“Actually, that wasn’t what I meant. You don’t mind Noel taking Sue out?”
Kit stared at him in amazement. “Good gracious, no! Why should I?”
“Oh ... I don’t know,” Mr. Baylis hedged. “Just thought you might find Noel...”
“Attractive?” Kit suggested. “Of course I do. I think he’s charming but...”
“You’re quite right, of course,” Mr. Baylis said frankly. “I think you’d be happier with an older man. And what Noel wants, of course, is a girl who will rely on him. Bring out all the best in him.” Kit made no reply to that, and after a minute, Mr. Baylis started on an entirely different tack.
“Nurse, have you any idea whether Sue has the right sort of outfit for an evening like this?”
“I’m afraid I haven’t,” Kit replied, delighted, for more than one reason, at the turn the conversation had taken.
“Hm. Can’t say I’ve ever seen her in anything very festive.” Mr. Baylis frowned. “Look, Nurse, would you mind seeing if you can get hold of her and ask her to spare me a few minutes?” Joyously Kit went on her errand, assured an apprehensive Sue that there was nothing to worry about and pushed her into Mr. Baylis’s room.
A quarter of an hour later Sue, completely dazed, came out again, some money clutched in her hand.
“Look!” she gasped. “Twenty-five pounds! And Uncle Ralph says I’m to spend every penny on an outfit for tomorrow evening!”
“What fun!” Kit’s eyes sparkled. “And what a darling he is!”
“Yes, isn’t he?” Sue agreed, but a shadow crossed her face. “The only thing is, I don’t feel I ought to spend it on myself.”
“Why not?” Kit asked.
“You see, I owe Aunt Ruth a lot of money. Or rather, my father and mother did. So, of course, I have to pay it back. That’s only fair.”
Well, Kit thought, perhaps it might have been when Ruth herself was earning her own living. But now that she was the wife of a wealthy man, surely she could afford to be generous. But it wouldn’t help matters to say that.
“I think you will hurt Mr. Baylis’s feelings very much if you don’t do exactly what he says,” she suggested diplomatically. “And I’m sure you wouldn’t like to do that, would you?”
“No, of course not,” Sue agreed, brightening up. “If only there was a little bit more time.”
“There’s plenty of time,” Kit said firmly. “It’s only eleven o’clock. There’s a bus into Minsterbury in half an hour. That will give you time to give any necessary orders to the staff, get changed and walk down to the bus stop.”
“Yes, but...”
Kit could almost see the shadow of her aunt’s presence that Sue was conjuring up in her mind.
“Look, Sue, Mr. Baylis has told you to go. So it’s all right. And in any case, is there anything you were going to do in the house today that you can’t do just as well when you get back?”
“Not really,” Sue admitted and drew a deep breath. “All right, I’ll go ... no matter what happens.”
“Good girl!” Kit applauded. “And look, Sue, don’t let anyone make you buy something you don’t really like. If you do, it won’t really suit you, and then Mr. Baylis will be disappointed.”
“I’ve always wanted a green dress,” Sue said dreamily. “I know just the shade—a sort of jade green. And perhaps—” she gasped at the wonder of the idea, “jade-colored shoes.”
Kit laughed and gave her a little push.
“Lovely! But don’t just dream about it. Go and look for it!” Sue rewarded her with a clear, happy laugh.
If she does that for Noel ... Kit reflected hopefully. And then, more soberly, to think that there has always been that, just below the surface, and it has needed so little to make her show it! Because, of course, twenty-five pounds isn’t very much to Mr. Baylis. She paused with her hand on the knob of his door. I wonder if he knows about this debt? Somehow, I don’t think so...
Sue came home tired but triumphant. She had bought the dress and shoes of her dreams, and in addition had her straight brown hair beautifully trimmed and styled.
“And there was money left over, so I bought some cosmetics,” she said exultantly to Kit.
“What are you going to wear over the dress, Sue?”
“Oh!” All the joy fled from Sue’s face. “I never thought of that! I’ve only got my old coat.”
“That won’t do,” Kit said firmly. “I’ll lend you my fur cape. It isn’t frightfully expensive, but it is new, and it will look right.”
Sue hugged her impulsively.
Early the next evening, Kit, feeling almost as excited as Sue herself, helped her dress and supervised her makeup.
Sue had chosen well. The soft shimmering material of the dress brought out highlights in her hair. The slender, high-heeled shoes gave elegance to her slim legs, and excitement and anticipation made makeup almost unnecessary.
“Lovely!” Kit said warmly. “Now come downstairs before Noel gets too impatient. No, don’t put your cape on yet. Carry it over your arm.”
“Why?” Sue asked wonderingly.
“Because I say so,” Kit told her firmly, and Sue, dazed with happiness, did as she was told.
The two girls went downstairs. Kit flung open the door of the sitting room. She kept her eyes on Noel and saw with pleasure that his reactions were all that could be desired. As he stood up he made no attempt to hide his astonishment and delight.
“I say!” he exclaimed, and taking Sue by the hand gently spun her around so that he could take in the full effect. “Madam, are you quite sure you wish to condescend to a mere mechanic as your escort?”
“Sir, I shall be charmed,” Sue replied gravely, and dropped him a graceful little curtsey.
Noel, clearly dazzled, took Kit’s fur cape, and as he gently arranged it around Sue’s shoulders the eyes of the two girls met and a look of understanding, and on Sue’s part, gratitude, passed between them.
When they had gone, Mr. Baylis rubbed his hands together, obviously delighted at the part he had played in Sue’s transformation. “That little girl looks quite lovely, and Noel thinks so too, if I’m not mistaken!” He chuckled contentedly. “That’s started something!”
It certainly had, Kit thought. Something very delightful. In fact, anything—everything—might happen.
If it was allowed to.
The next day Sue went about in a dream.
“It was heaven,” she told Kit blissfully.
But not, Kit realized sympathetically, a heaven she felt sufficiently sure of to talk about, though she did add shyly that Noel wanted to take her out again soon.
If only Mrs. Baylis was going to be away for a month. Kit thought regretfully, so that they would have time to get things really fixed up! Oh well, perhaps it wouldn’t really be true love if everything ran smoothly!
And with this philosophical thought, she left Sue to her dreams.
Later in the day—a particularly lovely one full of the promise of spring—Kit took Mr. Baylis out for a drive.
It was delightful. Since Kit had returned to Ravenslea she had done a lot of walking, but this was the first time she had been able to go a longer distance, and she made the most of it, particularly as Mr. Baylis left the choice of the route to her.
Kit turned off short of the village along the road that skirted the base of Flack Hill. Being so near to it brought back memories of the other day when she had shared her picnic lunch with Jason and the barrier between them had begun to weaken. But she wondered if that would continue to happen. Since she had met him in Minsterbury, she had not heard from him, and though she of all people knew just how busy a man in his position could be, she wished that he had contacted her in some way. Perhaps she had discouraged him too much. And yet it was after that he had said that he would not let her go out of his life without a struggle. She gave a little sigh of relief.
“Enjoying yourself?” Mr. Baylis asked.
“Yes, I am,” Kit said firmly, then gave all
her attention to the beautiful scenery they were passing. Flat it might be, but there was a lushness about it that delighted Kit. It was so full of promise for the future. One simply could not be downhearted or apprehensive.
They found a farmhouse where they were able to have tea and then, regretfully, turned toward home.
“That’s done me a power of good,” Mr. Baylis said contentedly. “It’s been ages since I had homemade bread.”
“Me too,” Kit agreed.
They talked little on the way back, but suddenly, Mr. Baylis leaned forward.
“That chap we just passed,” he said urgently. “I’m sure I recognized him. Do you mind stopping?”
As the man reached them, Mr. Baylis wound the window down and leaned out.
“Hi, Jack, what are you doing here at this time? Off sick, like me?”
For a moment the man—he was rather more than middle-aged and his face was grim and unsmiling—seemed uncertain what to do. Then he came slowly to the side of the car.
“No,” he said heavily, “I’m not sick. I’m out of work.”
“You’re what!” Mr. Baylis almost shouted.
“Out of work,” the man repeated doggedly, lifted his hat and began to walk away from the car.
“Hi, Jack, come back!” Mr. Baylis called after him. “You and I have to have a talk!”
Reluctantly the man returned.
“There’s nothing to say.”
“Oh, isn’t there?” Mr. Baylis said grimly. He turned to Kit. “Nurse, you’ll be doing me a great favor if you’ll leave us alone for a bit. Would you mind?”
Kit looked doubtful, but the last thing she wanted to do was anger him by refusing.
“Very well,” she agreed reluctantly. “But—” she laid a hand on his arm “—you will remember, won’t you?”
He patted her hand kindly.
“Yes, I’ll remember, my dear.”
For what seemed the longest quarter of an hour she’d ever passed, Kit searched the hedgerows for spring flowers and, to her delight, found several courageous primroses. Birds were busy building their nests—one hen bird, she found, was already sitting. But interested though she was, she took care to remain within easy calling distance, and it was with relief that she heard Mr. Baylis call her. When she returned, he was alone and the man he had been talking to had resumed his walk. Was it her imagination, Kit wondered, or was the man walking now with his shoulders braced and his head in the air? He certainly gave that impression. But she had no time to spare for him. All her attention was concentrated on Mr. Baylis. His face was very stern and his color was not too good.
“It’s all right, Nurse,” he assured her in answer to her anxious look. “I admit I’ve had some bad news, and yet, in a way, it’s almost a relief. I know now what I have to do. Let’s get home, shall we?” For the rest of the day he was in a very preoccupied frame of mind, and though he agreed, at Kit’s suggestion, to have his evening meal in his room, he insisted that she ask Noel to come and see him afterward.
“And you will please not tell him what happened today, Nurse,” he said with quiet authority. “Nor will you phone up either Grainger or Heathfield. I accept fully the responsibility for my own actions. Do you understand?”
“Yes, I understand,” Kit told him. “But I’m very worried.”
“You’re a kind person,” he said quietly. “But sometimes in a man’s life he comes face to face with something he must do—something only he can do. And on such occasions, he is always given the strength to do them. You must believe me when I tell you that this is one of those occasions.”
And with that, Kit had to be content. But when Noel came out of his father’s room, he came straight to her.
“Nurse, don’t think I’m trying to teach you your job,” he said so seriously that Kit’s heart missed a beat, “but I think it would be a good idea if you and I took turns tonight staying awake. How about it?”
“Yes,” Kit accepted thankfully. “Mr. Baylis, I don’t want to pry into private affairs, but I can’t help knowing that he has had a shock. Have you ... have you had to add to that?”
“Yes,” Noel said heavily. “I tried to stall, but he insisted.” He paused and shook his head. “You know, I’ve always loved the old man, but I never realized before just what a man he is. He’s taken something on the chin today that would have floored many a lesser fellow. But he’s standing up to it.”
“He told me that there are times in a man’s life when something happens that he and he alone can deal with, and that when that happens, he is always given the strength to do it,” Kit told him.
“He said that, did he?” Noel sighed. “Well, I hope to heaven he’s right. But what scares me is what reaction he’ll have after he’s done what he intends doing.”
“I know,” Kit admitted. “That’s what’s worrying me. There’s only one thing..” She frowned thoughtfully.
“Yes?”
“This afternoon, after he had been talking with that man he called Jack, he said that while it was true that he had had bad news, in a way it was a relief. He knew now what he had to do.”
Noel looked at her sharply.
“He said that, did he? Does that suggest to you, as it does to me, that what he was told was confirmation of something he had already guessed?”
“That was what I read into it,” agreed Kit. “And if so, though the confirmation was still a shock, it wasn’t as bad as it would have been had it been a complete surprise.”
“Yes,” Noel deliberated. “I wish to heaven he’d let me send for Grainger or Heathfield. but he’s adamant. I see his point, of course. Well, there it is. How shall we divide our watch?”
“I think it would be better if I took first duty,” Kit suggested. “You see, your father is used to seeing me about until quite late and I do think it would be better if he didn’t realize what we’re doing.”
“Agreed. He’d refuse to allow it.”
“That’s what I thought.”
Noel’s face relaxed for the first time. “I’ll just tell Sue what’s going on and then I’ll turn in. Be seeing you!”
He sketched a salute and went off. And Kit, worried though she was, heaved a sigh of relief.
This was still another Noel Baylis that she was seeing. One who was neither frivolous nor moody, but who was a man on whom she—and even more important, his father—could rely. That, at least, was something to the good.
CHAPTER NINE
To Kit’s utter relief, the night passed uneventfully. Mr. Baylis took a rather long time falling asleep, but apart from that, he had a completely restful night, as Noel confirmed when he knocked gently on her door at half-past six. Kit, already up and dressed, sighed thankfully.
“That’s the first hurdle passed,” she said. “If only he’ll take it quietly today.”
“He won’t,” Noel told her bluntly. “I’m afraid you have to accept that, Nurse. He’s planning to have two visitors, and nothing short of an earthquake is going to stop him. However, whether he likes it or not, I’m going to give Heathfield a call—Grainger’s down with flu, Sue tells me. Shall I let you know what he says?”
“Oh, yes!” Kit said fervently. “Only, don’t ask for me, because I might be with your father and that would make him wonder since I don’t usually receive telephone calls. Tell Sue and she can find an opportunity of passing on the message.”
With a nod Noel went off to get ready for work, and Kit slipped into the sitting room. There was no sound from the bedroom, and it was not until half an hour later that Mr. Baylis stirred. Kit went to him and he looked up in surprise.
“Hello. You’re early,” he commented.
“I didn’t sleep very well,” Kit told him.
A fleeting grin, oddly reminiscent of Noel’s, passed over Mr. Baylis’s face.
“Serve you right for worrying about me,” he told her. “Now, I slept like a top!”
“I’m glad to hear it,” Kit said cheerfully. “Now, as you’re awake, would
you like your breakfast early, or shall we leave it until the usual time?”
“Oh now, by all means,” Mr. Baylis said. “But I won’t get up until later. No, nothing wrong,” he said in response to her quick look. “But I’m going to have two visitors today, and just to keep you from worrying, I intend showing you how sensible I am.”
“When are your visitors coming?” Kit asked resignedly.
“One at eleven,” Mr. Baylis explained, “The other some time this afternoon. Not quite sure when.”
As the morning wore on, Kit became increasingly anxious. No message had come from Noel, and when at last it did come just before eleven o’clock, she was not greatly surprised to hear that Noel had not been able to get Jason because he had a heavy operating schedule at the hospital. There was nothing that could be done about it, but when, just before the hour, Victor arrived, Kit felt it was the last straw.
Nor was she reassured by Victor’s manner. It was clear at a glance that he was a very worried man.
“Kit, what’s all this about?” he demanded in an anxious undertone as she led the way upstairs. “I had a peremptory message that I was to be here at eleven, but was given no reason. What’s the old man up to?”
“I’ve no idea,” Kit assured him. “I didn’t even know you were coming.”
“I wish to heaven I had some inkling. Are you sure he hasn’t said anything to you?”
“No, he hasn’t” Kit said flatly. “But whatever it is, Victor, do try to be a bit more sensible than you were the last time. We don’t want a repetition of that.”
Unwillingly Victor tapped at the door and went in. For almost an hour Kit sat on the top stair, out of earshot, but instantly ready for a summons. But it did not come. She could hear the two men’s voices, mostly Victor’s, with an occasional interruption from Mr. Baylis. Then the door opened and Victor came out. Kit stood up, but he did not appear to see her. Brushing past her, he stumbled down the stairs, gray-faced and looking suddenly years older.
Kit waited a moment or two, and then went quietly in to her patient. He was sitting in his armchair and gazing out the window at his beautiful garden.
Kit Cavendish-Private Nurse Page 10
