In White Raiment
Page 12
desire on my part to be honoured by the baronet'sacquaintance. "But, having deceived me as you have to-day, I confessthat my confidence is somewhat shaken."
She laughed and raised her hand to her hair.
"Ah! it is always best to commence by being enemies and to end by beingfriends."
"You intend, then, that we shall be friends?"
"Of course. That is the reason why I asked you to call on me."
"But where have you seen me?"
"Oh, in lots of places," she answered vaguely. Her attitude was verystrange. Could it be possible that she had seen me, and, becomingattracted by my personal appearance, had found out who and what I was?Was it possible that she intended that I should be her lover?
The thought flashed across my mind as she sat there smiling upon me,displaying an even row of pearly teeth, while her face was radiant withtriumph and happiness. I had promised friendship to this woman, who hadso cleverly formed my acquaintance.
"Tell me one place where we have met," I asked, for, to my knowledge, Ihad never set eyes upon her before that morning.
"You were having supper at the _Savoy_ with your friend, Doctor Raymond,one night three weeks ago," she answered. "On the following evening youboth dined together at the exhibition at Earl's Court."
"And you saw us at both places?" I exclaimed, surprised.
"Yes," she laughed. "You see how well acquainted I have been with yourrecent movements."
"I had no idea that any lady had been taking an interest in myunimportant self," I laughed.
Yes, it was true, this woman was seeking to fascinate me by those wilesso purely feminine. But I laughed within myself, for I was fortunatelyproof against it all. The incident was decidedly amusing. Of a veritythe doctor is bound to steel his heart against many feminineblandishments.
Ere the words had left my lips, however, our conversation wasinterrupted by a woman's voice outside the room, crying merrily--
"Nora! Nora! Where are you? We shall be so awfully late!"
And an instant later a young girl, dressed to go out, burst gaily intothe room. She drew back with a quick word of apology when sherecognised that her ladyship was not alone, but at sight of her I satthere dumb-stricken and rigid as a statue.
Was I dreaming? Could it be, after all, only a mere chimera of anexcited imagination? No; I knew myself to be in full possession of allmy faculties. The mystery was inscrutable. There before me, somewhatabashed by her own unceremonious intrusion, her soft cheeks slightlyflushed, radiant and in perfect health, stood my dead wife in the flesh!
CHAPTER NINE.
A MAZE OF MYSTERY.
I sat erect in my chair, open-mouthed, unable to move. My eyes wereriveted upon the slim graceful form before me. I held my breath inwonder. She wore a smart tailor-made gown of pale fawn, with a largeblack hat which suited her admirably, while across the face--everyfeature of which had been so indelibly photographed upon my memory--wasa thin gauzy veil which only served to heighten, rather than to conceal,her striking beauty.
"I'm so sorry to have disturbed you," she exclaimed, turning to herladyship. "But I hadn't any idea that you had a visitor."
"Oh," laughed the other, "our conversation is not at all of a privatecharacter. Let me introduce you." Then, turning to me, she said--
"This is my cousin, Feo Ashwicke--Doctor Colkirk."
My wife turned to me and bowed, a sweet smile upon her lips.
"I hope, Doctor, you will forgive me for bounding into the room likethis," she said.
"Certainly," I answered, still gazing at her like a man in a dream.
She had been introduced to me as Feo Ashwicke, the cousin of this rathercurious woman, Lady Pierrepoint-Lane. Yet there could be no doubt thatshe was actually Beryl Wynd, the sweet-faced girl whom I had seen lyingdead in that house of mystery eight days before.
Neither our introduction nor the mention of my name had in the leastdisconcerted her. She remained perfectly frank and natural, betrayingnot the slightest surprise. Could it be possible that she was not awareof her marriage with me?
I looked straight into her clear blue eyes. Neither appeared affected.Nevertheless, had I not, on that fatal night, seen the strangecontraction of the pupil, which had rendered one--the left eye--sightless and so strange-looking?
She was talking to her cousin, and thus I had opportunity of regardingher critically. Her hands were gloved, therefore I could not seewhether she still wore the ring I had placed upon her finger. Still, ifshe were really Feo Ashwicke, what motive had she in masquerading as thedaughter of that crafty scoundrel Wyndham Wynd?
I longed to speak plainly to her and seek some explanation, yet at thatmoment it was impossible. Her frank and open manner rendered it quiteevident that to her I was an utter stranger.
It was this failure on her part to recognise my name that aroused withinmy mind a doubt whether, after all, her personal appearance only bore avery striking resemblance to that of my mysterious wife.
"Nora always forgets her engagements," she laughed, turning to me."This morning we've got quite a host of places to go to and things tobuy, for we leave town again to-night. After breakfast we arranged togo out together at eleven, and she's actually forgotten all about it!"
"Short memories are sometimes useful," I remarked with a smile.
"I hope that is not meant for sarcasm, Doctor," protested the baronet'swife.
"I am never sarcastic at the expense of my patients," I responded.
"But I presume I am a friend. Do your friends fare any better?"
"With my friends it is quite different. I myself am generally theobject of their sarcasm."
They both laughed.
"How hot it is this morning," observed the mysterious Feo. "I've onlybeen in town three days, and shall be very glad to get back again intothe country."
"To what part are you going?" I inquired.
"Only to Whitton, near Hounslow, to visit the Chetwodes. Do you knowthem?"
"No," I replied. "Are you staying there long?"
"Oh, a fortnight or so," she replied. "The Chetwode girls were atschool with me near Paris, and we are very good friends. They alwayshave a big house-party at this time of the year, and there is usuallylots of fun."
"You're quite right, dear," exclaimed her cousin, rising. "We mustreally make haste if we are to do all our shopping and catch the fiveo'clock from Waterloo. In Maud's letter, this morning, she says shewill send the carriage to meet that train."
I rose also. I was loth to leave the presence of this charming girl,who was undoubtedly my bride, but who, it appeared, was entirelyunconscious of the fact. Yet the woman who had called me in forconsultation, and had acted so strangely that it almost seemed as thoughshe had fallen in love with me, had pointedly dismissed me; therefore Iwas compelled to take my leave.
"I hope, Doctor, that we shall see something more of you on our returnto town," her ladyship said, as we shook hands. "Recollect ourconversation of this morning," she added meaningly.
"Of course I shall be most delighted to call and see how you haveprogressed," I responded. "You have the prescription, and I hope youwill persevere with it."
"If I feel worse." She laughed, and I knew that she did not mean tohave the mixture made up. She had shammed illness very cleverly. I wasamused and annoyed at the same moment.
"I hope Doctor Colkirk will dine with us here one evening," said thewoman who was my bride. "I'm sure Sir Henry would be charmed to meethim."
"Yes," answered her cousin; "only he must not know that I have consultedhim professionally. That must be kept a secret."
"All women love secrets," I remarked.
"And men also," responded Feo. "Some appear to think that a littlemystery adds an additional zest to life."
Her words were strange ones, and seemed to have been uttered with someabstruse meaning.
"Do you yourself think so?" I inquired, looking earnestly into thosebright eyes of clear, childlike blue, tha
t were so plainly indicative ofa purity of soul.
"Well, I scarcely know," she responded, returning my glanceunflinchingly. "We all of us have some little mystery or other in ourlives, I suppose."
I had taken her hand in adieu, and was still holding it.
"And are you no exception?"
"Ah! now, Doctor, you're really too inquisitive." And she laughed, justa trifle unnaturally I thought, as though I had approached an unwelcometopic.
"Well," I said smiling, "I won't press you further; it isn't fair.Good-bye, and I trust I shall meet both your cousin and yourself at adate not far distant--that is, if I am still in