He led the way through to the kitchen, poured a mug full of the frothing chocolate, and moved to hold the door open for her.
'Thank for you dinner,' she said, smiling up at him, and then frowning in puzzlement as she caught an unguarded look of pain in his eyes. Speedily he banished it and returned her smile.
'My pleasure,' he replied formally, and as she went out of the room dropped his hand on her shoulder for a moment. She thought his lips brushed her hair lightly but he moved back before she could be certain, saying he would put the car away.
Nicola went to her room and quickly got into bed. She was shivering, partly from cold, and partly from the effect he had on her. Their brief physical contacts, light and friendly on his part, for he was charming and considerate when he chose to be, had played havoc with her senses. She fell asleep while imagining again the feel of his hands on her arms, and the strength of his arms about her the previous night before Jane had arrived in her car. Would he have kissed her then, she wondered sleepily, if Jane had not appeared so inopportunely? Her sleep that night was broken, and as she tossed restlessly she dreamed of him continuously.
When she woke on the following morning her eyes felt sore and her head was throbbing painfully with the sort of agony she occasionally suffered after some tension. While she lay trying to summon up the willpower to get out of bed the door opened.
'I've brought you breakfast,' Robert said, walking in and setting a large tray on the table beside the bed.
He turned to look at her and gave a concerned exclamation.
'Nicola, are you all right?'
'Dreadful head, sorry,' she whispered.
He sat beside her and laid a cool hand on her forehead. Her pulse began to race at his nearness, especially when he slipped an arm under her shoulders and raised her gently to lie back against his shoulder.
'Try to drink some coffee,' he suggested, and reached for the cup which he held to her lips.
She was able to manage half a cup, but refused all suggestions of food, shuddering. He laid her gently back on the pillows and went to get some aspirins.
'You must stay in bed all day. Mrs Trotter will be here soon, she'll look after you. I'm going into Southampton. Is there anything I can get you there?'
'No, thank you. You've been kind.'
'I'll be back before I go to see Sarah tonight.'
'I'll be well enough to come too,' she said urgently, but he shook his head.
'No, I won't permit it. You must stay in bed all day. We'll see how you are tomorrow.'
Suddenly thinking he might have another reason for not taking her that evening, she flushed. Perhaps Jane would be going with him. He almost certainly had girlfriends apart from Jane, and might be planning to visit one of them afterwards, or take one of them out. So she nodded, blinking furiously to drive away the weak tears which had come into her eyes.
*
That day was one of the longest Nicola had ever known, although she slept for a good part of it. Mrs Trotter was most concerned, wanting to send for the doctor, but Nicola insisted she would soon be better, for all she needed was a long sleep.
By late afternoon she was feeling much better, only to fall asleep again and wake an hour later to discover Robert had looked in but did not wish to disturb her.
A huge bunch of grapes and a bowl of other fruit stood beside the bed, and an envelope was propped up against it.
With trembling fingers Nicola opened it, finding a Get Well card signed simply 'From Robert', which she carefully placed where she could lie and look at it.
Mrs Trotter bought her a light dinner, grilled plaice, escallope of veal in mushroom sauce, and raspberries, with a glass of white wine, and told her Mr Wilmington had said he would be home again before nine.
'Do you mind if I leave you for an hour?' she asked as she took away the tray. 'Would you like the portable television from Mrs Frayn's room? Is your head up to it?'
Nicola assured her she would like the television, and did not in the least mind being alone. When Mrs Trotter left her she watched, with listless interest, a documentary about wild life in Asia, but her thoughts were busy with Robert. Would he come home early? Was he with Jane Prendergast? Why did it matter so much to her if he was?
With the noise of the television she did not hear the car or the front door, and the first she knew of Robert's return was when her bedroom door opened and he stood smiling towards her.
'How are you? Feeling better?'
'Much, thank you. How is Sarah?'
'Better too, and sends her love. I'm going to make some coffee. Would you like some?'
'Yes please, but I will come up to the drawing room to have it,' she suggested hurriedly.
'Why, don't you trust me in your bedroom?' he asked with a smile that made her feel even weaker at the knees than she was already. 'Come to think of it, if you wear such a fetching nightdress you might have good reason to be cautious!'
He disappeared on the words and Nicola hid her burning face, thankful that he could not see her. Her nightdress was a simple white cotton one, edged with lace and shaped to cling to her breasts, but she did not realise how fresh and delightful it looked against the dark green of the sheets and pillows. By the time Robert returned with the coffee she had put on her dressing gown and tied the belt firmly about her waist. His eyes twinkled at her in amused recognition of her action but he did not refer to it.
'Are you interested in this?' he asked, indicating the television.
'No, just too lazy to turn it off,' Nicola replied.
'When you are properly better I will take you and show you some of the Forest wildlife,' he said as he crossed to switch off the set. 'I know where there are deer to be seen. There are many in the Forest but they tend to stay out of sight. And have you ever seen a family of badgers? There's a sett nearby, we could go and watch one night.'
He talked on about the Forest and it was clear that he knew it well. After a while he rose.
'Stay in bed tomorrow and if you are well enough you may get up the following day. You must not exert yourself too much in case you are not fully recovered. Migraines are odd things. Goodnight.'
*
Again her dreams were full of this man who seemed so stern and could be moved so easily to anger with his sister, and yet was behaving in so kind and thoughtful a manner to her.
The following day passed more quickly, for Nicola was feeling much better and spent the time writing letters to friends. When he returned from the hospital Robert brought into her room an exquisite chess set made of green and white alabaster and they played several games, although Nicola lost all of them, finding him a cunning opponent.
'You are far too good,' she said in disgust.
'My father taught me, and he was expert. I shall never match his skill. Would you like a drink?'
'You mustn't wait on me,' she protested, suddenly embarrassed at the fact that he was in her room.
'There isn't anyone else to do it,' he pointed out reasonably. 'But of course I don't mind. Would you like sensible cocoa or dissipated whisky?'
'If I had whisky I doubt if my head would ever get better,' Nicola said firmly. 'I'll get up and make some cocoa. I'm quite capable of it and it is time I moved about a bit.'
Smiling satirically at her he picked up her robe and draped it round her shoulders.
'You are very refreshing,' he commented lightly. 'I'll go and put on the milk.'
Nicola followed him, feeling slightly dizzy, up to the kitchen. They sat companionably drinking cocoa, and he explained he was going to a show on the following day where one of his horses was competing.
'I must leave early but I should be back in time to take you to the hospital.'
She hid her disappointment he would be out all day, but looked forward to resuming their visits to Sarah.
On the following day Mrs Trotter brought her breakfast, saying she ought not to try and do too much the first day up, but it was a lovely warm day and she might sit on the terrace
later. Nicola took up the suggestion and as it was so warm changed into a new bikini of her favourite blue shade, with white twisted rope straps, and lay in the sun. She was half asleep and did not hear anything until Jane spoke just beside her, and then she sat up, startled to see not only Jane but Paul Moncrieff standing looking down at her.
'You look better,' Jane said with a cool, slight smile.
'I'll say,' Paul agreed, coming to sit close beside Nicola. 'Sorry you've been ill.'
'It was a migraine. Does Mrs Trotter know you are here? She'll bring some coffee, or I will go and get some.'
'She is bringing it. Sit down, she sent us out here. How is Sarah?'
'Robert – Mr Wilmington said last night that she was much better. He is away today at some show. He did not say where.'
'Yes, of course I know. Thank you,' she added as Mrs Trotter appeared with the tray and before Nicola could move towards it had begun to pour out the coffee.
For a few minutes they chatted, Jane attempting to discover how much Nicola knew about Emma and her affairs, and Nicola wondering what the other woman's purpose was in visiting her when she clearly knew Robert was away. Then with an obviously contrived air Paul set down his cup and said casually he would wander down to the stables if Nicola would excuse him.
She watched him go and then turned back to Jane, her eyebrows lifted slightly and a frown between her eyes.
'My dear Miss Browne, I feel it is my duty to say it as there is no one else and Mrs Trotter is hardly in a position to intervene. I mean this unfortunate position where you and Robert are left alone in the house. People are beginning to talk and it is unpleasant for you both. Will you come and stay with me until Mrs Frayn or Sarah comes home?'
'It is very kind of you, Mrs Prendergast,' Nicola said stiffly, 'but I think that unless Mr Wilmington or Mrs Frayn suggests it I should remain here. I hardly think people are as malicious as you imply,' she added, thinking guiltily of what they would say if they knew of his visits, innocuous and friendly as they had been, to her bedroom.
'Then you do not know human nature. Everyone is talking about it. It might not matter with some men but Robert is so very wealthy, and no one knows you or where you come from, or really why you are here, and there is bound to be talk. They are saying either you are planning to trap him into marriage or you are his mistress,' she said bluntly, and Nicola flushed with indignation. 'I am sorry. Of course, I don't believe that and neither does anyone who knows you at all, but it is harmful to Robert and he has been hurt enough.'
*
'What do you mean?' Nicola asked sharply.
'I see you have heard very little about him. You know about Emma, of course? Yes, well, that was less than three years ago but it was soon after Robert had been jilted, practically at the church door. No one knew why she did it for he appears to be such an eligible man, but as she married some impecunious teacher soon afterwards you can imagine the speculation there was. Especially as it was not the first engagement that had been broken. There had been another one two years before and it was the girl who broke it off again. He has been unfortunate in his women and his sisters. But perhaps you can see why rumour of this sort could be particularly distressing to him?'
Nicola bit her lip. Could she believe Jane? She herself could not imagine any girl wanting to reject Robert having once gained his love, but she was clear-headed enough to realise she did not know him well. Even with his looks and wealth and apparent charm there could be flaws in him which might be found intolerable, such as his often autocratic manner.
'Look, what I suggest is that you pack and come with me now. You can leave him a note and explain to Mrs Trotter. It would be less embarrassing than having to explain to his face. I will telephone him tonight to tell him I suggested it.'
Nicola made up her mind. 'It would be too impolite just to leave like that,' she said firmly. 'I would prefer to see him tonight and suggest it, but I don't wish to put you to any trouble.'
'It would be no trouble. You would be company for me. It is not so enviable as most people imagine living on my own! Are you sure you won't come now?'
Nicola remained firm and Jane, saying she hoped her decision would not prove a mistake, waited until her brother returned and then departed, despite his obvious wish to stay longer with Nicola.
Midway through the afternoon Mrs Trotter took a telephone call from Robert and came out onto the terrace where Nicola was lying in the shade of a big sun umbrella to tell her he would be home earlier than he had expected to take her to see Sarah.
'I told him you were much better. He said it was to be a celebration dinner afterwards because one of his horses won this morning, and he made a good sale too. Would you like to pick some of the flowers from the garden and take them in to Sarah?'
'A good idea,' Nicola agreed, and gathered a huge bunch of varied flowers, not being able to leave out any of the many different ones.
Nicola waited for Robert that evening with some apprehension. She had been thinking a great deal about Jane's visit and what she had said, but she had no one with whom she could talk, and had decided to suggest she went back to London until Sarah was out of hospital and in need of her French lessons again. That should be in a day or so. She could not accept the invitation to go and stay with Jane, for she felt instinctively that the older woman disliked her. The idea she was jealous of Jane's relationship with Robert she thrust hastily aside, but frequently she thought that to have to watch Jane and Robert together, with the older woman behaving possessively towards him, would be surprisingly painful.
*
They spoke little on the drive to Bournemouth for Robert was concentrating on getting as much speed as he could on the twisting lanes. They were about to enter the hospital when he suddenly swung round, an exclamation escaping him. Nicola looked where he was staring, a furious look in his eyes, and saw Tony Scott, unaware of them, walking away in the opposite direction.
'How dare he come to see Sarah!' Robert exclaimed angrily.
'It might be a coincidence. He may not have been to the hospital,' Nicola said urgently, and caught at his sleeve, afraid he might go running after Tony. He frowned, and thinking she had offended him she quickly dropped her hand. Unsmiling he took her elbow and guided her into the hospital, and they walked without speaking to Sarah's room.
Sarah was lying in bed, a dreamy expression on her face, though she was looking pale, and it was plain before she spoke that it had been no coincidence Tony Scott had been outside the hospital.
'Why, how lovely, you're much earlier than I expected,' she greeted them. 'Nicola, what lovely flowers!'
Robert ignored her greeting and did not bend to kiss her as he normally did.
'How often has that fellow Scott been to visit you?' he demanded.
Sarah cast a quick glance at Nicola and smiled uncertainly.
'Tony?' she said slowly.
'Don't prevaricate! You know what I mean perfectly well. We saw him leaving. How often has he been to see you?'
'The last two days, since he found out where I was,' Sarah said defiantly. 'Why shouldn't he? Two more of my friends from Lymington came as well.'
'I'm not concerned with anyone except that fortune-hunter.'
'Fortune-hunter! Don't be ridiculous. Anyone would think we still lived in the Victorian age to hear the way you talk. No wonder Emma ran away.'
'Leave Emma out of this. It is your conduct and your future I am concerned with. While you are under age and I am your guardian you will not again see that man.'
'Oh, don't be gothic,' Sarah protested, but her lip was trembling and she had to blink rapidly to hold back the treacherous tears.
'You'll be home soon and feeling much stronger, and then you and Robert can discuss it properly,' Nicola put in calmly, and Sarah shot her a swift smile. Robert seemed about to reply angrily, then thought better of it and asked Sarah whether the doctor had said she might come out soon.
'I'd rather not come home if you're going to be the h
eavy-handed brother,' she replied petulantly. 'Anyway, they say I have some rotten infection, so they'll keep me in longer.'
Robert was obviously restraining himself with great difficulty and Nicola hastily broke in.
'Did Robert tell you about your mother's telephone call yesterday evening?' she asked quickly. 'Your sister appears to be getting much better, and the baby is doing well. She might be able to come home soon.'
'I had a letter from her today,' Sarah said, turning to search for it in the drawer of her bedside table. 'She suggests bringing Emma and her babies back in a couple of weeks, if they are able to travel by then. I'm dying to see my niece and nephew. I shall feel like a real aunt at last.'
They then talked about Robert's success that day, and Sarah asked Nicola to bring some of her clothes to wear when she was out of bed. The remainder of the visit was accomplished without any further argument or difficult subjects, but on the way out Robert paused to speak to the Ward Sister, asking who had been visiting Sarah.
'I must ask you to prevent Mr Scott from coming to see her,' he said. 'He is not permitted to see her at home and I cannot agree to clandestine meetings while she is in your care. Shall I write a note to that effect to the consultant treating my sister or will it be sufficient to have told you?'
She bridled, began to say something about her patient's welfare and then, encountering the steely anger in his eyes, hesitated and finally nodded.
'I will make certain of it, Mr Wilmington.'
'Good.' He gave her his most charming smile and she watched them leave, bemused. Nicola had a fellow feeling for her. Robert's swift changes towards herself left her equally disoriented.
*
As they were dining later in one of Bournemouth's most prestigious hotels high on the cliffs overlooking the town and with views across to the Isle of Wight, Nicola told Robert about Jane's visit with her concern about gossip and the invitation to move in with her. To her secret delight Robert flatly opposed the suggestion that instead she should return to London.
Fires in the Forest Page 7
