she had been making with her hands, the cigarettes, half smoked, lighted one from the other...
“My goodness, you must have been hungry.” Mrs. Somers eyed the piled plates which Penelope and Robin carried in. “Why didn’t you tell me earlier, there was plenty of the joint left.”
“This will do.” Penelope re-seated herself in the chair she had vacated. “I don’t want much, Robin piled up my plate...”
“I know I’m hungry,” Robin took a large bite of tart. “It’s good too. Those sandwiches were awful ... all bread, and stale at that!”
“You should have had a proper dinner.” Mrs. Somers bit off the thread and then held up her handiwork. “There, that’s finished, I’ve been trying to get this pillowslip mended for weeks, but the things accumulate so...”
“Robin, darling ... do be careful ... those crumbs ... and it’s all sticky too.” Kay jumped to her feet to retrieve the damage done by a piece of tart, which had slipped from Robin’s plate. “You really should have brought a tray.”
“Oh, for heaven’s sake stop nagging! ... It will all brush off.” There was uncontrolled irritation in Penelope’s voice. “Can’t you let Robin alone? Your constant fussing is enough to drive anyone crazy!”
Unconsciously Raynal felt his eyes drawn to Kay, he knew her so well, now there would be a fine outburst, Sister Somers didn’t stand for that sort of thing. To his surprise, she merely paused for a moment, then slowly returned to her chair ... the unnatural pallor in her cheeks and the stiffness of her bearing gave the only indications that she was hurt by her sister’s words.
Robin commenced to make ineffectual dabs at the arm of the chintz-covered chair until Mrs. Somers interrupted. “Leave it, dear, it’s nothing, I’ll see to it later.” Her tone was so natural that to Raynal it seemed as if the tension was immediately eased. “Now how about some drinks all round ... a beer, Mr. Raynal?”
“No, thanks, I’ll have to be moving soon.” He smiled his thanks.
Robin placed his empty plate on a side table and crossing to Kay seated himself on the arm of her chair, and as if to make amends he slipped an arm cajolingly round her shoulders. “You haven’t told us yet how you got on today. Did you get the bits and pieces you wanted? By the way, we’ve forgotten to tell you our best news...” He turned to Penelope. “Haven’t we, Penny?” Then addressing himself again to Kay, he added: “What do you think? You’ll never guess.”
“I don’t know, what is it?” There was a note of interest in Kay’s voice. “Don’t tell me you’ve been getting estimates for the decorations?”
“Oh, no ... but we’ll see to that pretty soon now.” Robin dismissed the matter with marked impatience. “You won’t have to learn to care for pigs and cows and chickens after all, Mr. Morgan has released Penny; she is coming alon
g to us permanently and is going to take over all the dairy and poultry work!”
“Penny? ... Not going on working for Mr. Morgan? ... But I don’t understand.” Kay faltered in bewilderment.
“It’s quite simple, we knew you’d be thrilled, and after all, it’s the natural thing for Penny to do; why work for strangers with her own brother-in-law crying out for labor?”
“Of course ... I’m awfully glad ... it’s grand for Doth of us.” Kay’s tone was flat and emotionless and Raynal was amazed that it didn’t seem apparent to the others, and yet it couldn’t have been, since, quite undaunted, Robin continued to discuss the matter with enthusiasm.
The discussion lasted for some little time and every moment it became more obvious to Raynal that Penelope’s and Robin’s excitement was by no means shared by Kay. If Mrs. Somers had any ideas on the subject, she kept them to herself and, occupied with more mending, added nothing to the conversation, appearing to him to preserve a deliberate neutrality.
“Lucky fellow, aren’t I, Raynal, a decorative wife and a thoroughly efficient sister-in-law?”
“If I may suggest it, the wife is pretty efficient too.” Raynal’s tone was dry but there was an enigmatic smile playing round his mouth. “I might even say extremely efficient.” He rose to his feet and turned to Mrs. Somers. “If you’ll excuse me...”
His “good-byes” said, Raynal turned to Kay. “There are one or two arrangements for the morning ... could I have a word with you?”
“Of course, I’ll see you out.” Kay preceded Raynal from the room and leaving the cottage walked down the path by his side. At the gate they both paused. “It’s a wonderful night ...” Kay lifted her face to the unclouded canopy of sky in which hung a clear, silver moon and a few twinkling stars. “It’s lovely ... too fine to be inside.”
“It certainly is grand.” Raynal breathed deeply of the sweet-scented air and let his eyes stray round the shadowed landscape, which seemed bathed in a silver glow. The soft light accentuated the pallor of Kay’s face and gave an almost ethereal quality to her slim figure, as she leaned against the gate. “Now about tomorrow? ... I’ll bring everything with me, I packed all I’ll want in my bag ... about eight-thirty, will that do? ... I think a light breakfast for Chris, she is such a nervous child...”
“Yes, I’ll see to everything ...” Kay held out her hand. “Good night...”
As Raynal took her hand in his, he was aware of an urge to prolong the conversation. “There isn’t any hurry ... it’s such a wonderful night, how about a few minutes stroll up the lane?”
“If you like.” Kay spoke with complete indifference, but she followed her escort without protest and walked slowly beside him up the narrow rutted road. “It’s beautifully peaceful here.”
“It is ... I think a breath of air will do you good; I consider you’ve spent a nerve-racking evening,” Raynal laughed softly to take any seriousness from his words.
If Kay had given heed to his remark, she made no comment and, apparently engrossed by her own thoughts, walked silently by his side. She seemed scarcely aware that he had slipped his arm beneath hers and allowed him to lead her towards a stile leading on to a narrow footpath over the fields.
“Shall we sit here?” For a few moments there was again silence between them, until with an impulse Raynal could not define, he took Kay’s hands between his and drew her round until she faced him. Then, almost without conscious volition, he found himself speaking. “Kay, will you do something for me? I know at one time there wasn’t much love lost between us.” He laughed shortly. “But I think I may say that we do understand each other better now...”
“What do you want me to do?” Kay made no effort to release her hands, but there was a note of surprise in her voice.
“I want you to postpone your marriage... at least until you finally give up hospital...”
“Postpone my marriage ... have you taken leave of your senses ... are you mad?” Kay snatched away her hands and the eyes she turned on Raynal were flashing with anger.
For a moment he was taken aback. What on earth had made him ask such a question? He had acted on a sudden impulse, he couldn’t explain his action, some deeply hidden motive, some underlying instinct must have brought the words to his lips as if a force beyond his control had urged him to speak.
“I think your request is a gross impertinence!” Kay resumed hotly. “I have to put up with your insufferable attitude in hospital, but if you think that you can order my private affairs as well, then you are mistaken.” Kay flung down from her seat and, hurrying along the lane, was soon swallowed up by the encompassing darkness.
Raynal stood irresolute, uncertain whether to follow her, then with a shrug, he decided against it and walked slowly back to the waiting car. He had been a fool to make any such suggestion, he might have known from bitter experience that her arrogant nature would brook no interference and that his well-meant advice would be summarily dismissed.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Kay closed the cottage door, then leaned her back heavily against it, while she sought control over her still trembling limbs. That sudden burst of temper seemed to have drained every ounce of strength from her, or was it perhaps that Peter Raynal’s suggestion had shocked her all the more since it might have been the echo of her own unbidden thoughts. The whole evening had been a strain on her control: Robin’s thoughtlessness in going to town without her, the idea that Penelope would be a permanent adjunct to the farm, and, to cap it all, Penelope’s uncalled-for rudeness. The combination of events had badly shaken her confidence, and for Raynal to have voiced her own fears had been the last straw.
“Kay, are you back? ... Robin wants to say goodnight.” Her mother’s voice called from the kitchen, where once again she seemed to be busy clearing up, probably after Robin and Penelope’s impromptu supper. “Penny has gone up to bed and Robin wants to be getting off.” As Robin appeared in the hall Kay made a supreme effort to appear natural, and certainly as she felt the strong grip of his arms drawing her closer, she was conscious of the soothing comfort of his embrace. He was so strong, so dependable ... her arms clung more closely ... when they were always together, nothing, nothing could ever go wrong.
As Kay drew the heavy bolts of the door behind Robin’s departing figure, she felt calm again, the tension had vanished and she was now only aware of an intense irritation against Raynal, who had served to bring to light the smouldering doubts she herself had been harboring. There only remained a lingering feeling that all might not be well between herself and Penelope, so as she reached the door of her own room, she called out to her sister.
“If you aren’t in bed yet, Penny, come along a moment, I’ve something to show you.” She forced a light and carefree tone as a sign to her sister that, as far as she was concerned, there was no longer any discordant note between them.
When Penelope entered Kay’s room, clad only in her pyjamas with a shabby dressing gown flung loosely over her shoulders, Kay was amazed to see that her eyes were red-rimmed from recently shed tears. In a moment Kay had crossed the small room to her side. “Penny... darling... what on earth is the matter? ... You’ve been working far too hard ... you must be tired ... I thought you were tonight, you mustn’t overdo it.” Her tone was distressed as she led her sister to the armchair. “Sit down and tell me what’s the matter ... you are just worn out, aren’t you? That’s all it is.”
“Oh, I’m all right.” Penelope shook off Kay’s hold but made no effort to rise from the chair. “Got a cigarette?”
“Yes, of course...” Kay felt in her handbag and produced her case, then lighting a match, held it for her sister. “You just relax ... I’ll go down and get a cup of tea and then we’ll sit and chat the way we used to do.” There was a note of eagerness in Kay’s tone as she tried to distract her sister.
“Don’t bother about tea, I seem to have been eating and drinking all the evening.” Penelope’s tone was ungracious and there remained a sulky curl to her full r
ed Ups, replacing her customary dimpled smile. “What did you want to see me about?”
With a determined effort to ignore Penelope’s ill-humor, Kay picked up the blue-feathered hat, which on her return she had placed carefully beneath a layer of tissue paper. Stooping before her mirror, she adjusted it carefully on her head, then turned to face Penelope. “What do you think of it? Isn’t it a peach? ... I got it today...” Without awaiting a reply, she opened her cupboard and drew her blue dress carefully off its hanger, then holding it up beneath her chin, turned again to her companion. “My full wedding regalia ... the hat just makes it, doesn’t it?”
Instead of the admiration Kay had expected to find in Penelope’s face, she was horrified to see her sister’s eyes fill with tears which began to trickle slowly down her cheeks, until with a broken cry, Penelope flung her arms across her face and began sobbing without restraint. In a second Kay had thrust the dress and hat unceremoniously on the bed and was kneeling at her sister’s side. “Penny, Penny darling, what is it?” She drew the younger girl’s head against her shoulder and even as she held her, she was conscious of the long drawn sobs shaking Penelope’s body.
For a moment she rested unresistingly in Kay’s arms then, releasing herself, she sat back in her chair and fumbling in her dressing-gown pocket for her handkerchief, began to mop her streaming eyes.
“It’s no use telling lies ... you may as well know the truth.” Penelope’s husky voice was almost inaudible and spasmodic sobs still caught her breath as she spoke. “I’m jealous ... madly jealous ... of you, your wedding dress, your hat, Aldon Farm, and ... and everything ... yes, yes, and Robin too!”
Peter Raynal, Surgeon Page 14