by Betty Neels
She said rather too quickly, "Oh, yes, I'm very happy, Jason. It was a lovely weekend and your cottage is beautiful…"
"Our cottage," he corrected her. "If you would like to look round the hospital, I've an outpatients' clinic in the afternoon on Tuesday; you could spend an hour or so there and pick me up at the end of the clinic."
"I'd like that very much. I won't be in the way?"
"No, no. Theatre's closed on Tuesday afternoons. I'll speak to Sister." Another step in the right direction, thought Araminta-to know something of his day at the hospital. Perhaps Theatre Sister would give her a few clues…
Buller welcomed them back with dignity, received the information that a cat had been added to the household, and took the dogs away for their meal, the cat in her basket in his hand. He assured them that Mrs. Buller would feed the little beast and wait for the professor's wishes as to its future.
"Mrs. Buller won't mind?" asked Araminta anxiously.
"Not in the least. Come down and we'll have a drink before dinner."
There were messages for him on the sidetable in the hall; usually he took them straight to the study, but now he went into the drawingroom and sat down in his chair, holding them unopened in his hand. The weekend had been delightful; he had gone frequently to the cottage on his own, but with Araminta for company he had felt contented and relaxed. She had been happy, cooking their meals and making beds, helping in the garden, caring for the cat. All the same, there was something… She had looked charming at the cottage, wrapped in a pinny, bending over the stove; washing dishes was something he was quite unaccustomed to, but he had enjoyed the chore with her, drying the plates while they planned their day. He frowned. She had fitted into his life like a hand in a glove.
He took his spectacles from a pocket and began to read the first of the messages. He was interrupted by a slightly flustered Buller, swept aside by Vicky as she came into the room.
"Darling Jason, say you're glad to see me. I've had the dullest weekend and I'm bored to death, so I've come to share your dinner." She glanced around her. "Where's Araminta? She won't mind, will she?"
The professor put down his notes with a sigh. "We are just back from the cottage," he said as he got up. "I'm sure Araminta will be delighted to invite you to dinner-she will be down in a minute."
Vicky pouted. "You don't sound very pleased to see me. Have you turned into a dreary old married man already?"
He smiled thinly. "Here is Araminta."
Araminta had changed into one of her pretty dresses and put on a pair of high-heeled shoes, something she was glad of when she saw Vicky. Her greeting wasn't to be faulted, and when Jason said that Vicky would like to stay for dinner, she said at once, "Oh, how nice, of course she must. I'll tell Mrs. Buller." She smiled widely at them both and took herself off to the kitchen to discuss with Mrs. Buller how dinner cooked for two could be stretched to three. When she went back to the drawingroom, Vicky was sitting close to Jason, chattering in her high voice and laughing a great deal.
He got up as Araminta joined them. "Time for a drink before we eat-what will you have, Vicky?"
"Have you forgotten already? Gin and tonic, of course-unless there's champagne."
He handed her the drink and turned to Araminta. "Sherry for you, my dear?"
"Please, Jason." She sat quietly, not attempting to compete with Vicky's light-hearted gossip, for the most part about people she had never heard of, mutual acquaintances of Jason and Vicky.
It was brought to an end by Jason's quiet, "What a chatterbox you are, Vicky." He glanced across at Araminta. "Is our little cat quite comfortable?"
"Yes, she's asleep by the Aga." Araminta turned to Vicky. "We found a cat at the cottage-the poor thing was half starved and going to have kittens-we brought her back here to live with us."
Vicky wrinkled her pretty nose. "Darling, are you one of those dreadful do-gooders who go around rescuing animals and giving money to beggars? How absolutely dire." She turned a laughing face to the professor. "Jason, did you know Araminta was so-so worthy when you married her?"
The professor's mouth was a thin line but he spoke quite quietly. "What a peculiar remark to make, Vicky, and I'm afraid you must consider me worthy too, for I also rescue animals and give money to beggars-Araminta and I are completely in accord over that."
He had spoken without seeming to look at Araminta, who had gone an unhappy pink; now he smiled across at her. "Isn't that so, darling?"
The "darling' was a surprise and took her breath, but she nodded and smiled. He didn't mean it, of course, he was saying it to squash Vicky's spite. She lifted her chin and said to Vicky, "I expect you have any number of friends?"
"Hundreds." She sounded sulky. "I scarcely have a moment to myself. Life's too short not to get as much fun out of it as possible."
There was no need to answer that, for Buller came to say that dinner was served, and they went into the dining-room and ate the garlic mushrooms, rack of lamb and peach pavlova. The professor kept the talk general, which gave their guest no chance to get personal.
Over coffee Vicky said, "You'll drive me home, won't you, Jason? I had a taxi here there's never anywhere to park a car…"
"It will have to be a taxi back," he told her. "I'm on call and must stay at home, I'm afraid. Buller shall get you a taxi."
She was in no hurry to leave, however, and when the door finally closed behind her Jason collected up his notes. "I'll have to see to these," he told Araminta, "if you'll forgive me. A wasted evening…"
Araminta wasn't sure if he meant that Vicky had wasted his evening or if he had intended to spend it in his study. She murmured a nothing and said that she would go to bed. Her goodnight was cheerful, and she added, "It was a lovely weekend-thank you for taking me, Jason."
He came to the foot of the stairs. "Thank me?" He sounded harsh. "Why should you thank me? I found every moment of it delightful."
He turned away and closed the study door after him and she went on upstairs, thinking over his words. It was early days, but was he at least noticing her? Although I can quite see why he married me, she reflected, to escape from women like Vicky; I'm a buffer, aren't I? The thing is to make the buffer attractive.
She laid her head on her pillow and slept at once, sure that she had at least one foot in the door, as it were.
The professor came home at lunchtime on Tuesday and drove Araminta to the hospital, where he handed her over to Theatre Sister, a tall, stout lady with iron-grey hair, small, twinkling blue eyes and an extremely brisk manner.
"Take care of her," he said to Sister Weekes. "I'll be finished around five o'clock if you'll send her down to OPD."
He went away and Araminta started on her tour. Sister Weekes was a good guide and she was willing to answer Araminta's questions. In reply to the query as to how long she had worked with Jason she laughed. "Years, my dear. I can remember him when he was a houseman here; always had his nose in a book, very studious, although he played rugger foithe hospital. There was no holding him back, of course-got the best brain I've ever come across and knows how to use it. Glad he's married; the girls have been after him for ten years and, since he spends his leisure with his nose in a book, he might easily have found himself married to one of them without realising it. He'll be happy with you, though."
Araminta said faintly, "I do hope so," and then, more strongly, "But he did know he was marrying me, if you see what I mean."
"Never did a better thing in his life," declared her companion. "Shall we go to the children's wards?"
By the time they reached OPD the vast hall was almost empty. "Still at it?" asked Sister Weekes. "Sit down here, my dear, he won't be long now. I'll have to go, I'm afraid. A pleasure meeting you-come again whenever you want to. I'll probably be in Theatre, but there's no reason why you shouldn't poke around on your own."
She sailed away and Araminta sat on one of the benches and watched as the last handful of patients went one by one through the doors at the end
of the hall. Presently Jason came out, looking quite different in a long white coat with a stethoscope hanging round his neck. He had a sister with him and an arm full of folders, and when he saw her he called, "I'll be with you in a moment, Araminta," and disappeared through another door.
"You haven't been waiting long?" he asked as he returned presently and, when she said no, asked if she had enjoyed herself.
"Yes, oh, yes. I had no idea. I wish I were a nurse so that I could work with you." She had spoken without thinking, and blushed at the silliness of her remark.
"So do I," said Jason softly. "On the other hand, I'd rather have you to come home to, Araminta."
He was staring at her so intently that she looked down at her person. "Is something wrong?" she asked him.
"No, no, something is very right and I've only just discovered it."
"Oh, good. I expect you are pleased when things go right. Do you want to go home now?" She stood up, admired her shoes for a moment, and then looked up at him. "I like your Sister Weekes."
"So do I. She's a martinet in Theatre but she has a heart of gold."
Back at the house, Araminta went off to see how the cat was faring.
"Two kittens," Mrs. Buller told her. "Little dears, and she's fine, ma'am. But she needs a bit of feeding up."
"The professor will be pleased." She hurried to tell him and he went back to the kitchen with her, bending over the box, his arm round Araminta's shoulder.
"She'll do. Do you feel like a quick walk when we've had tea?"
The rest of the evening they spent together, and Araminta went to bed almost happy. Jason didn't just like her, he was actually enjoying being with her. She lay awake for a while, deciding what she should wear the next dayit was very important to make herself as attractive as possible. She couldn't compete with someone like Vicky, but bread and butter made a nice change from cream cakes, and she didn't think Jason was partial to too many cakes…
CHAPTER NINE
ARAMINTA got up early so that she had plenty of time to arrange her hair just so, do her face carefully and get into a knitted two-piece in a pleasing shade of brown. It had been very expensive but worth every penny, she decided, surveying her person before going down to breakfast.
Indeed Jason gave her a second and lingering glance as she sat down. He wondered why he hadn't seen that she was really rather pretty. Also so restful, he concluded, as he opened his letters.
Araminta had seen the second look and felt satisfaction. Given a month or so and no interference from Vicky, another weekend at the cottage, and regular visits to the hairdresser, there might be real progress. She had no great opinion of her powers to attract, but love had given her a strong determination. She ate her breakfast, leaving him to read his post in peace.
She was in the kitchen just before teatime, feeding the cat, when Buller came to find her. "Miss Alice Smith has called, ma'am. I've put her in the drawing-room."
"My sister? Oh, thank you, Buller. Could we have tea presently, please?"
Alice was fingering the small silver ornaments set out on a small ebony side-table. She turned round as Araminta went in. "Landed on your feet, haven't you?"
"Hello," said Araminta. "It's nice to see you, Alice. You'll stay for tea?"
"That's why I came-well, partly. I wanted to see where you were living before we go."
"Go where?"
"Father's being transferred to Bournemouth promotion. More money too."
"He's pleased?"
"You bet he is. What's more, he's had an offer for the house. You're not the only one to live on easy street." Alice abandoned her restless wandering and sat down near the fire. She gave a little laugh. "Been shopping too…"
"Yes. Will you like living in Bournemouth, Alice?"
"Rather. Plenty going on there. I might even get some sort of job-a boutique or something like that."
"When is Father going? Is he coming to say goodbye?"
Alice shrugged. "I don't know-he's fed up with you leaving us in the lurch."
It was a good thing that Buller brought in the tea then, for Araminta was on the point of answering that. She stayed silent and poured their tea and handed scones and tiny sandwiches and a rich chocolate cake, while Alice talked of the new clothes she was going to buy.
"You'll miss your friends," said Araminta.
"No, I shan't. I'll soon have new friends and plenty of men to take me out. They like a pretty face. I could have got your old professor if I'd wanted him."
"Presumably you didn't want him!" said Jason from the doorway. "Welcome to our home, Alice." He crossed the room and bent to kiss Araminta. "I'm home early," he told her, "and I hope it won't upset your arrangements if an old friend of mine and his wife come to dinner?"
Buller came in with fresh tea and Jason sat down with the dogs beside him. It was Araminta who spoke. "Alice came to tell me that Father has got a promotion-they're going to live in Bournemouth."
"Indeed? Will you like that, Alice?"
"Yes, and so will Father. We're going quite soon, as soon as the house is sold."
"Perhaps a little difficult in these times?" he suggested blandly.
"We've got a buyer."
"Splendid. Perhaps before you go you will be our guests for dinner?"
"At a restaurant? Will you phone Father and fix a date? It'll have to be soon."
"Tomorrow evening? I'll book a table in the hope that it suits him. Would you ask him to give me a ring this evening?"
"Where are we going?"
"What about the Gay Hussar?" He turned to Araminta. "You'd like that, my dear?"
"It sounds delightful."
Alice got to her feet. "I bought a new dress the other day, and now I can wear it. It's a dressy sort of place, isn't it? I must get my bus."
"Short and pretty, I should think," said Araminta.
"Buller will get you a taxi," said the professor, and submitted to Alice's kiss.
She didn't kiss Araminta but waved her fingers at her with a "See you tomorrow evening, thanks for the tea."
Araminta stood at the door with Jason and watched the taxi drive away. In the hall she said, "That was very kind of you to invite Father and Alice to dinner. I-I was a bit surprised to see her but it's such good news that Father has promotion. I think they'll be very happy at Bournemouth and he's sold the house-it seems like a miracle."
She glanced at him and found him looking at her with a half-smile.
"It wasn't a miracle," she said slowly. "You've done it all, haven't you? You said "Leave it to me" and I did, but I never thought… Why did you go to so much trouble?"
"I wanted to make you happy, Araminta." He was standing very close to her, looking down on to her enquiring face.
"You have, oh, you have, Jason. Thank you very much indeed. I can't thank you enough. Was it very difficult?"
"No, no. I do know a number of people and they know other people, so sooner or later one gets in touch with the right person."
"Father doesn't know it was you… ?"
"Certainly not, nor must he be told. You agree?"
"Yes, of course I do. Is the Gay Hussar the kind of place where you dress up?"
"A pretty dress will do."
"I wouldn't want to outshine Alice-well, I can't do that, she's so pretty, but you know what I mean."
"I'm sure you will wear exactly the right frock," he assured her solemnly.
Her choice, it seemed, was just right-silk jersey, very plainly cut; its colour was stone, the height of fashion and, mindful of Alice's feelings, she didn't wear the diamond ear-rings, only her ring. She and Jason made an elegant pair as they went into the restaurant and were shown to their table. Jason had arranged for a taxi to bring Alice and her father, and barely a minute later they arrived. Her father looked very much at his ease; he was a good-looking, man and well-dressed, and Alice walked beside him, aware that she was gathering admiring looks, smiling radiantly, knowing that her pale blue dress became her. The professor stood up
to welcome them and Araminta's father stooped to kiss her cheek. There was no warmth in his greeting but he shook hands with Jason, fussed over Alice and then looked around him. It was obvious that he had no intention of saying much to Araminta, and after a brief silence the professor took affairs into his own hands, ordering drinks, making conversation, drawing Araminta into it with effortless ease.
Once the meal was started it became easier, and when Alice had had a glass of wine after her sherry, she started to talk about her plans for Bournemouth. She was full of ideas and certain that life there would be exactly as she planned and presently her father joined in. The professor, listening gravely to what they had to say, knowing most of it already, encouraged them to talk so that, after those first few awkward moments, the dinner party was a success.
Only as they stood in the foyer, waiting for the taxi and saying goodbye, did Mr. Smith say suddenly to Araminta, "Of course, you treated us very badly, my dear. I am surprised that any daughter of mine could be so coldhearted and ungenerous, leaving us to manage on our own. However, I shall say no more about it; Alice and I will do very well at Bournemouth, but I find it hard to forget your selfishness even if I can forgive."
Araminta was thankful that Jason and Alice were standing a little apart and hadn't heard this. She said quietly, "Goodbye, Father. I'm glad you have such a promising future," and saw with relief that the taxi had arrived.
It wasn't until they were driving back home that Jason asked, "What did your father say to upset you, Araminta?"
"Oh, nothing much, I'm sure he didn't mean it." She turned her head away, fighting a wish to weep. "They did enjoy themselves. Thank you for inviting them, Jason."
He said harshly, "Unless you wish to do so, you do not have to see your father or Alice again. They have treated you badly, used you as a housekeeper and bread-winner, and shown not one jot of gratitude. They do not deserve to have their circumstances improved but it was the only way I could think of that would set you free."
He had set her free when he married. her but she didn't say so and, before she could even speak, he went on in his usual calm way. "Would you like to come to my rooms tomorrow afternoon? I've several patients to see but I should be through by four o'clock. I'd like you to meet Mrs. Wells and Mrs. Dunnthey have been with me for years and they're dying of curiosity about you."